https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/agri-finance/funding funding https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4752/adb-launches-6-billion-push-for-healthier-seas-and-coastal-economies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4752/adb-launches-6-billion-push-for-healthier-seas-and-coastal-economies.html Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:13:49 +0530 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today announced it will mobilize up to $6 billion through 2030 to confront the mounting threats facing Southeast Asia’s seas and strengthen the blue economy that the region’s food supplies, jobs, and trade depend on. “The ocean is not just an environmental priority; it is the economic foundation of Southeast Asia,” said ADB President Masato Kanda. “When marine ecosystems degrade, the damage reaches the fishing net, the family table, and the flooded doorstep. We will put up to $6 billion behind the work of restoring fisheries, building resilient coastal infrastructure, and stopping waste before it reaches the water.” Kanda announced the ASEAN Blue Economy Initiative at the 58th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Metro Manila, chaired by Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Cristina Roque. The initiative runs from 2026 to 2030, and forms part of the $30 billion ADB pledged in May to mobilize for ASEAN priorities by 2030, delivered in its role as the region's main bank. Southeast Asia produces about one-fifth of the world’s fisheries and aquaculture output, and its ports, coastal logistics, and tourism sustain trade, jobs, and local income. However, this natural capital is eroding as ecosystems degrade, plastic waste accumulates, and fishing pressure mounts. Modeled estimates put expected coastal flood damage across the region at about $11.5 billion a year. The initiative supports the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework and its Implementation Plan (2026–2030). Under the initiative, ADB’s support will focus on three areas: strengthening the policy, institutional, and data foundations that credible investment depends on; scaling investment in ASEAN’s priority blue sectors, including fisheries, aquaculture, coastal resilience, and port-linked value chains; and reducing marine pollution through circular economy solutions and innovative finance that brings in private capital. Because much marine pollution begins inland, the initiative will also improve water and solid-waste systems upstream. ADB has served as ASEAN’s long-standing development finance partner and advisor. ADB is providing a comprehensive package of support to help the Philippines deliver regional outcomes during its 2026 ASEAN chairship. ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4749/genomines-wants-to-grow-nickel-not-mine-it.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4749/genomines-wants-to-grow-nickel-not-mine-it.html Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:36:31 +0530 French deeptech startup Genomines has raised $45 million in Series A funding to scale its plant-based approach to nickel extraction, betting that agriculture and biotechnology could open up new sources of a metal increasingly important to the global battery and industrial economy. The Paris-based company’s latest funding round comprises $37 million in equity and $8 million in debt. It was led by US-based VC Engine Ventures and European biotech investor Forbion BioEconomy, with participation from Deeptech & Climate Fonds, Wind Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, AlphaTech Investment Group and Entrepreneurs First. Carmaker Hyundai and mining-focused investor Prospect Innovation also joined the round. Genomines is developing genetically enhanced plants that can absorb and concentrate nickel from soil. The approach is designed for deposits where nickel exists close to the surface but at concentrations too low for conventional mining to be economically viable. Turning Plants into Nickel Collectors The technology builds on a natural phenomenon known as phytomining, in which certain plants absorb metals through their roots and accumulate them in their tissues. Genomines is modifying plants to increase their capacity to capture nickel, including by increasing plant height and leaf size. The startup has also developed a specialised soil designed to improve nickel uptake. The resulting process is intended to access shallow deposits without the large-scale infrastructure typically associated with conventional mining. Genomines co-founder Fabien Koutchekian estimates that between 30 million and 40 million hectares of deposits globally could potentially be exploited using the technology. Once scaled, he says, the approach could increase annual nickel production by seven- to 14-fold. The company is positioning the technology not as a substitute for nickel itself, but as an alternative route to producing the same industrial commodity. Nickel Supply Meets the Energy Transition Nickel is widely used in stainless steel and has gained strategic importance in the automotive industry because of its role in some battery chemistries. Global nickel production is also geographically concentrated, with Indonesia accounting for more than half of global output, according to the startup. That concentration has increased interest among industrial users and automakers in securing alternative supply sources. Genomines argues that its model could offer a different economics from conventional mining. Traditional mines can require billions of dollars of upfront investment and take more than a decade before production begins, while the company believes its process could be economically viable across a roughly 200-hectare surface area. The model is deliberately framed around the convergence of agriculture and mineral extraction: grow plants, harvest the nickel-rich biomass and then recover the metal through a comparatively simple extraction process. From Kilograms to Tonnes The technology remains at an early commercial stage. Genomines is currently developing its process on experimental land in South Africa and has produced only a few hundred kilograms of nickel so far. The new capital will be used to scale production towards several hundred tonnes of nickel in the coming years. The startup is also working with automakers including Hyundai and Jaguar Land Rover, whose supply chains require access to nickel. Revenue remains limited at present, with Genomines expecting the business to reach several million dollars in annual revenue over the next three to five years. Scaling Will Test the Business Model The central commercial challenge is no longer simply demonstrating that plants can accumulate nickel. Genomines must show that the resulting metal can be produced at a cost that is competitive with conventional sources and in volumes large enough for industrial customers. That will require the startup to move from experimental production measured in kilograms to an industrial model capable of delivering hundreds of tonnes and eventually much larger volumes. Genomines is not alone in pursuing plant-based metal extraction. French startup Econick, for example, entered a joint venture with stainless steel producer Aperam in 2023 to develop plant-based nickel production. Its proposition is therefore less about creating a new nickel product than changing how and where nickel can be extracted. If the technology can achieve commercial scale, it could turn marginal mineral deposits into agricultural production systems—and add biotechnology and farming to the toolbox for securing critical mineral supply. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4744/velocity-agri-capital-raises-150-million-to-back-canadian-agri-food-expansion-in-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4744/velocity-agri-capital-raises-150-million-to-back-canadian-agri-food-expansion-in-southeast-asia.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:02:54 +0530 A new growth-equity fund is targeting $500 million to help Canadian agriculture and food companies expand into Southeast Asia, with Farm Credit Canada committing $150 million as the lead investor. Velocity Agri-Capital has secured the initial commitment as it seeks to close the remaining $350 million from Canadian and international investors. The fund will focus on middle-market companies across the agriculture and food value chain, with plans to invest in about 12 businesses through initial cheques of at least $25 million each. Its investment mandate spans emerging and established segments of the food economy, including vertical farming, aquaculture, food processing and packaging. The strategy is designed to provide growth capital to companies moving beyond domestic markets and build commercial links between Canadian businesses and Southeast Asian markets. The fund will also consider investments in Southeast Asian companies establishing operations in Canada, provided those businesses contribute to domestic job creation. Closing the agri-food growth capital gap Velocity Agri-Capital is positioning itself around a financing gap between early-stage venture capital and larger institutional capital. The fund will focus on companies that have moved beyond the start-up phase but require substantial capital to expand production, develop new markets and build international operations. The strategy comes against a broader push to increase the economic value captured within Canada’s agriculture and food system. Canada has historically been a major exporter of agricultural commodities and ingredients, while a larger share of processing and manufacturing value is captured further along the supply chain. Greater investment in domestic food processing could create additional value before products enter international markets, while giving Canadian companies greater control over branded and processed food exports. Farm Credit Canada estimated in a June report that stronger growth in Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing sector could add C$40 billion to the country’s GDP over the next decade and create 217,000 jobs, assuming annual sector growth of 3 per cent. The report identified investment, infrastructure, skills and trade as key requirements for achieving that expansion. Southeast Asia becomes the growth market Velocity’s geographic strategy reflects the growing importance of Southeast Asia as a destination for food, agriculture and technology companies seeking new markets. The fund plans to maintain a presence in the region to support portfolio companies with market entry, commercial relationships and local business development. Its investment thesis is built around the region’s large consumer base, rising food-security requirements and existing trade links with Canada. Southeast Asia offers an alternative growth pathway at a time when businesses and policymakers are looking to diversify export markets and reduce exposure to the US. The fund’s approach extends beyond traditional commodity exports, focusing instead on companies capable of exporting higher-value products, technologies and processing capabilities. From commodities to higher-value agriculture The launch comes as Canada looks to strengthen domestic investment across its agriculture and food economy and capture more value within the country. Velocity Agri-Capital will operate independently of District Ventures Capital, an earlier-stage venture capital fund focused primarily on consumer businesses across food, beverage, health and wellness and beauty. The new vehicle represents a later-stage investment model, with substantially larger individual commitments aimed at businesses with established operations and ambitions for international expansion. Its $500 million target therefore places the focus not simply on financing Canadian agriculture, but on building companies that can compete across international food and agriculture markets while creating additional economic activity at home. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4743/mombak-secures-bndes-backing-as-it-targets-150-million-for-amazon-restoration.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4743/mombak-secures-bndes-backing-as-it-targets-150-million-for-amazon-restoration.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:56:39 +0530 Brazilian carbon removal company Mombak has opened its second major funding cycle with a target of raising US$150 million for reforestation and restoration projects in the Amazon, as demand for high-integrity carbon removals draws another major corporate buyer into the market. Mombak has reached the first close of its Amazon Reforestation Fund II, although the company has not disclosed the amount raised or the participating investors. Alongside the equity fundraise, the company has secured access to a R$200 million credit line, equivalent to about US$38.9 million, through Brazil’s Climate Fund, operated by state development bank BNDES. The company has also signed a multi-year carbon removal purchase agreement with Salesforce. Financial terms and contracted volumes were not disclosed. The Salesforce deal expands Mombak’s corporate customer base, which already includes Google, Microsoft and McLaren Racing, and gives the reforestation developer another long-term buyer as the carbon removal market shifts towards projects with demonstrated delivery records. Scaling a proven reforestation model Mombak’s second fund follows a $120 million first fund that financed restoration across 15 farms in the Brazilian Amazon. The company says projects backed by that fund have resulted in nearly 15 million native trees being planted. The first fund also moved from project development into actual carbon removal delivery. In August, Mombak announced the issuance of more than 21,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide removals generated by native, biodiverse reforestation projects in the Amazon. The credits were certified by Isometric using a Core Carbon Principles-approved protocol and were delivered two years ahead of schedule, providing Mombak with an early commercial track record in a market where project delivery timelines have often been a concern. Mombak expects to issue about 80,000 tonnes of reforestation carbon removal credits by the end of 2026. The figure represents issued and expected credits rather than the eventual carbon removal potential of Fund II. “The market spent years asking whether high-integrity reforestation could actually deliver. We answered that with our first deliveries ahead of schedule. Now, we are scaling our operations, with renewed support from investors, customers and BNDES,” said Gabriel Haddad Silva, CEO of Mombak. Public finance meets private climate capital The new fund arrives as Brazil seeks to use public climate finance to mobilise greater private investment in forest restoration and nature-based climate projects. The R$200 million BNDES facility is being provided through Brazil’s Climate Fund, a government-backed financing programme designed to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen climate resilience. BNDES announced in June that R$834 million in new Climate Fund projects would support the restoration of more than 65,600 hectares, including the planting of more than 108 million native trees and the creation of more than 27,000 green jobs. For Mombak, the combination of private equity and development-finance debt provides a capital structure for expanding restoration operations while building a larger pipeline of carbon removal projects. The company’s first US$120 million fund attracted institutional investors including an AXA fund, CPP Investments and Bain Capital. Fund II is targeting a larger capital pool, although Mombak has not disclosed its first-close amount or investor commitments. Salesforce adds another institutional buyer Salesforce’s agreement marks another step in the company’s broader carbon removal procurement strategy. Its FY2026 Stakeholder Impact Report states that it contracted 41,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide removal across six pathways during the year and maintained a commitment to compensate for 100 per cent of its annual emissions through high-quality avoidance and removal credits. Mombak’s other disclosed customers and partners include McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Climeworks, Commons and Union Square Ventures, in addition to Google, Microsoft and McLaren Racing. The commercial significance of the Salesforce agreement extends beyond the undisclosed volume and value. Long-term purchase commitments can provide carbon removal developers with greater visibility over future revenues while helping finance the expansion of projects that require substantial upfront capital and have long development cycles. With its first fund now producing verified removals and its second fund targeting $150 million, Mombak is moving from proving that Amazon reforestation can generate carbon removals at scale to building a larger financing and buyer ecosystem around the model. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4742/microlub-raises-10-mn-to-cut-fat-without-sacrificing-mouthfeel.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4742/microlub-raises-10-mn-to-cut-fat-without-sacrificing-mouthfeel.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:46:43 +0530 UK food technology company MicroLub has raised $10 million to accelerate the commercialisation of its protein-based fat reduction technology, expand manufacturing capacity and support market entry in the US and Asia. The University of Leeds spinout has developed patented ingredients designed to replicate the lubrication properties of fat using water, addressing one of the central challenges in reduced-fat food formulation: cutting calories without sacrificing creaminess, smoothness and overall eating experience. MicroLub says its technology has demonstrated fat and calorie reductions of up to 75 per cent in some formulations, although the level of reduction varies according to the application. The platform is being evaluated across dairy and plant-based dairy products, bakery, sauces, dips and other food categories. The latest financing was led by Northern Gritstone, with existing investors also participating, including NPIF II – PXN Equity Finance, managed by PXN Ventures. Founded by Professor Anwesha Sarkar, MicroLub continues to collaborate with the University of Leeds and operates a food innovation laboratory at Nexus in Leeds. “We have already moved from laboratory-scale development to industrial-scale manufacturing and are working with some of the world’s largest food and ingredient companies,” said David Peters, CEO of MicroLub. “The $10 million investment allows us to accelerate the next step: converting those development programs and customer trials into products that can be manufactured commercially and ultimately reach the shelf,” he added. Targeting fat without losing mouthfeel Fat plays several roles in food beyond its calorie contribution. It influences lubrication, creaminess, texture, flavour release and the way food behaves during consumption. Replacing it therefore requires more than simply matching its nutritional function. MicroLub's technology focuses specifically on lubrication and friction, using protein-based ingredients to create a sensory experience closer to that of conventional fat. The company uses tribology to measure friction and lubrication, alongside rheology and other instrumental techniques that assess texture and flow. Reformulated products are then compared with full-fat equivalents through sensory testing. According to Peters, blind sensory trials across several food categories have found that tasters were unable to distinguish between products containing MicroLub technology and their full-fat counterparts. “In some formulations, fat and calorie content can be reduced by up to 75 per cent,” Peters said, while emphasising that the maximum reduction is not necessarily the objective for every formulation. The technology can also potentially reduce the need for other formulation components, including certain emulsifiers and thickeners, depending on the application. A platform rather than a single fat replacer MicroLub is positioning its technology as an ingredient platform rather than a universal drop-in replacement for fats. The role of fat varies significantly between food products. In formulations where a solid fat network provides structure, replacing fat can be more complex. Fat-soluble flavour compounds can also require additional formulation work because removing or reducing fat can affect flavour delivery. “This is why we approach MicroLub as an ingredient technology platform rather than a single drop-in fat replacer,” Peters said. “We develop application-specific solutions around the particular role fat is playing in that product.” The company draws on dairy and plant proteins as well as polysaccharides to develop formulations according to customers' technical, cost and supply-chain requirements. It says the technology is being designed to work with existing food manufacturing infrastructure, with the precise addition point and processing conditions established through trials on individual manufacturers' production lines. Protein trend creates another opening The company's expansion comes as food manufacturers face growing demand for products that combine higher protein content with lower calorie density. Peters said MicroLub's opportunity extends beyond the growing market for foods associated with GLP-1 use. Instead, he sees the broader shift towards protein-enriched and nutrient-dense foods as a driver for the technology. Higher protein formulations can introduce sensory challenges including grittiness, astringency and undesirable mouth-coating. By addressing lubrication and mouthfeel, MicroLub believes its technology could help manufacturers increase protein levels while maintaining consumer acceptance. Potential applications include high-protein drinks and yogurts, reduced-fat dairy products, sauces and dips, desserts and other nutrient-dense foods. Commercial scale-up takes centre stage MicroLub has already moved from laboratory development to industrial-scale manufacturing, but the latest funding is intended to accelerate the transition from customer development programmes to commercial products. The company has not disclosed its customers or provided a specific launch timetable. Its next steps include completing customer qualification and validation, transferring formulations to commercial production lines, strengthening supply chains and meeting regulatory and labelling requirements across individual markets. With the new capital, MicroLub plans to work more closely with both large and smaller food manufacturers as it expands commercial validation. The company's proposition ultimately rests on a familiar food industry challenge: consumers increasingly want products with improved nutritional profiles, but remain unwilling to compromise on taste and texture. MicroLub is betting that controlling the friction and lubrication properties of food can help narrow that gap. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4739/lilac-agriculture-closes-oversubscribed-2-3-million-series-seed-to-advance-next-generation-rhizobium-inoculants-for-pulse-growers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4739/lilac-agriculture-closes-oversubscribed-2-3-million-series-seed-to-advance-next-generation-rhizobium-inoculants-for-pulse-growers.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:25:58 +0530 Lilac Agriculture, a company bringing modern biological innovation to rhizobial strains farmers already rely on, today announced the close of an oversubscribed $2.3 million Series Seed financing. Innova led the round, which was targeted at $1.5 million and closed more than 50 percent above that figure. 701 Fund, Ag Ventures Alliance, Evergreen Climate Innovations, North Dakota Development Fund, Pathway Ventures, Tall Grass Ventures, and others also participated. “This is Innova’s first investment in agricultural biologicals, and we didn’t make it lightly - we’ve looked hard at this category. We like that Lilac brings biological innovation to strains farmers already know and use, applying modern science in a practical way that doesn’t ask farmers to take on unproven risk. That, paired with a product already in growers’ hands and a platform with a credible path beyond pulses into other row crops, is exactly the kind of business we wanted to back,” said Dean Didato, Partner at Innova. Peas, lentils, and dry beans fix their own nitrogen through a symbiosis with rhizobia, the soil bacteria that colonize their roots, and inoculating seed with those bacteria each spring is standard practice for pulse growers. The persistent challenge is competitiveness: native rhizobial populations already established in the soil often out-compete the strains in the purchased inoculant for nodule occupancy, resulting in limited and inconsistent yield benefit. Lilac’s Guided Adaptation platform is built to optimize two traits at once - nitrogen-fixing efficiency and competitiveness. Applying plant-breeding logic to the microbe, Lilac starts with a broad diversity of rhizobial strains licensed on an exclusive basis from North Dakota State University and systematically improves them for the specific soils where they’ll be used. An elite strain that fixes more nitrogen and holds the nodule against native competition can support higher yield potential and reduce reliance on costly synthetic fertilizer. Lilac is starting in pulses, but the same platform is designed to extend to other crops, including row crops, over time. “A better strain doesn’t help a grower if it can’t win the nodule in their own soil - that’s the gap we built Lilac to close,” said Dr. Natalie DiNicola, CEO of Lilac Agriculture. “Growers have relied on inoculants for generations, but rarely with real visibility into how they’re performing in their own fields. This round funds our expanded field trial and R&D pipeline, gets PL11 into more farmers’ hands across the region, and supports preparation for the Canadian market.” “Having grown up as a farmer, the black-box claims in this category always frustrated me - you put an inoculant in the ground and just have to trust that it works. As a scientist, I want to fix that. There’s a huge amount of untapped variation in rhizobial bacteria that’s gone largely unexplored since most commercial strains were selected decades ago. Adapting strains to the crop and soil they’ll actually encounter, and measuring nodulation that happens in the field, is how we aim to deliver the efficacy and consistency growers are asking for,” said Dr. Barney Geddes, Chief Scientific Officer at Lilac Agriculture, who grew up farming before building his career as a global rhizobium expert with an extensive lab at NDSU. Lilac’s lead product, PL11, is already on the ground with pea and lentil growers across the Northern Plains. Early trial results have shown strong strain colonization at multiple sites, and expanded field trials are underway to validate performance more broadly ahead of the next commercial season. Registration is also underway for the Canadian market, as Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of both peas and lentils. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4731/indorama-secures-rmb-2-4-billion-financing-to-double-henan-urea-capacity.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4731/indorama-secures-rmb-2-4-billion-financing-to-double-henan-urea-capacity.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 18:06:21 +0530 Indorama Corporation is putting fresh capital behind a major expansion of its fertilizer business in China, securing RMB 2.4 billion (approximately US$358 million) in long-term financing to expand urea production at its Anyang operations in Henan Province. Anyang Indorama Gases Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Indorama Corporation Pte. Ltd., has signed the long-term loan facility with a consortium of five banks in China. The financing will partially fund the development and construction of the company’s Phase II fertilizer capacity expansion in Anyang City. The project is expected to double the site’s urea fertilizer capacity, starting from syngas and ammonia, to approximately 2 million tonnes per annum by 2029. The investment marks a significant step in Indorama’s brownfield expansion strategy in China following its acquisition of the Anyang nitrogen fertilizer business earlier this year. Scaling fertilizer capacity in Henan The Anyang expansion is designed to increase production capacity while improving the efficiency of manufacturing operations across the site. Indorama said the project will strengthen the reliability of domestic fertilizer supply and contribute to food security, while incorporating more energy-efficient production processes. The investment comes as fertilizer production remains closely tied to the broader economics of food security, with domestic manufacturing capacity providing an important buffer against disruptions in international markets and supply chains. Expanding the Anyang platform also provides a larger base from which to build its fertilizer business in one of the world’s most important agricultural markets. “This transaction is an important milestone in Indorama’s growth strategy and reflects the confidence of leading international and Chinese financial institutions in our business,” said Amit Lohia, Group Vice Chairman, Indorama Corporation. “Building on our acquisition of the Anyang business, it strengthens our fertilizer platform in one of the world’s most important markets and reinforces our commitment to supporting food security. We deeply value our banking partners’ support and look forward to advancing Indorama’s continued global growth.” Five-bank financing consortium The RMB 2.4 billion facility was provided by OCBC Bank Limited, Bank of China Limited, Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., Bangkok Bank (China) Company Limited and China CITIC Bank Co., Ltd. OCBC Bank acted as Coordinator and Facility Agent, while Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (China) Limited acted as Security Agent. The financing structure brings together international and Chinese banking institutions around an industrial expansion that Indorama expects to execute over the coming years.Chai Wei Joo, Country Head (China), Indorama Corporation, said the financing would support the company’s expansion of fertilizer capacity in Henan while strengthening its role in China’s industrial and agricultural economy. “We deeply value the trust and partnership of our banking partners in China,” Chai said. “This financing supports the expansion of our fertilizer capacity in Henan Province, reinforcing Indorama’s role as a key industrial contributor to China’s economy and national food security.” Banks deepen Indorama relationship For the participating banks, the transaction also represents an expansion of existing relationships with Indorama as the company increases its investment in China. Seth Tan, Managing Director & Head of Corporate Banking China at OCBC Bank Limited, said the bank was pleased to coordinate the financing alongside its partner institutions. The project, he said, represents an industrial investment that will contribute to higher fertilizer production and domestic supply, while extending OCBC’s 14-year relationship with Indorama. Bank of China’s Senior Credit Approver, LUAN Lin, said the financing marked the beginning of the bank’s relationship with Indorama in China, highlighting the company’s investment in Henan and its contribution to the domestic economy and food security. Bank of Communications similarly described the transaction as the beginning of its partnership with Indorama and said the Anyang project would support domestic fertilizer supply and regional industrial development. Bangkok Bank (China) CEO Sitthichai Jiwattanakul said the financing would deepen the bank’s decade-long relationship with Indorama Group and reflected its support for the company’s expansion in China and across the region. China CITIC Bank’s Anyang Branch also described the financing as the beginning of its relationship with Indorama, highlighting the investment and additional capacity being brought to Henan Province. From acquisition to expansion The financing gives Indorama a clearer investment pathway following its acquisition of the Anyang nitrogen fertilizer business. Rather than simply maintaining the acquired production base, the company is using the site as a platform for a larger-scale expansion. Once completed, the Phase II project is expected to take annual urea capacity to approximately 2 million tonnes by 2029. That scale-up could materially increase the role of the Anyang operation within Indorama’s global fertilizer portfolio while strengthening its presence in the Chinese market. The project also illustrates how brownfield investment can combine existing industrial infrastructure with new production capacity, potentially allowing companies to expand established sites while upgrading manufacturing efficiency.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4723/lilac-agriculture-raises-2-3-mn-to-re-engineer-rhizobium-inoculants-for-pulse-growers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4723/lilac-agriculture-raises-2-3-mn-to-re-engineer-rhizobium-inoculants-for-pulse-growers.html Wed, 23 Sep 2026 16:44:00 +0530 Lilac Agriculture has raised $2.3 million in an oversubscribed Series Seed financing round as the agricultural biologicals company moves to commercialise a new generation of rhizobium inoculants designed around a longstanding weakness in pulse production: the inability of commercial strains to consistently compete with native soil bacteria. The round was led by Innova and closed more than 50 per cent above Lilac’s original $1.5 million target. 701 Fund, Ag Ventures Alliance, Evergreen Climate Innovations, North Dakota Development Fund, Pathway Ventures, Tall Grass Ventures and other investors also participated. For Lilac, the financing represents more than a conventional early-stage capital raise. The company is attempting to apply the logic of crop breeding to microorganisms, selecting and adapting rhizobial strains for the specific crops and soil environments in which they need to perform. That distinction addresses a critical problem in biological nitrogen fixation. Peas, lentils and dry beans form symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, bacteria that colonise plant roots and convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms the crop can use. Seed inoculation with rhizobial bacteria is already standard practice among pulse growers. The challenge is that the commercial strain applied to seed does not necessarily become the strain that dominates the plant's root nodules. Native rhizobial populations can already be established in agricultural soils and may out-compete introduced strains for access to nodules. When that happens, an inoculant may contain a highly effective nitrogen-fixing strain but deliver less benefit in the field than its laboratory characteristics would suggest. Lilac is building its technology around this competitiveness problem. Turning rhizobium development into a targeted adaptation process The company's Guided Adaptation platform is designed to optimise two characteristics simultaneously: nitrogen-fixing efficiency and the ability of a rhizobial strain to compete for nodule occupancy under real soil conditions. Rather than relying on a single broadly deployed microbial strain, Lilac begins with a diverse collection of rhizobial strains licensed exclusively from North Dakota State University. It then applies systematic selection and adaptation to develop strains suited to the environments in which they will ultimately be used. The approach is intended to create microorganisms that can both fix nitrogen efficiently and establish themselves successfully in the presence of native microbial populations. That could have direct implications for pulse productivity and input economics. A strain capable of more effective nitrogen fixation, while maintaining strong nodule occupancy, could improve the crop's nitrogen supply and potentially reduce dependence on synthetic nitrogen inputs. Lilac is initially focused on pulses, but the company sees the underlying platform as applicable beyond peas, lentils and dry beans, including potentially other row crops. Moving biological efficacy from the laboratory to the field The company is positioning field performance as a central part of its development model. Dr. Natalie DiNicola, CEO of Lilac Agriculture, said the company's objective is to address the gap between the performance expected from an inoculant and its ability to establish itself in the soil where growers actually use it. The current financing will support an expanded field-trial programme, the company's research and development pipeline, broader deployment of its lead product PL11 and preparations for entry into Canada. PL11 is already being used by pea and lentil growers across the Northern Plains. Early trials have reported strong colonisation of the target strain across multiple locations, while broader field testing is now underway to establish performance across a wider range of growing environments ahead of the next commercial season. For a biological product, that validation phase is strategically important. Microbial performance can be influenced by soil conditions, existing microbial populations, crop variety and environmental conditions, making consistency across locations a key commercial hurdle. Lilac's strategy is therefore built around measuring what happens after the inoculant reaches the field, rather than relying solely on laboratory characteristics or generic claims of biological activity. A large but underexploited microbial diversity The company's scientific thesis rests on the diversity of rhizobial bacteria available for development. Dr. Barney Geddes, Chief Scientific Officer at Lilac Agriculture, said commercial rhizobial development has historically relied on a relatively narrow set of strains, leaving significant microbial variation unexplored. Geddes grew up farming before developing a career as a rhizobium researcher and building an extensive laboratory programme at North Dakota State University. His experience underpins Lilac's effort to connect microbial discovery with field-level performance. The company argues that adapting strains to the specific crop and soil environment, while measuring nodulation under commercial field conditions, could provide a more reliable route to improving inoculant efficacy. That approach also reflects a broader shift taking place across agricultural biologicals. The first phase of the sector was largely about identifying useful microorganisms and bringing them into commercial formulations. The next challenge is making those organisms more predictable, robust and effective across the variability of commercial agriculture. Investor interest reflects the nitrogen-efficiency opportunityInnova's investment marks its first move into agricultural biologicals. Dean Didato, Partner at Innova, said the firm was attracted to Lilac's focus on improving strains that growers already understand and use rather than requiring farmers to adopt an entirely unfamiliar production practice. The investment thesis also extends beyond the company's initial pulse market. Lilac's platform has been designed with the potential to adapt microbial strains for additional crops, creating a pathway from a focused rhizobium business into a broader agricultural biologicals platform. That scalability is significant as growers and the agricultural industry look for ways to improve nutrient-use efficiency without simply increasing synthetic input use. Canada becomes the next commercial frontier Lilac is also preparing for expansion into Canada, where registration is underway. The market is strategically relevant because Canada is the world's largest producer and exporter of both peas and lentils. Establishing a product that can demonstrate consistent strain performance across Canadian growing conditions could therefore provide the company with a significant extension of its pulse business beyond the Northern Plains. The Canadian registration effort will also test the portability of Lilac's strain-development approach across different production environments. The larger proposition is a shift in how microbial inoculants are developed: from selecting strains for broad utility to adapting them for the specific biological and soil environments in which they must compete. If Lilac can translate that approach into repeatable field performance, rhizobium inoculation could move closer to becoming a precision biological input rather than a largely standardised seed-treatment practice. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4716/usda-funds-80-beef-projects-as-producers-move-further-up-value-chain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4716/usda-funds-80-beef-projects-as-producers-move-further-up-value-chain.html Tue, 22 Sep 2026 17:44:20 +0530 The US Department of Agriculture is directing $26.5 million into 194 value-added agriculture projects across the country, with beef producers accounting for nearly half of the funding as farmers and ranchers seek to capture more value beyond the sale of raw agricultural commodities. The funding, announced on 18 September through the Value Added Producer Grant programme, includes $11.6 million for 80 beef producer projects. The grants can be used for value-added product development, market research, processing, distribution and business and marketing strategies. The economics behind the programme are straightforward: moving further along the value chain can allow producers to retain a greater share of the final product's value. Rather than selling agricultural commodities at the farm gate, producers can use processing, branding, direct marketing and product development to reach higher-value consumer and institutional markets. For the US beef sector, the grants are supporting a range of business models, from expanded processing and distribution to specialised food products. Light Hill Meats in Columbia, Tennessee, for example, will receive $199,309 to support processing, marketing, sales and distribution as it expands its grain-finished, hormone-free beef products to new customers. Family Farm Direct LLC in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, has received $145,838 for supplies, distribution, processing and manufacturing linked to its Angus beef business. The company plans to turn its beef into dry-aged primal products, pet products and beef jerky. USDA estimates that the project could expand its customer base by almost 31,000 people and increase revenue by approximately $165,000. In Iowa, Blair Carney Farms LLC has been awarded $48,000 to support marketing and processing activities as the family-owned operation expands its market for Black Angus beef products. The individual projects point to a broader trend in agricultural business: producers are increasingly looking at processing and differentiated products as tools to diversify revenue rather than relying exclusively on commodity markets. USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Glen Smith said the programme is intended to give rural producers tools to build stronger businesses, create jobs and retain more economic value within rural communities. The department said value-added operations can help producers reduce their reliance on intermediaries while creating products from crops and livestock they produce themselves. US Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said the grants would support producers as they develop new products and increase the value of agricultural commodities, creating additional revenue opportunities and supporting economic activity in rural communities. The funding comes at a time when value addition is becoming an increasingly important component of agricultural competitiveness. Producers who can differentiate products and establish direct relationships with consumers or institutional buyers have opportunities to capture margins that would otherwise accrue further downstream. But the grants also underline the operational challenge of moving beyond primary production. Processing capacity, food-safety compliance, marketing expertise, distribution networks and access to reliable customers all become critical once a farm or ranch takes on more of the value chain. For the beef projects receiving funding, the commercial test will therefore extend beyond the grant itself. The ability to translate processing and marketing investments into sustained sales, stronger customer bases and higher producer revenues will determine the long-term impact. The USDA's latest funding round signals a clear push towards value creation rather than volume alone. With $26.5 million spread across 194 agricultural projects and $11.6 million directed specifically towards beef producers, the programme is putting capital behind a model in which farmers and ranchers seek to capture more of the value generated between the farm and the final customer. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/features/4/4706/indian-agritech-enters-its-capital-efficiency-era-as-investors-shift-from-growth-to-value-creation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/features/4/4706/indian-agritech-enters-its-capital-efficiency-era-as-investors-shift-from-growth-to-value-creation.html Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:07:45 +0530 India’s agritech sector is entering a more disciplined investment cycle, with investors moving beyond growth-at-all-costs to focus on capital efficiency, sustainable revenues and measurable value creation. As global agrifoodtech funding moderates, the emphasis is shifting towards businesses with stronger unit economics, predictable cash flows, proven technology and a credible path to profitability. In India, this reset is reshaping funding strategies, business models and exit expectations, directing capital towards supply-chain infrastructure, precision agriculture, biologicals, post-harvest solutions and B2B market linkages. The next phase will be defined not by how much capital agritech companies raise, but by how effectively they convert it into enterprise value and measurable outcomes for farmers. The global agrifoodtech market did not retreat in 2025; it merely changed course. Funding slipped from $16.75 billion in 2024 to $16.2 billion, while deal count fell by 12 per cent, according to the latest report from AgFunder. Investors were, in effect, placing almost the same amount of capital behind fewer companies, marking a sharp departure from the exuberance of 2021, when startups raised about $51.7 billion and the largest deal alone approached $3 billion. In 2025, Wonder’s $600 million Series D emerged as the biggest financing—nearly 80 per cent smaller. During the boom years, capital chased customer acquisition, geographic expansion and market share, often long before profitability entered the picture. Harsh Deodhar, Principal, Enrission India Capital, therefore believes India is entering a post-narrative, value-creation cycle. “Capital isn't leaving Indian agriculture; it is moving deeper into the value chain – look at the recent positive movements we have seen with impressive backings for Superplum — Series A, Arboreal Bioinnovations — Series A, KisaanSay — Series A, Pehle Jaisa — Pre-Series A and Milky Mist — IPO + institutional capital,” he says. Investors, perhaps, are now seeking reliable revenues, controlled costs, proven technology and a credible path to break-even. “Indian agritech is certainly moving into a more mature and disciplined phase,” says Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace. “Investors are now looking beyond growth narratives and placing greater emphasis on the ability to create sustainable, measurable value.” The shift was clearest in upstream agrifoodtech. The AgFunder report found that global companies working on farms, food production and biological systems attracted about $9 billion, up 7 per cent from the previous year, even as deal count fell 12 per cent. Late-stage and debt funding rose 72.7 per cent to $3.8 billion, suggesting that more businesses now have revenues, assets, receivables or predictable cash flows. Prem Kumar Vislawath, Founder and CEO of Marut Drones, describes the shift as a move from “growth at all costs to sustainable growth”. Agriculture’s longer operating cycles, fragmented customers, seasonal demand and working-capital needs make this discipline particularly important, he says. Other segments, however, came under pressure. The AgFunder report found that Midstream technology investment fell from $1.85 billion to $1.5 billion, while downstream businesses such as food retail and marketplaces declined from $6.5 billion to $5.8 billion. eGrocery remained the largest category, attracting $2.1 billion across only 86 deals, as investors backed established leaders rather than another wave of challengers. Capital also shifted towards science-led agriculture. Bioenergy & Biomaterials raised $1.8 billion, while Agricultural Biotechnology, Farm Management Software, Sensing & IoT, Midstream Technologies, and In-store Retail & Restaurant Technology each drew $1.4 billion. Agricultural Biotechnology led deal activity with 256 financings. Deeptech accounted for 32 per cent of agrifoodtech funding, a ten-year high, while climate-tech investment recovered to $3.9 billion. The United States led investment with $5.9 billion, followed by India at $2.2 billion, China at $1.2 billion, the Netherlands at $900 million and the United Kingdom at $700 million. India took a more practical route: only 9 per cent of its funding went into deeptech, with most capital supporting eGrocery, digital marketplaces and agrifintech. Sonali Singh, Head of Strategy and Planning at Annam.ai, IIT Ropar, says that investors are focusing on scalable models, operational execution and measurable value creation. “Investors have become more selective, with greater emphasis on demonstrated execution in areas such as precision agriculture with measurable ROI, supply-chain infrastructure, embedded finance and B2B agricultural commerce,” she says. Vinay Nair, Co-founder and CEO of KhetiBuddy, sees a more mature relationship between capital and agriculture. Five years ago, investors focused on farmers onboarded, districts covered and growth rates. Today, they are asking what value a product creates, what it costs to deliver and whether the economics improve over time. “That shift is healthy,” he says. “It is pushing the sector towards building things that genuinely work rather than things that look good in a pitch deck.” That scrutiny is reshaping business models. Marketplaces may handle large transaction volumes and still lose money after logistics, fulfilment, credit and support costs. Software businesses can offer recurring revenue, but agritech SaaS companies often carry the cost of sensors, field agents, agronomists and hardware installation. Deepak Pareek, Founder of HnyB Tech-Incubations, says that investors are moving beyond digital reach and transaction volumes. “Gross merchandise value and top-line growth were the primary proxies for scale,” he says. “Today, contribution margin and net unit economics per transaction or per acre take precedence.” The test, ultimately, is whether capital produces durable value. As Dr Prithwi Singh, Co-founder and CEO of Khetika, puts it: “If farmers are not becoming more profitable, if quality isn’t improving, and if supply chains aren’t becoming more transparent, then scale alone has very little meaning.” From Funding to Enterprise Value India’s agritech funding cycle is entering a more exacting phase. The opportunity remains large, spanning supply-chain modernisation, farm productivity, post-harvest infrastructure and formal credit. Investors, however, are asking whether companies can convert that opportunity into sustainable businesses. India ranked second globally in agrifoodtech funding in 2025, attracting $2.2 billion. During FY22 and FY23, Indian agritech companies raised about $1.8 billion across 189 deals, averaging roughly $10 million. Ninjacart raised $145 million, DeHaat $115 million and FreshToHome $104 million. The focus was on building customer networks, expanding distribution and increasing transaction volumes before prioritising profitability. That model became harder to sustain as global liquidity tightened and valuations came under pressure. “For founders, the right balance is not necessarily between growth and profitability, but between growth and responsible capital deployment,” says Agnishwar Jayaprakash. “Businesses should invest in expansion where there is clear demand and a viable path to sustainable returns. At the same time, they should maintain financial discipline, strengthen governance and build capabilities that can support long-term growth.” In FY24, funding fell to about $380 million across 83 deals, with the average deal size dropping to roughly $5 million. Around 70 per cent went to B2B market-linkage platforms, farm analytics, advisory services and agri-inputs. LeadsConnect raised $60 million and Vegrow $46 million, with both rounds focused on specific commercial capabilities. FY25 reinforced the shift. Funding held broadly steady at $383 million, but deals fell to 68 and the average cheque rose to roughly $6 million. Nearly 70 per cent went to B2B market linkage, precision agriculture and Farm-as-a-Service models. Sahyadri Farms raised $46 million, while Ecozen Solutions secured $30 million. The change is not simply about deal size, but about the purpose of capital. Earlier funding was largely aimed at capturing markets; recent rounds are supporting procurement networks, productivity tools, advisory services, input distribution and climate-linked infrastructure. Investors are examining repeat revenue, post-logistics margins, customer-acquisition recovery and the effect of growth on cash generation and working capital. “The market is increasingly distinguishing between valuation and actual enterprise value creation,” says Pravin Patel, Founder, Brio Hydroponics. “During the earlier funding cycle, companies could sometimes command significant valuations based primarily on growth expectations. Today, investors are looking more closely at revenue quality, margins, cash flows, governance and the capital required to generate incremental growth.” The economics vary by model. Produce marketplaces require capital for inventory, logistics and receivables. Farm-management software companies face longer sales cycles and costly implementations, while precision-agriculture platforms may need sensors, field teams and agronomists before recurring revenue takes hold. A company can process large volumes and still lose money. “Every funding round should create measurable business milestones rather than simply extending runway,” says Sonali. Founders, she adds, should focus on markets where they have a competitive advantage, stronger-margin business lines, operational efficiency and predictable revenue. Debt is becoming part of this discipline. Companies with revenues, assets or predictable deployment models can expand without repeated dilution, while lenders impose a repayment test that venture capital can defer. Valuations are consequently shifting towards revenue quality, gross margins, retention, capital efficiency and the path to break-even. “Valuations are undergoing a necessary alignment with ground-level economics,” says Deepak Pareek. “During the funding boom, many agritech companies were priced like enterprise SaaS or hyper-growth consumer platforms, despite operating in low-margin, high-touch supply-chain environments. Modern valuations are anchored around sustainable EBITDA multiples and real net revenues.” The FY25 operating numbers help explain this scrutiny. Poshn generated Rs 923 crore in gross revenue on Rs 66 crore of funding, a revenue-to-funding ratio of 14.07. BigHaat reported Rs 1,100 crore on Rs 200 crore, while FarMart generated Rs 1,961 crore on Rs 491 crore. Their revenue-to-funding ratios were 5.50 and 4.00, respectively. Samunnati recorded 1.73, DeHaat 1.57, Ninjacart 0.60, Stellapps 0.41 and Arya.ag 0.21. These ratios should not be read as a direct measure of capital efficiency or profitability, as business models have very different capital requirements. Asset-light companies may naturally generate higher revenue relative to funding, while businesses investing in inventory, logistics, credit or physical infrastructure require more capital upfront. A marketplace facilitating Rs 100 crore of transactions at a 5 per cent commission earns only Rs 5 crore before logistics, payments, credit, fulfilment and support costs. Profitability provides another lens. Ergos reported Rs 6 crore in profit on Rs 223 crore in revenue. Nutrifresh generated Rs 14 crore on Rs 145 crore, while Arya.ag recorded Rs 34 crore on Rs 436 crore. Ninjacart reported a loss of Rs 256 crore, followed by DeHaat at Rs 207 crore, Samunnati at Rs 74 crore and Stellapps at Rs 55 crore. Capital efficiency will also shape exits. Over the next three to five years, strategic acquisitions, private equity buyouts, secondary transactions and selective IPOs are likely. Strategic M&A could lead as agribusinesses, global input companies, FMCG groups and logistics players seek farmgate access, technology and stronger supply chains. “Strategic acquisitions will be the most natural and most value-creating exit path over the next several years,” Vinay Nair says. Public listings will remain selective. “Only a smaller group of full-stack, profitable agribusinesses with transparent governance and robust revenue scale will successfully list,” Deepak Pareek says. Agnishwar Jayaprakash sees IPOs as one possible route. “IPOs may emerge as a viable option for a smaller number of mature companies with strong governance, predictable revenue and sustainable profitability,” he says. “However, public listings should be viewed as one of several possible outcomes rather than the only measure of success.” Harsh Deodhar expects India to see a combination of strategic acquisitions, IPOs and secondary transactions, rather than one dominant exit route. “Large FMCG companies, food processors, agricultural-input companies, logistics companies, financial institutions and global corporations have strong reasons to acquire technology, distribution networks, brands and intellectual property. We are already seeing how strategic capital is entering food and agriculture. For example, Temasek invested in Milky Mist ahead of its IPO, while the company has built a large-scale value-added dairy business with significant profitability and distribution,” he says. According to Harsh Deodhar, India’s agricultural exports rose from $34.5 billion in FY20 to $51.1 billion in FY25, while processed food’s share reached 20.4 per cent, underscoring the shift from commodity production towards processing, branding and export-led value creation. The exit ecosystem is expected to deepen as more Indian agribusinesses achieve institutional scale and strategic buyers increasingly view startups as acquisition targets rather than merely technology vendors. However, a deeper exit ecosystem will require more than headline valuations. It will depend on deeper late-stage capital, stronger governance, greater M&A participation and predictable regulation. As Pravin Patel points out, “The objective should not be to achieve the highest possible valuation in every funding round. The objective should be to build a company whose fundamentals continuously justify a higher valuation over time.” For Indian agritech, therefore, capital efficiency is emerging as the critical link between growth, profitability and long-term exit value. Making Agritech Investable India’s agricultural economy offers enormous scale. What it lacks is a sufficiently predictable investment environment. For Deepak Pareek, moving from boutique venture bets to large pools of institutional and sovereign capital will require structural and policy changes. Trade policy is a key concern: sudden export bans, stocking limits and duty changes create uncertainty for institutional investors. Stable, long-term trade policies, modernised spot markets and stronger contract-farming enforcement would reduce that risk. India also needs institutionalised testing, assaying and block-level traceability to ensure commodities consistently meet stringent overseas maximum residue limit (MRL) standards. Open, privacy-compliant data systems linking land records, soil health, crop signatures and weather data could simplify risk assessment for insurers and lenders while reducing customer-acquisition and servicing costs. He also sees a role for blended finance, with risk-sharing facilities, credit guarantees and parametric weather insurance backed by multilateral agencies helping reduce risks for private equity and institutional debt funds investing in agricultural infrastructure. The next requirement is a stronger market and data infrastructure. Vinay Nair points to interoperability as foundational. “Platforms like AgriStack and Bharat-VISTAAR are building important layers, but the ecosystem needs open standards that allow enterprise platforms and government data systems to exchange verified information seamlessly,” he says. Better price discovery and contract enforcement are equally important, particularly as institutional investors demand transparent supply chains and independently verifiable sustainability claims. The transition to regenerative or organic farming can itself carry significant costs, including input changes, certification timelines and early-season yield variability. “If policy frameworks and blended finance instruments can help absorb some of that switching cost, it would unlock a significant wave of investment into the practices and platforms that support sustainable agriculture at scale,” he says. Agnishwar Jayaprakash believes the investment case will depend on progress across policy, infrastructure, technology adoption and market access. “Stable and supportive regulations can provide greater confidence to investors, while improved rural infrastructure can help technology-led businesses scale more efficiently,” he says. Reliable agricultural data, stronger digital connectivity and wider technology adoption could improve decision-making, while investors will increasingly expect strong governance, transparent reporting and scalable operating models. Greater collaboration among government, industry, financial institutions, technology companies and farmer communities, he argues, can help translate agriculture’s scale and diversity into productivity, sustainability and long-term value. For Pravin Patel, the larger transformation will come when agriculture is treated not merely as an activity shaped by seasons and subsidies, but as a professionally managed, technology-enabled and investable economic sector. That requires stronger infrastructure, long-term finance, better crop and market data, insurance, predictable policies, contract enforcement, post-harvest systems, cold chains and faster adoption of precision and climate-resilient technologies. Financing structures must also reflect agriculture’s longer gestation periods and different cash-flow patterns. Pravin Patel sees an opportunity for a new generation of “agripreneurs”—professionals, investors and entrepreneurs willing to enter agriculture when infrastructure, technology, professional farm management and market linkages are in place. “The future of agricultural investment, therefore, may not be capital simply funding agritech companies; it will increasingly be capital funding productive agricultural ecosystems,” he says. Sonali says Indian agribusiness must move from being viewed as a fragmented, high-risk sector to a scalable, technology-enabled industry with more predictable returns. Greater market formalisation, supply-chain modernisation and digital infrastructure could turn India’s fragmented agricultural landscape into greater scale and efficiency. But data access must be balanced with farmer protection. “The ecosystem requires responsible data-sharing frameworks that allow agribusinesses to build solutions around input optimisation, advisory services, insurance, credit and supply-chain efficiency while protecting farmer interests,” Sonali says. Technology adoption, meanwhile, will depend less on headline adoption numbers than on demonstrable economic value. Lower input costs, higher productivity, reduced risk and better market access will determine whether technologies become embedded in farmers’ workflows. Policy consistency remains equally critical because state-level market regulations, food-safety rules, export policies, land regulations and commodity-movement controls can materially affect agribusiness economics. Harsh Deodhar believes India’s biggest agricultural opportunity lies in formalising and connecting its fragmented value chain through stronger FPOs, digital systems, institutional credit, warehousing, cold chains and modern processing. He sees investments such as KiVi, Fishmongers and Loopworm as examples of businesses addressing structural inefficiencies across finance, distribution, aquaculture and biological production, signalling a broader shift from agritech investing towards agricultural infrastructure and value creation. For Prem Kumar Vislawath, policy consistency is the first priority, followed by technology adoption at scale and stronger institutional financing. Agricultural technology businesses often require equipment finance, working capital and structured debt alongside venture capital. Better digital land records, farm data, weather intelligence, storage, logistics and traceability could unlock new business models. The final requirement is linking capital to outcomes. “Capital should increasingly be directed towards companies that can demonstrate measurable outcomes—higher farm productivity, lower input costs, improved resource efficiency, greater farmer income and climate resilience,” he says. The dairy industry illustrates why such investment may need to be patient. Tamal Chatterjee, Chief Growth Officer of Sid’s Farm, says success by 2030 should not be measured by annual recurring revenue or customer numbers alone, but by whether “safe, trustworthy milk” becomes the default expectation for Indian consumers. That means making traceability the norm, ensuring more value flows to farmers, expanding quality-led operations and building an Indian dairy brand capable of representing the country’s dairy quality globally. Investment, he says, requires patient capital to build infrastructure, farmer ecosystems and quality systems. “Ultimately, an investment is more than working capital—it’s a commitment to building the things that genuinely make a difference,” he says. The requirements are closely linked. Policy certainty supports infrastructure investment; better data improves credit and insurance; stronger markets improve price discovery; and clear economic benefits accelerate technology adoption. India has the scale, entrepreneurial talent and technology capability to build globally relevant agricultural businesses. The next task is creating conditions that make those businesses easier to assess, finance and scale. As Prem Kumar Vislawath puts it, “The next decade of Indian agritech will not be defined by how much capital the sector raises, but by how effectively that capital is converted into productive assets, sustainable businesses and measurable value for farmers.” -- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4702/robigo-raises-series-a-to-scale-engineered-biologicals-for-crop-protection.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4702/robigo-raises-series-a-to-scale-engineered-biologicals-for-crop-protection.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:15:06 +0530 Agricultural biotechnology company Robigo has raised a Series A round led by Leaps by Bayer, with participation from Illumina Ventures, SVG Thrive, Congruent Ventures and Endeavor8, as it moves to commercialise engineered microbial solutions for crop protection. The financing will support the development and commercial launch of biological products targeting fungal diseases in soybeans and specialty crops in the United States. Robigo also plans to expand its pipeline to additional soil-borne pathogens affecting broadacre crops, addressing an estimated $10 billion market opportunity. The company’s lead programme targets Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in soybeans, a disease that Robigo estimates causes $200 million to $500 million in annual losses for US soybean farmers. The company said its engineered microbial solution has matched the performance of commercially available chemical treatments at half the cost, with a targeted commercial launch in 2028. A second product under development targets fusarium wilt, identified by the company as a leading disease challenge for lettuce and berry growers. In trials, the solution increased yields by three times compared with untreated controls, with a commercial launch targeted for 2029. Robigo’s technology is based on synthetic biology, using engineered microbes designed to produce active ingredients that target pathogens. Its ARGO platform uses computationally designed active ingredients and enables the company to move from computational design and microbial engineering through lead validation and field testing in less than 20 months, compared with an industry development cycle of three to five years. The company said its engineered microbes are designed as a one-time treatment that continuously produces and delivers the active ingredients at the plant, providing season-long protection without requiring growers to change existing application practices. “At Robigo, we believe in building on nature’s foundation to engineer biological products that match or exceed the performance of today's chemistries. Growers shouldn't have to choose between a product that works and one that's affordable or sustainable,” said Dr. Andee Wallace, Founder & CEO, Robigo. The Series A will also help Robigo expand beyond its initial crop protection programmes and develop solutions for additional soil-borne pathogens across broadacre agriculture. “The scalability of the ARGO platform is what sets Robigo apart,” said Dr. Juergen Eckhardt, EVP and Head of Leaps by Bayer. “They are not just developing a single product but rather building an engine that can rapidly address diverse soil-borne pathogens across broadacre crops.” Robigo said its approach is designed to combine the performance expectations of conventional crop protection products with the potential sustainability benefits of biological solutions, as growers face increasing pressure to manage crop diseases while controlling input costs and environmental impact. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4698/bioweg-to-build-europes-largest-bacterial-cellulose-plant-backed-by-series-a-of-30-million.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4698/bioweg-to-build-europes-largest-bacterial-cellulose-plant-backed-by-series-a-of-30-million.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:52:56 +0530 BIOWEG, the German deeptech company producing high-performance, biodegradable bacterial cellulose to replace fossil-based polymers and intentionally added microplastics, will begin construction of Europe’s largest bacterial cellulose production plant in Q4 2026. The first-of-a-kind facility, located in Elsdorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, will produce up to 10,000 tonnes a year, with first commercial volumes expected in 2028 — bringing onshore production of a material that Europe today almost entirely imports. Europe’s restriction on intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles, adopted under REACH in 2023, is removing fossil-based microplastics from fertiliser and seed coatings, cosmetics and detergents on a phased timetable running to the end of the decade. Formulators need replacements that match polymer performance and are available at industrial volume, in quantities they can rely on. Bacterial cellulose has the functional profile to do it; what has been missing is European capacity. Elsdorf closes that gap, with construction starting before the end of this year and industrial-scale production ready from 2028. To accelerate development, BIOWEG has allocated around 60 per cent of its total funding to the new site. Since announcing its €16 million Series A led by Axeleo Capital in September 2025, BIOWEG has secured a further € 14 million: €2 million in equity from new investor Rabo Ventures, extending the Series A to € 18 million, € 10.3 million in non-dilutive funding provided by the EU as part of the “Produktives.NRW” grant competition under the EFRE/JTF Program for North Rhine-Westphalia 2021–2027, and 2 million from other sources, bringing total funding to € 35 million. The plant’s economics start with its location. Built directly within one of Germany’s largest sugar industrial complexes, the facility will valorise molasses and other side streams as fermentation feedstock metres from where they are produced — cutting logistics emissions, lowering operating costs and securing supply. It is designed as a fully automated plant, drawing on the sugar industry’s decades of automation and robotics experience in operating profitably on thin margins, a model BIOWEG is applying to biomanufacturing. BIOWEG’s pilot site in Quakenbrück remains operational throughout construction: currently being upgraded and fully automated from around 100 to at least 200 tonnes a year, it will supply commercial sales batches through 2027 and 2028 until Elsdorf comes online and serves as the automation blueprint for the larger plant. BIOWEG’s ingredients are already in commercial use, and Elsdorf is being built to meet increasing demand for them. In agriculture, the company’s microplastics-free fertiliser coatings, seed coatings and extrusion aids deliver the required functionality at up to 70% lower dosage than conventional synthetic alternatives in some formulations, lowering cost-in-use under industrial conditions. In cosmetics, personal care and home care, its bacterial cellulose-based ingredients provide texture enhancement, rheology control, suspending properties, film-forming and sensory effects from a fully bio-based, biodegradable input. Both are supported by BIOWEG’s in-house formulation team, which develops each ingredient against the customer’s specific use case and carries reformulation work in-house — a differentiator the company weighs equally with scale. The plant also anchors BIOWEG in a region rebuilding its industrial base. The Rheinische Revier is undergoing a long-term transformation from coal-based industry towards novel technologies, and Elsdorf offers established infrastructure and access to skilled workers from the Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen and Ruhrgebiet talent pools; around 30 high-tech jobs will be created at the site. BIOWEG has grown within the region’s innovation ecosystem, including Circular Valley, Gateway Factory and Chemstars, and its expansion aligns with the direction of European policy: the Commission’s bioeconomy strategy and the industrial biotechnology package expected this autumn both target domestic biomanufacturing capacity, shorter supply chains, and industrial value built on renewable feedstocks. Dr Prateek Mahalwar, Co-founder & CEO, BIOWEG said: “Financing a First-of-a-Kind plant is the hardest step in industrial biotechnology, and it is the step we are now taking, with the German government and the EU sharing the risk of building. Food and agricultural side streams will always be available locally in Europe, and Elsdorf is where we’ll turn them into high-performance, biodegradable ingredients at industrial scale. Our customers reformulate when the performance holds and the cost works, and this plant is built to deliver both at the volumes they need.” Dr ir Katrien Swerts, Executive Director, Rabo Ventures, said: “BIOWEG has reached the point where proven technology and commercial demand can translate into industrial-scale impact. Its ingredients offer manufacturers a high-performance, biodegradable alternative to fossil-based polymers and intentionally added microplastics, while the Elsdorf facility provides the capacity needed to serve customers at scale. This combination of market need, compelling economics and a clear path to industrialisation makes this the right moment for us to invest. The investment also reflects W&R’s Clean Energy strategy of selectively supporting technologies and infrastructure that accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and circular economy while delivering long-term value for clients and society.” Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, North Rhine-Westphalia: " We are tackling a huge problem at its root: microplastics entering our rivers through every wastewater pipe. In the Rheinische Revier, we are demonstrating how bacteria can be turned into genuine alternatives – made in North Rhine-Westphalia for the whole of Europe. This is structural change that pays off: new jobs, new value creation, and less dependence on imports.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4697/swen-terra-reaches-125-million-one-year-after-launch-as-regenerative-agriculture-strategy-gathers-momentum.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4697/swen-terra-reaches-125-million-one-year-after-launch-as-regenerative-agriculture-strategy-gathers-momentum.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:44:28 +0530 The SWEN Terra fund, which is targeting €200 million, has attracted strong interest from institutional investors, notably COFIDES, the Spanish public fund manager, investing through the Social Impact Fund (FIS), seeking exposure to regenerative agriculture through a strategy that combines environmental impact with long-term financial performance. Classified as an Article 9 fund under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), SWEN Terra is an agriculture impact strategy dedicated to ecosystem restoration through regenerative agriculture in Europe. The fund invests in developers and operators of agricultural assets (annual crops and orchards) and transformation projects for logistics assets, processing units and distribution networks that support regenerative agriculture assets. The fundraising milestone comes as SWEN Terra announces its second investment in Horizom, a French company developing bamboo plantations to support a domestic biomaterials value chain. The €10 million investment will help establish bamboo plantations on farmers' land, diversifying farm incomes while supplying low-carbon materials for the construction sector, including insulation and building materials. This follows the fund’s first investment in GreenPods, a French developer of regenerative agriculture farms specialising in nut production, in September 2025. Emmanuel Simon, Managing Director who leads the SWEN Terra strategy, said: "Reaching €125 million in commitments in one year of fundraising is a strong endorsement of our investment thesis. Investors increasingly recognise that regenerative agriculture is not only essential for restoring natural capital and strengthening food systems but can also deliver attractive long-term financial returns. “As we continue deploying capital, we are building a diversified portfolio of businesses that demonstrates environmental impact and attractive financial returns can go hand in hand. We are proud to be supporting Horizom as it invests to promote biodiversity on farmers’ land and increase supply of sustainable construction materials." The fund's investment pipeline continues to develop across several agricultural sectors, reflecting a broader evolution in the market. SWEN Terra is actively engaging with established agricultural businesses and experienced entrepreneurs seeking growth capital to accelerate the transition towards more regenerative production models. The fund is targeting around 12 investments in total and plans to complete a number of additional investments by end 2026/early 2027. The strategy is also strengthening its investment capabilities with the appointment of Loïse Desailly, who joins SWEN Terra as Senior Analyst on 1 September, bringing the dedicated investment team to four professionals. Emmanuel added: "There is a wealth of investment opportunities across Europe as established players and entrepreneurs embrace the benefits of regenerative agriculture. This reinforces our conviction that this is becoming an increasingly attractive investment opportunity. The emergence of additional specialist investors is also a positive sign for the asset class and highlights the need for specialist expertise to finance the transition towards more resilient agricultural systems." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4675/world-bank-group-approves-666-74-mn-for-viet-nams-trade-and-coastal-economy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4675/world-bank-group-approves-666-74-mn-for-viet-nams-trade-and-coastal-economy.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:14:35 +0530 The World Bank Group has approved three projects worth a combined $666.74 million to strengthen Viet Nam’s trade connectivity, improve climate resilience and support sustainable fisheries, targeting infrastructure that links agricultural and manufactured exports to markets while strengthening livelihoods along the country’s coast. The financing will support transport corridors in Hai Phong and the Mekong Delta, alongside investments in fishing ports and coastal infrastructure across the North, Central and Mekong Delta regions. The projects are designed to reduce the cost of moving goods, improve access to markets and help communities manage growing climate and environmental risks. “Better transport corridors and urban services lower the cost of doing business, and that is how infrastructure turns into growth and jobs. These operations will help Viet Nam improve competitiveness while managing climate risks and using its natural resources sustainably,” said Mariam J. Sherman, World Bank Division Director for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR. In Hai Phong, the Hai Phong City Resilience Development Project will finance a new section of Ring Road 3 to reduce truck travel times between key locations. The project will also expand wastewater treatment capacity and strengthen flood protection around the historic city centre. More than 311,000 residents are expected to benefit, while construction is projected to create employment for approximately 10,700 casual workers and 2,300 professionals. The Mekong Resilient Regional Connectivity Project will rehabilitate 251 kilometres of key highways in the Mekong Delta to international road safety standards. The upgraded network is expected to provide reliable, year-round connectivity for 856,800 direct users and improve farmers’ ability to move agricultural goods to markets during periods of heavy rainfall. Construction is expected to generate approximately 10,900 jobs annually. The third operation, the Sustainable Fisheries Development Project, will modernise nine fishing ports across the North, Central and Mekong Delta regions and strengthen the infrastructure and institutional capacity needed to support sustainable and climate-resilient fishing and aquaculture. The fisheries programme is expected to benefit more than 525,000 fishers, aquaculture farmers and coastal residents through higher incomes, improved seafood quality and lower post-harvest losses. Women are expected to account for at least half of the project’s direct beneficiaries. The three operations are being financed through loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the World Bank Group’s lending arm for middle-income countries. The $260.1 million Hai Phong City Resilience Development Project was approved on September 4, followed by the $251.12 million Mekong Resilient Regional Connectivity Project on September 9 and the $155.52 million Sustainable Fisheries Development Project on September 14. Together, the projects connect two priorities that are increasingly central to Viet Nam’s growth strategy: making the movement of goods more efficient and strengthening the resilience of the communities and natural-resource sectors that underpin regional economies. The World Bank Group said its broader operations are focused on creating more and better jobs by strengthening the foundations for economic growth, supporting private-sector development and mobilising investment. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4674/world-bank-group-backs-1-06-billion-push-to-decarbonise-brazils-energy-intensive-industries.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4674/world-bank-group-backs-1-06-billion-push-to-decarbonise-brazils-energy-intensive-industries.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:04:45 +0530 The World Bank Group is backing Brazil’s push to decarbonise its most energy-intensive industries, combining more than $1 billion in concessional and development financing with an effort to turn the country’s renewable energy advantage into a new source of industrial competitiveness, investment and jobs. Implemented in partnership with Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES), the initiative targets industrial and energy value chains including steel, cement, chemicals, aluminium and low-carbon fuels. The programme is designed to accelerate deployment of emerging technologies, reduce the risks associated with early-stage investments and draw private capital into Brazil’s industrial transition. The financing comprises a $1 billion loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and a $60 million Clean Technology Fund loan. It is expected to mobilise a further $1.8 billion in development and commercial financing, taking the potential financing pool linked to the initiative to about $2.86 billion. Resources will be channelled through BNDES, which has a financing portfolio of approximately R$585 billion and is positioned to help move low-carbon technologies from demonstration and early investment towards commercial scale. The project supports Brazil’s target of reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of industrial GDP by 30 per cent by 2033. The programme will focus on three interconnected areas. The first is low-carbon industrial commodities, with financing directed towards cement, steel, glass, chemicals and aluminium producers seeking to cut emissions while maintaining competitiveness in international markets. The second is low-carbon fuels, where investments will support sustainable aviation fuel, e-methanol, biomethane and other next-generation fuels. These technologies are expected to play a growing role in reducing emissions from sectors such as aviation and maritime transport, where direct electrification remains challenging. The third area is common-user infrastructure. Shared assets such as green hydrogen and ammonia storage facilities and pipelines can provide multiple industrial users with access to low-carbon inputs, helping reduce infrastructure costs and lowering barriers to technology adoption. A key objective is to use public and development finance to demonstrate the commercial viability of low-carbon industrial investments and crowd in private capital as markets mature. By reducing the risks faced by early movers, the initiative seeks to create conditions for broader commercial financing of industrial decarbonisation. “Brazil's clean energy matrix is one of its greatest competitive advantages. This project is about turning that advantage into a driver of industrial transformation, one that reduces emissions, attracts investment, and creates quality jobs in the industries of tomorrow. By working with BNDES, we are combining the reach of Brazil's premier development bank with the World Bank's global experience towards a more prosperous and more sustainable Brazil,” said Cécile Fruman, World Bank Director for Brazil. The initiative places Brazil’s relatively clean power system at the centre of a broader industrial strategy: using renewable energy and emerging low-carbon technologies not only to cut industrial emissions, but also to build new value chains around cleaner commodities, fuels and shared infrastructure. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4673/adb-reaffirms-support-for-imt-gt-with-more-than-3-7-billion-in-regional-initiatives.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4673/adb-reaffirms-support-for-imt-gt-with-more-than-3-7-billion-in-regional-initiatives.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:57:36 +0530 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reaffirmed its support for the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), positioning regional connectivity, sustainable development and cross-border economic integration as priorities for the next phase of cooperation across the three countries. “As the region’s main bank, ADB remains committed to supporting ASEAN and its subregional cooperation programs, including IMT-GT, in advancing connectivity, sustainability, resilience, and economic opportunity,” said Nianshan Zhang, Director General of ADB’s Southeast Asia Department, at the 32nd IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting. In a joint ministerial statement, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand welcomed ADB’s continued role as IMT-GT’s regional development partner and recognised its broader role in ASEAN. The ministers highlighted ADB’s financial and technical support across green cities, tourism, economic corridors and zones, institutional strengthening and project management. The meeting comes as IMT-GT prepares to enter a new implementation cycle. ADB commended the preparation of the group’s Implementation Blueprint 2027–2031, which places greater emphasis on economic resilience, integrated networks and shared prosperity. The development bank supported preparation of the blueprint and said it is ready to assist with implementation, including project identification and financing mobilisation. ADB’s involvement in IMT-GT has already built a substantial portfolio across the subregion. As of August 2026, ADB-supported initiatives benefiting IMT-GT areas were valued at more than $3.7 billion, spanning transport, energy, agriculture, education, health, water, urban services, finance and trade. The portfolio includes 23 sovereign loans and grants totalling almost $2.7 billion, alongside eight private-sector investments worth about $805 million in energy and information and communication technology. ADB has also provided 40 technical assistance initiatives valued at more than $24 million. The scale and breadth of the portfolio underline the increasingly integrated nature of IMT-GT’s development agenda, where infrastructure investment is being combined with private-sector participation, institutional capacity building and initiatives aimed at strengthening regional economic links. With the 2027–2031 blueprint now taking shape, ADB’s role is expected to extend beyond project financing towards helping the three countries translate regional priorities into investable projects and mobilise capital for implementation. The focus on connectivity, resilience and integrated networks also reflects the growing importance of subregional platforms in supporting more diversified and sustainable economic growth across Southeast Asia. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4665/gravity-gardens-raises-2-6-million-to-scale-dry-seed-activation-technology-across-european-crops.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4665/gravity-gardens-raises-2-6-million-to-scale-dry-seed-activation-technology-across-european-crops.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:44:53 +0530 Gravity Gardens, a Nijmegen-based AgTech startup developing chemical-free seed activation technology, has raised €2.6 million in a Seed round as it moves towards commercialising a dry process designed to improve seed establishment without adding water, chemicals or coatings to the seed. The financing combines equity investment with European Regional Development Fund (EFRO) regional development funding and was backed by VP Capital, Brightlands Venture Partners, Graduate Ventures and a group of private investors. The latest round follows earlier support from StartLife and a Rabobank innovation loan, taking Gravity Gardens' total funding raised to more than €3 million. Founded in 2024 by Founder and CEO Paulino Valdés and co-founder and CTO Robin Le Vigouroux, Gravity Gardens is targeting a part of the seed industry where technical performance has long been established but economics and processing complexity have limited adoption. Seed activation is not a new concept. Seed companies have used treatments for decades to improve the speed and uniformity of emergence and help seeds perform under difficult establishment conditions. The commercial challenge, however, has been the process required to achieve those benefits. Conventional priming is typically a wet process. Seeds are hydrated under controlled conditions and subsequently dried before they can be handled, stored and planted. That adds processing steps, infrastructure requirements, capacity constraints and costs. As a result, seed activation has largely been economically viable in higher-value vegetable and flower crops, while remaining out of reach for many broad-acre crops where seed volumes are substantially higher and margins per unit of seed are lower. Gravity Gardens is attempting to change that equation by removing water from the process altogether. Its technology is designed as a dry seed activation process that requires no hydration stage, does not add chemicals and leaves no coating on the seed. The company argues that eliminating the need to hydrate and subsequently dry seed could simplify processing and reduce the cost barriers that have restricted seed activation to a relatively narrow segment of the market. The company is also positioning the technology around seed vigour rather than germination alone. While germination measures whether a seed can successfully produce a seedling under defined test conditions, vigour is more closely linked to how rapidly and robustly a seed establishes under variable field conditions. “Every seed company in Europe has a seed lot sitting in storage that germinates at grade A quality on the bench and then disappoints in the field,” Valdés said. “Germination matters, but it is not the number that decides your season. Vigour is, and vigour is the first thing you lose as a lot ages or as the spring turns against you.” He said conventional priming has remained effective but its wet processing requirements have limited where its economics work. “Priming has been the industry’s answer for forty years and it is a good answer, but it is a wet one, and the cost and complications that come with that are why it only ever made sense for a handful of high-value crops,” Valdés said. “What we have is dry, which takes those costs out. Cheap enough for field crops, and aimed at the thing that actually decides the season. That combination is what has not existed before.” The proposition is attracting investors looking for technologies that can improve agricultural productivity while reducing dependence on inputs and natural resources. Erica van Eeghen, Senior Manager Ventures at VP Capital, said the company's focus on seeds addresses what she described as the foundation of the agricultural production system. “The most impactful innovations are often the ones that improve the foundations of a system. Seeds are exactly that foundation,” van Eeghen said. “Gravity Gardens has developed a technology that could make stronger crop establishment accessible to many more farmers while using fewer natural resources. That is what makes this investment so compelling.” Gravity Gardens says its technology has already undergone seven external trials, including validation experiments conducted by Vertify. The company has its own research, development and production facility in Nijmegen and is running programmes with Vertify, HLB, Oost NL and Foodvalley. Through Foodvalley, Gravity Gardens has also accessed an SME Innovation Voucher. The technology was developed with support from the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre Noordwijk, adding an unusual technology-development pathway to a company focused on one of agriculture's most basic inputs. For investors, the potential lies not only in improving establishment but in expanding the addressable market for seed activation. If a dry process can materially reduce the cost and operational complexity associated with conventional priming, activation could potentially move from a specialist treatment for high-value seeds towards a broader agricultural input technology applicable to field crops and horticultural production. Marcel Zijp, Senior Investment Manager at Brightlands Venture Partners, said the platform combines biological performance with the potential for wider commercial deployment. “Germination is the most critical phase in plant development. Gravity Gardens’ platform stimulates the plant’s natural power, and its cost competitive technology can be applied in a wide variety of crops,” Zijp said. “We believe this is an important step towards less chemical use and the natural strengthening of plant germination.” The new funding will now shift Gravity Gardens from technology validation towards industrialisation. The company plans to invest in industrial-scale equipment development and expand trial programmes across additional crops, with market readiness targeted for 2027. Gravity Gardens is working with Dutch engineering group Demcon on the development of industrial-scale equipment while continuing field and research programmes in parallel. The combination of equipment scale-up and expanded crop trials will be critical to determining whether the technology can move from a promising seed-treatment platform into a commercially deployable solution for large-volume agricultural markets. The timing also reflects a broader shift in agriculture towards technologies that can improve crop performance before plants enter the field. Seed treatment is increasingly viewed as an opportunity to build resilience into crop production at the earliest stage, particularly as growers face variable weather, pressure to reduce chemical inputs and tighter resource constraints.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4661/african-development-bank-approves-5-1-billion-framework-to-tackle-energy-and-fertilizer-crisis.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4661/african-development-bank-approves-5-1-billion-framework-to-tackle-energy-and-fertilizer-crisis.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:07:43 +0530 The African Development Bank Group has approved a financing framework that could mobilise up to $5.1 billion to help African countries absorb the economic shock from the global energy and fertilizer crisis, as elevated commodity prices and disruptions to international trade routes put renewed pressure on import-dependent economies. The Global Energy and Fertilizer Crisis Response Framework, approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors on September 1, will bring together $4.1 billion in additional lending from the African Development Bank and up to $960 million from the African Development Fund, the Group’s concessional financing arm. The scale of the intervention reflects the growing overlap between energy security, food security and fertilizer availability. Higher energy and fertilizer costs feed directly into agricultural production expenses, while disruptions along major trade corridors can make already expensive inputs harder to source. For countries heavily dependent on imported fuel, food and agricultural inputs, the resulting pressure can quickly move from commodity markets into government budgets, farm economics and household food prices. The Bank said the framework will be demand-driven, with support tailored to individual countries according to their degree of vulnerability. The additional resources will also lift the African Development Bank Group’s 2026 lending target to about $12.7 billion. At the centre of the response is the need to keep critical agricultural and energy supply systems functioning while governments deal with broader macroeconomic pressures. The framework will focus on four areas: macroeconomic stabilisation; protection of food, energy and fertilizer supply systems; support for essential public spending and vulnerable households; and longer-term reforms designed to reduce exposure to external commodity and supply-chain shocks. Fertilizer is a particular priority because disruptions in availability or affordability can quickly translate into lower application rates and weaker crop yields. The framework is expected to provide emergency and trade finance to help keep fertilizer supplies moving to farmers while supporting vulnerable populations and limiting market disruptions. The Bank also plans to support efforts to diversify fertilizer supply chains and develop more locally based production and distribution systems across Africa. That longer-term component is important because the continent’s exposure to international fertilizer markets leaves farmers vulnerable to movements in global prices, freight costs, currency markets and geopolitical disruptions. “The Bank’s new Global Energy and Fertilizer Crisis Response Framework gives us a way to respond to the pressures African farmers are facing as the conflict in the Middle East disrupts global trade,” said Martin Fregene, Officer in Charge Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. “When fertilizer becomes too expensive or difficult to find, farmers use less and harvests can suffer,” Fregene said. “Access to finance is part of the solution, helping businesses keep fertilizer moving to farmers, while we work to build stronger fertilizer markets and more local supply in Africa.” The emphasis on finance reflects a practical constraint in fertilizer markets: even when product is physically available, businesses across the import, distribution and retail chain require working capital to purchase, transport and hold stocks. Tight financial conditions can therefore amplify a supply shock, particularly in markets where import dependence is high. The Bank said disruptions affecting major maritime corridors are compounding the problem. Longer shipping routes, higher transportation costs and delivery delays can increase the landed cost of commodities and expose vulnerabilities in supply networks that depend on a limited number of international suppliers and trade routes. The new framework is partly modelled on the African Development Bank’s previous COVID-19 Response Facility and African Emergency Food Production Facility. But the institution is positioning the latest intervention as more than an emergency financing mechanism. Alongside immediate support, it is intended to create policy and investment space for reforms that can reduce African economies’ structural exposure to volatile international energy, food and fertilizer markets. That distinction could prove critical for agriculture. Emergency financing can help prevent an immediate supply crunch, but it does not by itself resolve the underlying vulnerabilities created by import dependence. Building diversified sources of fertilizer, strengthening domestic and regional supply chains and improving the ability of businesses to finance inventories could provide a more durable buffer against future disruptions. The framework also places food and energy security within the same policy equation. Energy prices influence fertilizer manufacturing and transportation costs, while fertilizer availability influences agricultural productivity and food prices. A disruption in either market can therefore transmit pressure through the other. For African governments already managing fiscal and external financing constraints, the framework is designed to provide room to protect essential spending and vulnerable households while maintaining critical supply systems. The combination of concessional and non-concessional financing is intended to allow the Bank Group to respond across countries with different levels of financial capacity and vulnerability. The GEFCRF will remain in effect for one year from its September 1 approval date. The African Development Bank Group said it will review the framework before deciding whether to extend it. The immediate test will be whether the financing can move quickly enough through trade and supply chains to prevent fertilizer and energy disruptions from becoming agricultural and food-security shocks. The longer-term measure of success, however, will be whether the programme helps Africa build supply chains that are less exposed to the next global commodity or geopolitical crisis. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4650/p101-leads-5-2-mn-round-in-biorsaf-as-food-regtech-consolidation-accelerates.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4650/p101-leads-5-2-mn-round-in-biorsaf-as-food-regtech-consolidation-accelerates.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:15:22 +0530 Italy’s food industry is becoming the next frontier for RegTech as Biorsaf raises €5.2 million in a round led by P101 SGR and acquires Cooki, bringing together two complementary platforms to build what the companies describe as Italy’s first integrated digital solution for food compliance and data management. The transaction marks a shift in how food businesses manage increasingly complex regulatory and operational requirements. Rather than digitising individual functions, the combined platform aims to connect the full compliance chain — from food safety and HACCP to quality, traceability, nutritional information, food costs and labelling. The new capital will support a three-year expansion programme centred on artificial intelligence, product development and market consolidation. Biorsaf plans to grow its team from 40 employees to 120 within the next 18 months, while targeting exponential annual revenue growth. The opportunity is substantial but remains largely untapped. The Italian food, work and water safety market comprises around 3.4 million businesses and generates more than €12 billion in revenue, yet the sector’s digitalisation rate remains at just 3 per cent, according to the company. At the centre of Biorsaf’s expansion is the development of an AI-powered platform designed to automate quality, safety and operational processes. The ambition is not simply to replace paper-based procedures, but to turn compliance data into an operating layer for food businesses. Founded in 2021 in Castell'Azzara, Grosseto, by a team with more than four decades of experience in food safety, Biorsaf has developed BS-Safe, a vertical platform that digitises food safety, workplace safety and water-quality management. It enables businesses to automate controls, improve traceability and manage regulatory compliance and documentation centrally. The company says it has become Italy’s leading operator in the segment within three years, with more than 10,000 active users across customers ranging from independent operators to large restaurant chains, HORECA businesses and grocery retailers. Its customer base includes Gruppo Cigierre, which operates brands including Old Wild West, American Graffiti, Pizzikotto, Wiener Haus and Shi's, as well as GDO operator Conad. The economics of digitisation are also becoming increasingly tangible. By eliminating paper-based processes and automating traditionally manual controls, Biorsaf estimates that its platform saves around 30 minutes of work per user each day. Across its active user base, the company estimates that this translated into more than €30 million in potential operating-cost savings in 2025, while also improving efficiency, sustainability and workplace safety. Biorsaf has also moved beyond software towards specialised AI tools. It has developed what it describes as the first professional AI agent dedicated to digital food-safety management, designed to automate monitoring, compliance checks, control activities and document management for companies and specialist consultants. Cooki Adds the Missing Operational Layer The acquisition of Cooki expands that proposition from compliance into the day-to-day management of food information and operations. Founded by Giuseppe Grammatico in 2017, Cooki operates across more than 450 Italian cities, with over 1,000 active users and a database containing more than 35,000 coded products. Its platform supports traceability, labelling, food-cost management, inventory and allergen-risk management. Bringing the two businesses together creates a broader digital architecture covering the principal data and compliance processes across the food chain. For Biorsaf, the strategic value extends beyond product integration. The acquisition is the first step in a broader consolidation strategy targeting an Italian market that remains highly fragmented. “With the new round and the acquisition of Cooki we are accelerating Biorsaf’s growth. In just three years we have built the reference platform for food compliance automation in Italy and are now ready for the next phase of development. The integration with Cooki completes our offering and represents the first step in a strategy to consolidate a still highly fragmented market. Our objective is to grow rapidly, both organically and through market consolidation and technological innovation, putting artificial intelligence at the service of safety and efficiency for food-sector businesses,” said Marco Papalini, CEO, Biorsaf. For P101, the investment fits a broader thesis around technology serving highly regulated industries. “Biorsaf has all the characteristics we look for in RegTech: a strong technology component, deep vertical expertise and leadership in a highly regulated market. We will support the company in this significant new phase of growth, working alongside the team to create, including through buy-and-build strategies, a platform capable of accelerating the digital transformation of an entire industrial sector,” said Giuseppe Donvito, Partner, P101. From Food Compliance to Food Infrastructure The round also brings together investors with established interests in agrifood technology and regional innovation. Maia Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on agrifoodtech, and Farming Future – the National AgrifoodTech Technology Transfer Hub – participated in the round. Farming Future originated and supported the company’s first investment round in November 2024, promoted by CDP Venture Capital SGR in partnership with ToSeed & Partners. Toscana Next, the co-investment fund established and managed by CDP Venture Capital and backed by leading Tuscan banking foundations, also participated. Existing investors are therefore continuing to back the company as it moves into its next stage. The transaction further strengthens P101’s position in RegTech, which accounts for around 20 per cent of investments made through Programma 103. Its portfolio in the segment includes Aptus.AI and A-Cube, while its food-sector investments have included Cortilia, Soplaya and Tannico. The investment is P101’s 15th transaction through Programma 103, Azimut ELTIF Venture Capital P103 and Programma 103R Digital. Programma 103 is also supported by the European Union through the InvestEU Fund. Programma 103R Digital is supported by CDP Venture Capital through the Digital Transition Fund under Italy’s PNRR, using European Union resources under NextGenerationEU to accelerate digital transformation across supply chains and SMEs.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4647/tellia-raises-5-mn-to-turn-field-conversations-into-farm-data.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4647/tellia-raises-5-mn-to-turn-field-conversations-into-farm-data.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:59:06 +0530 Agriculture has no shortage of data. Its problem is getting that data out of the field. Crop scouts spot disease. Agronomists make recommendations. Farm managers record irrigation decisions. Field crews report what they see while moving from one block to another. But much of that information never makes it into the digital systems used to manage farms because capturing it often means stopping work, opening a screen and filling out forms. Tellia wants to remove that friction. The Paris- and San Francisco-based agtech startup has raised $5 million in pre-seed funding to expand a voice AI platform that allows farmers, agronomists and field teams to capture operational information through phone calls, voice notes, text messages, WhatsApp and email. The round was led by European venture capital firm Revent, with participation from Grey Silo Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Cereal Docks Group, Jeriko, operated by Techmind, and Fund F. The bet is straightforward: if farm workers can talk to agricultural software instead of having to type into it, more of what happens in the field could become usable data. Tellia's system converts spoken and written updates into structured records associated with specific fields, crops, crews and operations. It can then use those records to answer operational and agronomic questions. That makes the company's proposition less about building another farm-management application and more about creating a new interface for the software farms already use. Agriculture's data problem is often a workflow problem Agricultural businesses generate an enormous volume of information every day. The challenge is that much of it is generated by people who spend their working hours outdoors rather than behind a computer. A field worker may notice a disease outbreak, describe crop conditions, report a completed spray operation or flag an irrigation problem. In conventional systems, that observation still needs to be manually entered before it can become part of the farm's digital record. Tellia is attempting to eliminate that intermediate step. A worker can describe an observation in natural language, while the company's AI interprets the interaction and converts it into structured information. Instead of asking field teams to learn another specialised interface, Tellia works through communication channels they already use. The company says the platform can also handle multiple languages and mixed-language conversations, an important consideration for agricultural operations with multilingual workforces. The broader shift is significant. Agricultural technology is moving from software that simply stores information towards AI systems that can interpret farm-specific data and interact with users in more natural ways. The question for startups such as Tellia is whether that technology can solve a practical problem well enough to change behaviour in the field. Early adoption offers a glimpse of the opportunity Tellia launched initially in the US and says it has recorded 80 per cent daily active usage among field teams within two months of onboarding. Its deployments include almond producer Campos Brothers Farms and Duckhorn wineries, according to the company. The startup is now looking to extend that model into Europe, where its customers include the Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin, the Val de Gascogne cooperative and German plant breeder KWS Saat. Tellia was founded in 2024 by Coline Labadie de Faÿ and Vincent Trastour, who met through Entrepreneur First and subsequently built the company between Paris and San Francisco. The early customer traction points to a potentially important distinction in agricultural AI: adoption may depend less on how sophisticated the technology is than on how little it asks users to change their behaviour. For a worker already carrying a phone, talking may be easier than opening an application, navigating a form and entering multiple fields of information. From voice assistant to AI infrastructure Tellia's ambition extends beyond voice-enabled note-taking. The new funding will support development of what the company describes as an agentic AI suite designed to sit between agricultural workers and existing agtech systems. That could make the company a technology layer rather than a destination application. Through an API, agricultural software providers can integrate Tellia's technology without replacing their existing platforms. A field worker could communicate through voice or another familiar channel; Tellia would then capture, structure and interpret the information before passing it into the relevant software system. For agtech companies, that offers a potentially easier route to improving field-data capture without redesigning their entire user interface. Tellia says its first agritech partners are already integrating the technology. “The Ag industry keeps facing the same challenge: the people who spend their days in the field spend their evenings at a keyboard,” said Labadie de Faÿ, Tellia's CEO and co-founder. The problem, she argued, is not necessarily a shortage of agricultural data, but the difficulty of capturing it through software designed largely around office workflows. That distinction could prove important. If AI becomes the interface rather than the application itself, the competitive landscape in farm software could shift from who owns the dashboard to who can capture and interpret the most useful data. Data privacy becomes part of the pitch Tellia's US-Europe operating model also brings data governance into the company's proposition. The startup says it combines US commercial development with European approaches to data protection, security and confidentiality. Its website states that farm observations, reports and field records are not shared with third parties. That will matter as agricultural businesses become increasingly dependent on digital records containing commercially sensitive information—from crop performance and field conditions to input applications and operational decisions. The more deeply AI systems are embedded in farm workflows, the more important questions around data ownership, security and access become. The bigger AI race in agriculture Tellia's funding arrives as investors continue to place bets on AI applications across the agricultural value chain, from crop development and lending to farm management and field operations. But the company's immediate problem is deliberately narrower: how to capture the information that already exists in farmers' heads, phones and field conversations. Its 13-person team plans to expand across the US and Europe as it develops the platform and grows its customer base. The larger opportunity is potentially much bigger than a voice assistant. If Tellia can persuade field workers to routinely communicate with software in the same way they communicate with colleagues, the company could become an interface between agricultural workers and the increasingly complex digital infrastructure behind modern farming.The real test, however, will not be whether AI can understand a farmer.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4639/sunshiki-raises-80-mn-to-turn-seaweed-into-scalable-cattle-feed-solution.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4639/sunshiki-raises-80-mn-to-turn-seaweed-into-scalable-cattle-feed-solution.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:00:54 +0530 Japanese climate-tech start-up Sunshiki has raised ¥80 million in pre-seed funding to scale production and advance the commercialisation of a seaweed-based cattle feed additive designed to significantly reduce methane emissions. The Kochi University spin-out, based in Shibuya, Tokyo, is developing a cattle feed supplement using kagikenori (Asparagopsis taxiformis), a seaweed that has been associated with methane reductions of 49 to 77 per cent in cattle. The funding comes as the livestock industry faces growing pressure to reduce methane emissions without compromising productivity. For Sunshiki, however, the next challenge is less about demonstrating the technology and more about producing the seaweed consistently and economically at commercial scale. The funding will support increased production capacity, research and development for commercialisation and new hiring. The round was structured as convertible preferred stock and was led by the Circular Economy Nature Positive No. 1 Fund, co-managed by SBI Shinsei Corporate Investment and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Investment, with Hazama Ando also participating. The Real Test Is Scaling Supply Seaweed-based methane reduction has attracted significant attention because of its potential to address one of livestock agriculture’s most difficult climate challenges. But turning laboratory and pilot results into a dependable feed ingredient requires a reliable supply of the underlying seaweed. Sunshiki says its key challenge is developing low-cost, stable cultivation methods that preserve the active compounds responsible for methane reduction. The company has already moved beyond small-scale experimentation, reporting stable output in commercial-scale test tanks, including 7,000-litre land-based systems. That transition is critical. A cattle feed additive cannot become a meaningful emissions-reduction tool if its supply is too expensive, inconsistent or difficult to integrate into existing feed chains. Sunshiki is therefore building capabilities across the production chain, from seaweed seed production to cultivation and optimisation. Its broader Seaweed Platform Initiative also incorporates artificial intelligence-based optimisation, reflecting the company’s effort to make cultivation more predictable and commercially scalable. Japan’s Seaweed Economy Adds Another Dimension The start-up’s ambitions also intersect with Japan’s broader interest in expanding the economic and environmental value of seaweed cultivation. Research and commercial initiatives are increasingly looking at seaweed not only as a source of food and industrial materials but also as a potential tool for carbon management, marine ecosystem restoration and livestock emissions reduction. A related Japanese initiative is testing marine cultivation in Yamakawa Bay, with trials running from August through March 2028. The project is examining the cultivation of seaweed while also linking the activity to fisheries and blue-carbon objectives. For coastal communities, that creates the possibility of an additional revenue stream alongside environmental benefits. For livestock producers, meanwhile, a locally developed seaweed supply chain could eventually support the availability of methane-reducing feed ingredients. From Climate Science To Farm Economics Sunshiki’s investment comes at a point when methane reduction is increasingly moving from a climate-policy discussion towards a commercial question for livestock businesses. The opportunity is significant, but adoption will ultimately depend on more than the headline emissions reduction. Feed manufacturers and cattle producers will need products that can be supplied reliably, incorporated into feeding systems and justified economically. That makes production efficiency a decisive factor. Sunshiki’s move towards larger cultivation tanks and an integrated production platform suggests that the company sees cultivation technology as its core competitive advantage. If it can maintain the active compounds in Asparagopsis taxiformis while bringing production costs down, the business could move from a promising climate technology towards a scalable livestock-input model.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4616/all-g-raises-xeraya-capital-backing-as-precision-fermented-milk-proteins-move-toward-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4616/all-g-raises-xeraya-capital-backing-as-precision-fermented-milk-proteins-move-toward-southeast-asia.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:41:24 +0530 Australian precision fermentation company All G has secured investment from Malaysian life sciences investor Xeraya Capital, adding Southeast Asian financial and strategic backing as the company moves closer to commercialising its recombinant milk proteins. The investment forms part of All G’s pre-Series B convertible note round, which also includes Savencia, Döhler Ventures, Agronomics and Ellerston Capital. The amount invested by Xeraya was not disclosed. For All G, the investment comes at a pivotal point. The company is moving from technology development and regulatory validation toward commercial-scale production of its recombinant bovine and human milk proteins, with Southeast Asia emerging as a priority market for applications in nutrition and infant formula. Xeraya’s regional network is expected to help All G identify and develop commercial opportunities across Southeast Asian markets. The Malaysian investor focuses on life sciences and invests internationally in biotechnology and human health. “It is wonderful to have an investor like Xeraya onboard. The decision to back All G is a powerful endorsement of our science and our mission,” said Jan Pacas, CEO of All G. Fares Zahir, CEO of Xeraya Capital, said the investment reflected the firm’s focus on biotechnology with applications in human health and its interest in supporting All G’s expansion into Southeast Asia and other markets. The latest investment adds to a funding base that includes investors from the food, dairy and biotechnology sectors. Agronomics, one of All G’s existing investors, committed a further AU$3 million (US$2 million) to the company in January 2026 as part of a funding round that was then described as having a minimum target of AU$10 million. The financing was structured as a convertible note with a 24-month maturity and a 6 per cent annual coupon. All G has said the capital will support commercial-scale production, regulatory submissions, patent development and expansion across Asia and Europe. Following its January investment, Agronomics’ total investment in All G stood at approximately £8.9 million. The company’s latest fundraising comes after a series of regulatory advances that have strengthened the commercial case for its precision-fermented proteins. In April 2026, All G received a “no questions” letter from the US Food and Drug Administration under the Generally Recognized as Safe, or GRAS, process for its precision-fermented bovine lactoferrin, marketed as LFX. The FDA’s response confirmed that it had no questions regarding All G’s conclusion that its recombinant lactoferrin is GRAS for its intended uses in food. The decision opens the way for the ingredient to be used in US food, beverage and supplement applications. All G produces LFX through precision fermentation rather than extracting lactoferrin from conventional dairy sources. The company has reported purity levels above 99.5 per cent for the ingredient. Lactoferrin is a high-value milk protein used in infant formula, dietary supplements and functional foods. Conventional lactoferrin production depends on dairy-derived sources, where supply is constrained by the relatively small amount of the protein naturally present in milk. The regulatory milestone also brought All G closer to commercial launches in the US. Pacas previously said the company expected its first products to enter the market within months as production capacity increased, with customers already waiting for supply. The FDA decision followed earlier regulatory progress. All G secured self-affirmed GRAS status for its bovine lactoferrin in the US in January 2025 and became the first company to receive regulatory clearance in China for recombinant bovine lactoferrin in November 2024. At the same time, All G has been building the manufacturing partnerships needed to move from laboratory development to commercial production. In December 2025, the company announced a joint venture with French dairy group Armor Protéines to scale production of animal-free lactoferrin. The partnership combines All G’s precision fermentation technology with Armor Protéines’ manufacturing expertise and distribution capabilities. Earlier in 2025, All G worked with the University of Queensland and the Food and Beverage Accelerator to transfer its fermentation process from laboratory-scale production to industrial systems. Lactoferrin remains the most commercially advanced product in All G’s pipeline, but the company is developing a broader portfolio of recombinant bovine and human milk proteins using precision fermentation. The addition of Xeraya could therefore prove significant beyond the immediate capital injection. Southeast Asia is a major market for infant nutrition and food ingredients, while demand for specialised milk proteins creates potential opportunities for fermentation-based alternatives to conventional dairy-derived supply. All G has not disclosed a timetable for completing its pre-Series B round or indicated when it expects to launch a subsequent Series B financing. For the company, the next phase will be less about proving that precision fermentation can produce milk proteins and more about demonstrating that those proteins can be manufactured at commercial scale, navigate multiple regulatory markets and secure customers at a price that supports a viable business. With regulatory milestones in the US and China, manufacturing partnerships in place and new capital from a Southeast Asian life sciences investor, All G is positioning its lactoferrin platform for the transition from biotechnology development to global commercialisation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4613/viresco-group-launches-queensland-farmland-fund-with-acquisition-of-22000-hectare-queensland-beef-aggregation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4613/viresco-group-launches-queensland-farmland-fund-with-acquisition-of-22000-hectare-queensland-beef-aggregation.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:58:08 +0530 Viresco Group, a specialist agricultural investment and asset manager, today announced the launch of its Queensland Farmland Fund, a dedicated strategy for Queensland beef production spanning breeding, backgrounding and finishing. The Fund launches with a cornerstone commitment from an institutional investor, targeting an eventual fund size of A$500 million, and with capital already deployed: the acquisition of Kellys Creek and Pauralos Park, a 22,000 hectare contiguous beef aggregation in Central West Queensland. The world's population is projected to approach 9.7 billion by 2050, while the amount of productive agricultural land available per person continues to decline through urbanisation, water stress and land degradation. Australia sits apart from that trend. It is the world's second-largest beef exporter, backed by a stable political system, secure land title and enforceable property rights, positioning it to supply global protein demand as production constraints tighten elsewhere. Viresco treats farmland and food production more broadly, as a strategic asset class in the same way institutional capital treats energy. Not a passive commodity exposure, but an operating business core to long-term economic security. The Fund's approach centres on integrating the production chain from breeding through to finishing and adopting systems to increase productivity and operating margin. Natural capital revenues sit alongside the livestock platform as a secondary revenue stream, not the basis for the investment case. The launch follows Viresco's recent appointment of Peter Maher as Chair of the Group. Maher is an investment industry veteran who previously oversaw the initial launch of Macquarie’s farmland platform, Paraway. Viresco's senior team combines investment management and governance with hands-on experience operating large-scale agricultural assets across Australasia, Europe and Central Asia, under an operator-led model in which investment management and on-the-ground execution sit within a single team. Quote from Hadyn Craig, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Viresco Group: “The launch of the Queensland Farmland Fund, alongside the acquisition of Kellys Creek and Pauralos Park, demonstrates the Fund's ability to source, underwrite and execute against institutional-scale opportunities in Queensland beef production. Kellys Creek and Pauralos Park will be run in a way that lifts productivity while improving the condition of the land itself. Securing an aggregation of this quality as our first acquisition reflects the strength of our pipeline and the discipline behind how we deploy capital.” Quote from Griff Williams, Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer, Viresco Group: “The quality of soils, climate profile, extensive infrastructure and scale available in Queensland offer a significant opportunity for the Fund to build a meaningful presence across the beef production value chain and deliver risk-adjusted returns to our investors. Kellys Creek and Pauralos Park is the first step in that build, consistent with the disciplined underwriting approach we apply to every acquisition.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4597/eden-research-raises-10-8-mn-as-mevalone-ecovelex-gain-international-approvals.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4597/eden-research-raises-10-8-mn-as-mevalone-ecovelex-gain-international-approvals.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:28:49 +0530 Eden Research has raised £10.8 million to support the next phase of its biopesticide business as regulatory approvals for its flagship products open new markets and applications. The UK-based sustainable crop-protection company reported revenue of £4.9 million for the 15 months ended March 31, 2026, up from £4.3 million in calendar 2024. Its operating loss widened to £2.9 million from £2.2 million, while cash at the end of the reporting period stood at £1.5 million, compared with £3.7 million previously. The fundraise, completed around the end of the financial period, provided £10.8 million in gross proceeds, with £7.6 million received after March 31. Part of the new capital is being directed toward 2026 field trials for late blight and septoria, two disease areas central to Eden’s pipeline. Regulatory progress has meanwhile expanded the commercial footprint of the company’s products. Mevalone, its leading fungicide, received approval in California for controlling powdery mildew in grapes. France also authorised Mevalone for grape production against downy and powdery mildew, subject to restrictions. Eden sees the French approval as particularly significant because restrictions and bans on some incumbent crop-protection products could create room for alternative solutions. In Italy, 3LOGY, known as Mevalone in most other markets, received approval for use on several additional crops against Botrytis and diseases including powdery mildew and Sclerotinia. The company also secured Chilean regulatory authorisation for Novellus+, an enhanced version of Mevalone. Eden is expanding its distribution network alongside those regulatory gains. Andermatt Kenya has been appointed exclusive distributor for Mevalone in Kenya, while Syngenta Crop Protection has taken on exclusive distribution for professional applications in indoor and outdoor ornamental crops across several European countries and the UK. Ecovelex, Eden’s bird-repellent seed-treatment product, also gained regulatory momentum. Italy granted temporary approval for Ecovelex during the 2025 season for use on maize for the 2026 growing season. The company expects future sales to benefit from additional approvals and temporary authorisations. Beyond crop protection, Eden has signed an agreement with French pharmaceutical laboratory Veto-pharma to supply thymol for bee-health applications in the US. The company also reached a £0.4 million data-access agreement with associate company TerpeneTech covering Eden’s geraniol dossier. The data will support TerpeneTech’s continued role as a notified geraniol supplier under the EU Biocidal Products Regulations. The commercial outlook, however, remains sensitive to weather. Demand for Mevalone is closely linked to disease pressure created by humidity and rainfall during the growing season. Prolonged hot and dry conditions in Europe and the US can reduce disease incidence, shorten treatment windows and lead to lower in-season applications and distributor reorders. Eden said the resulting impact on year-end sales and channel inventories will become clearer later in 2026. The company is also pursuing its next product opportunity. Discussions are continuing with two potential partners for Eden’s insecticide product, with the company expecting to sign an agreement by the end of 2026. Lykele van der Broek, Chairman of Eden Research, highlighted the French Mevalone approval as one of the most commercially important developments during the period. He said the product’s coverage of both downy and powdery mildew could allow Eden to capture a meaningful share of a sizeable market as existing products face restrictions. Corteva Agriscience, Eden’s French partner for Mevalone, is working to establish the product in that market. Van der Broek said the opportunity could become a significant contributor to Eden’s future growth, while pointing to a broader pipeline of opportunities moving toward commercialisation. For Eden, the combination of fresh capital, expanding regulatory clearances and a broader distribution network puts greater emphasis on converting its biopesticide technology into recurring international sales. The immediate challenge will be turning those approvals into market share while navigating weather-driven demand and the timing of distributor stocking cycles. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4596/fmo-tdb-expand-600-million-financing-facility-for-africa-focused-etg.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4596/fmo-tdb-expand-600-million-financing-facility-for-africa-focused-etg.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:13:39 +0530 FMO and the Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group) have expanded a sustainability-linked syndicated loan for ETC Group (ETG) to $600 million, strengthening the financing base of the Africa-focused agribusiness while linking the cost of capital to measurable environmental and social outcomes. The facility was originally signed at $394 million by FMO and TDB alongside DEG, FinDev Canada, the OPEC Fund for International Development and Proparco, with FMO Investment Management and ILX Fund participating in the transaction. Additional commitments, including an increased contribution from FinDev Canada and new participation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Finnfund, Impact Fund Denmark (IFDK) and OeEB, have taken the facility to $600 million. The financing is primarily directed toward ETG’s operations in Africa, with ADB supporting activities in Asia. Under the sustainability-linked structure, the interest margin is connected to ETG’s performance against agreed environmental and social targets, giving lenders a financial mechanism to track progress rather than treating sustainability commitments as a separate objective. For ETG, the financing comes at a time when agricultural supply chains across Africa continue to face structural constraints. Smallholder farmers often lack reliable access to credit, quality inputs, infrastructure, advisory services and formal markets. Agribusinesses that can connect producers with buyers while providing fertilizers, seeds, training and market access therefore play a critical role in determining how much value reaches farming communities. The facility is designed to support that role by financing ETG’s trading and supply-chain activities across commodities including grains, pulses and oilseeds, as well as fertilizers. By strengthening the movement of agricultural products into regional and international markets, the lenders expect the financing to contribute to more stable food supplies, stronger farmer incomes and greater participation by women and young people in rural economies. Founded in Kenya in 1967, ETG has grown into a diversified international group operating in more than 50 countries across six continents. Its businesses span agricultural inputs, chemicals, logistics, processing, food and food ingredients, energy, metals, technology and supply-chain optimisation. Agriculture remains at the centre of its African operations, with the company supplying key farm inputs while linking smallholder producers to domestic, regional and global markets. ETG has set a target of reaching one million African smallholder farmers with services intended to improve production, crop quality, traceability and climate resilience. The sustainability-linked loan provides a financing framework around that ambition, with performance targets covering areas such as farmer extension services, women's participation and land-use practices. The facility has already exceeded several of its impact objectives, particularly those related to deforestation and reforestation and the number of farmers receiving extension services, including women. It has also supported growth in intra-African agricultural commodity trade, reinforcing the role of regional supply chains in improving food availability and market access. “ETG plays an important role in connecting African smallholder farmers to markets, inputs and services,” said Huib-Jan de Ruijter, Co-CIO at FMO. He said the sustainability-linked structure strengthens ETG’s financing base while encouraging measurable progress on environmental and social priorities, while also demonstrating how FMO can mobilise capital with partners for sustainable private-sector development at scale. Michael Awori, TDB’s Trade and Development Banking Chief Executive for the Eastern & Western African Region, said the expanded facility builds on the institutions’ longstanding relationship with ETG and provides financing to smallholder farmers, agribusinesses and traders involved in Africa’s evolving food systems. ETG Chief Treasury Officer Paul Van Spaendonk said the company remained committed to Africa despite its rapid international expansion, adding that its partnerships with development finance institutions would help it address climate change and land conservation while creating longer-term value across the markets in which it operates. For the participating development finance institutions, the transaction also reflects a broader focus on using private-sector capital to address agricultural productivity, employment and food-security challenges. Finnfund said its investment aligns with its focus on agriculture as a sector capable of generating jobs, improving food security and supporting sustainable economic development in emerging markets. The institution highlighted ETG’s reach across agricultural value chains as a channel for improving farmer market access, productivity and resilience. Impact Fund Denmark similarly pointed to the financing structure as a way of attaching measurable incentives to ETG’s sustainability objectives, including stronger support for women farmers, expanded advisory services and reduced deforestation. ADB’s participation broadens the facility beyond Africa, with the bank supporting smallholder farmers in India and Vietnam through access to more sustainable production practices, certification and formal market opportunities. The financing also aims to strengthen climate resilience among producers in Asia and expand opportunities for women farmers. OeEB, which has maintained a longstanding relationship with ETG, said the financing would support access to essential food commodities, local businesses and farmers while contributing to economic resilience in the markets where ETG operates. The expanded facility illustrates the growing role of development finance institutions in backing agricultural companies that sit between smallholder farmers and global commodity markets. For ETG, the $600 million financing package provides additional working-capital capacity; for its lenders, the sustainability-linked structure creates a framework for tying that capital to measurable progress in farmer services, land conservation and more resilient agricultural value chains. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4580/moa-technology-secures-900000-defra-funding-to-develop-new-blackgrass-herbicides.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4580/moa-technology-secures-900000-defra-funding-to-develop-new-blackgrass-herbicides.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:45:11 +0530 Moa Technology has secured more than £900,000 in non-dilutive funding from the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to accelerate the development of new herbicides for controlling blackgrass, one of the most persistent and costly weed problems facing English arable farmers. The funding comes through the Farming Innovation Investor Partnership (FIIP), delivered by Innovate UK in partnership with Defra. It will support Moa's advanced blackgrass control programmes as the company works to move several new herbicide candidates closer to commercialisation. The government funding has been matched by nearly £2 million from Oxford Science Enterprises, taking the combined investment behind the programmes to almost £3 million. For farmers, the timing is significant. Blackgrass has become increasingly difficult to control as populations resistant to existing herbicides have spread across parts of the UK. The weed competes aggressively with cereal crops, reducing yields while forcing farmers to spend more on crop protection and other control measures. Rothamsted Research estimates that blackgrass already costs UK agriculture hundreds of millions of pounds each year through lost production and higher input costs. If herbicide resistance continues to spread without effective new control options, annual losses could reach £1 billion. The problem is not simply the presence of blackgrass. It is the shrinking number of tools farmers can rely on to control it. Novel herbicide modes of action are widely regarded as an important part of the response to resistance. Yet no new herbicide mode of action has become available to English farmers in the past 35 years, according to Moa. That gap has created a difficult situation for cereal growers. Once weeds develop resistance to commonly used herbicides, farmers have fewer chemical options and must increasingly rely on combinations of cultural practices, crop rotations and existing chemistry to keep populations under control. Moa is attempting to address that problem by developing herbicides that work in different ways from existing products. The company was founded in 2017 as a spinout from the University of Oxford and has built its discovery platform around identifying previously unexplored herbicidal modes of action. It says several candidates have already demonstrated consistent performance over five seasons of field trials in England and international locations. One of the company's most advanced programmes is a post-emergence herbicide that has shown strong activity against English blackgrass in cereal crops during both glasshouse and field trials. The distinction between pre-emergence and post-emergence control is important for growers. A post-emergence product can be applied after weeds have emerged, potentially giving farmers another opportunity to control blackgrass during the growing season. The new Defra funding will allow Moa to accelerate development of its most advanced programmes and build a portfolio of potential products rather than relying on a single herbicide candidate. The objective is to produce new tools that can combine effective blackgrass control with safety, affordability and a practical fit within modern farming systems. Farming Minister Stephen Morgan said the government recognised the scale of the challenge facing arable farmers. "Blackgrass is one of the toughest challenges facing our arable farmers, reducing yields and making it harder to grow crops," Morgan said. He said government support for Moa's work formed part of a wider effort to increase investment in agricultural innovation, with farming innovation funding rising to £123 million this year. "By investing in innovation and backing the brilliant researchers and businesses developing solutions for farmers, we're helping to build a more productive, sustainable and resilient farming sector for the future," Morgan said. For Moa, the award provides public backing at a point when its research is moving from discovery towards the expensive stages of development required to establish whether new herbicide candidates can ultimately reach farmers. Dr Virginia Corless, Chief Executive Officer of Moa Technology, said the funding would accelerate development of novel herbicides and give English farmers new options for tackling blackgrass. "Winning this funding award from the Farming Innovation Investor Partnership enables us to accelerate the development of novel herbicides which offer English farmers genuine hope in the fight to control blackgrass," Corless said. The company's development pipeline is also attracting private-sector support. Oxford Science Enterprises has committed nearly £2 million to match the Defra funding, while Moa recently raised £22.2 million in a Series C financing round to support its next stage of growth. The combination of public funding, private investment and partnerships with agricultural companies reflects the scale of investment required to bring a genuinely new crop protection product to market. Moa already has four research and development partnerships with major agriculture and crop protection companies in the United States, Europe and Australia. Those relationships could provide potential routes to broader development, regulatory approval and eventual commercial distribution if the company's leading herbicide programmes continue to perform. The company's research operations are based in Oxford and North Yorkshire, keeping its development work close to the UK farming conditions where blackgrass is a major problem. The focus on blackgrass also gives Moa a clearly defined commercial problem to solve. Unlike some crop protection markets where farmers have multiple products and modes of action available, blackgrass control in England has become increasingly constrained by resistance. That makes a genuinely new mode of action potentially valuable. However, moving from field performance to a commercially available herbicide remains a long process. Candidates must pass further efficacy testing, safety assessments, manufacturing development and regulatory review before they can be sold to growers. The Defra award is therefore an important step, rather than the final stage. For English farmers, the potential payoff is considerable. A new herbicide mode of action could add another layer to integrated blackgrass management and help slow the erosion of existing chemistry by reducing reliance on the same herbicide groups. It could also give farmers more flexibility when managing fields where resistant blackgrass has become difficult to control. The economics are equally important. Blackgrass does not simply reduce the yield of the crop it competes with. It can increase the cost of production by forcing growers to invest more heavily in weed control, alter rotations or take heavily infested fields out of cereal production altogether. As resistance spreads, those costs can compound. Moa's work is therefore aimed at a problem that sits at the intersection of farm productivity, crop protection and agricultural economics. The company's challenge now is to turn its field results into products that can withstand the demands of commercial agriculture. The Defra and Oxford Science Enterprises funding gives Moa additional resources to move its leading candidates through that process. Its recent Series C financing provides another source of capital as the company expands its pipeline and partnerships. If the programmes continue to deliver the performance seen in trials so far, Moa could become one of the companies helping to reopen the pipeline of new herbicide chemistry for British agriculture. For farmers dealing with resistant blackgrass, that pipeline cannot move quickly enough. After decades without a new herbicide mode of action reaching English fields, the prospect of another effective tool could have an impact far beyond a single product. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4562/sifly-aviation-raises-20-mn-to-scale-long-endurance-electric-drones-for-agriculture-infrastructure-and-public-safety.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4562/sifly-aviation-raises-20-mn-to-scale-long-endurance-electric-drones-for-agriculture-infrastructure-and-public-safety.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:26:26 +0530 SiFly Aviation has raised $20 million in Series A financing as the drone maker moves to scale production of its long-endurance Q12 electric aircraft and expand its technology into commercial applications ranging from agriculture and infrastructure inspection to public safety. The round was led by Shield Capital, with participation from Qudit, BBK Capital and Alumni Ventures, among others. The company plans to use the capital to expand U.S. manufacturing, strengthen its domestic supply chain, accelerate customer deliveries and build the commercial infrastructure needed to support wider deployment of the Q12. At the centre of SiFly’s strategy is a simple proposition: drones that can stay airborne significantly longer can cover more ground with fewer aircraft, operators and launches. The Q12 is designed to combine the vertical takeoff, landing and hovering capabilities of a multirotor with the efficiency and range associated with fixed-wing aircraft. SiFly says the platform can fly four to five times longer and up to 10 times farther than leading enterprise drones, while carrying payloads of up to 10 pounds. The company has validated the aircraft through thousands of flights and hundreds of hours of testing. In one flight, the Q12 remained airborne for 3 hours, 11 minutes and 54 seconds, earning a Guinness World Record for the longest flight by an electric multirotor aircraft in its weight class. “Most multirotor drones were designed for short flights close to the operator. We built the Q12 to combine the agility, precision hover and vertical takeoff and landing of a multirotor drone with the efficiency, range and speed of a fixed-wing aircraft,” said Brian Hinman, founder and CEO of SiFly. “This financing allows us to scale production, fulfill our growing backlog and support successful customer deployments.” For agriculture, endurance can translate directly into operational efficiency. A drone capable of remaining in the air for longer periods can map and analyse more acreage in a single mission, potentially reducing the number of aircraft, launches and operators required to complete the same work. The opportunity extends beyond farming. Utilities and infrastructure operators can use longer-range aircraft to inspect greater distances per flight, while public safety agencies can maintain aerial coverage for longer periods during emergencies. SiFly is also developing DronePort, a multi-drone infrastructure system designed to extend the capabilities of autonomous and remotely operated drone deployments. The company will use part of the new financing to continue development and field validation of the system. For public safety applications, the combination of Q12 and DronePort could support more persistent Drone-as-First-Responder operations, allowing agencies to deploy aerial systems for surveillance and response without relying entirely on conventional crewed aircraft or keeping personnel in the air. The funding arrives as commercial and government buyers are placing greater emphasis on domestic drone manufacturing and resilient supply chains. Geopolitical tensions and concerns over dependence on overseas components have increased interest in U.S.-manufactured alternatives, particularly for mission-critical applications. SiFly is positioning its domestic production capabilities alongside the Q12’s endurance as part of that pitch. Rather than competing solely on aircraft specifications, the company is targeting applications where the economics of each mission matter—whether that means inspecting more infrastructure, responding faster to an incident or covering more farmland in a single flight. “For drone operators, greater endurance translates into faster response, broader coverage and lower cost per mission,” said Ray Rothrock of Shield Capital. “SiFly is positioned to redefine how drones are used across mission-critical applications—including public safety, critical infrastructure and agriculture—where value is directly tied to the productive work each aircraft can deliver.” The next phase will be about turning technical performance into repeatable commercial deployments. SiFly plans to increase Q12 production, expand manufacturing and supply-chain capacity, support initial customer deliveries and strengthen its go-to-market and customer-operations capabilities. The company will also continue developing DronePort and building the regulatory capabilities needed to support broader adoption. For SiFly, the larger opportunity is not simply to build a drone that flies longer. It is to change the economics of how commercial drones are used. If a single aircraft can stay in the air for hours, cover substantially more territory and carry meaningful payloads, the value proposition shifts from owning more drones to getting more productive work from each one. That distinction could prove particularly important in agriculture and infrastructure, where the cost of operating a drone is measured not only by the aircraft itself, but by the people, time and logistics required to keep it working.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4563/living-roots-raises-seed-round-to-help-agribusinesses-across-southeast-asia-and-south-asia-grow-more-with-less-imported-fertilizer.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4563/living-roots-raises-seed-round-to-help-agribusinesses-across-southeast-asia-and-south-asia-grow-more-with-less-imported-fertilizer.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:45:05 +0530 Living Roots, an agriculture technology company helping agribusinesses improve fertilization and yields across their farmer networks, has closed a seed funding round as it looks to expand across Southeast Asia and South Asia. The round was backed by new and returning angel investors, including Epic Angels, Adithep Narula, Suchote Chanvipava and six other angel investors. Living Roots will use the funding to expand its partnerships with agribusinesses, grow its team and further develop its software, AI capabilities and agricultural product portfolio. The company operates at a part of the agricultural supply chain where input costs can have an outsized effect on both farmer incomes and agribusiness margins. Fertilizer is among the largest expenses for farmers across much of Southeast Asia and South Asia, while a significant share of synthetic fertilizer used in these markets is imported. That leaves farmers exposed not only to high input costs but also to fluctuations in global fertilizer prices. Living Roots works directly with agribusinesses that source crops from large networks of farmers. Its technology combines software and AI tools for managing fertilization across those networks with biologicals, biostimulants, seed coatings and fertilizer products that farmers can use in the field. The company says the combined approach has helped reduce demand for imported synthetic fertilizer by about half while improving yields. Living Roots already has active deployments with partner networks in Thailand, Indonesia and India, covering a range of crops. In Thailand, the company says its work with partners has helped farmers increase yields by 20–30 per cent. The model is designed to address two challenges at the same time: helping farmers produce more while reducing the amount they spend on inputs. For agribusinesses that depend on reliable farmer networks, improving productivity can also strengthen relationships with growers and improve the economics of sourcing. “Our partners in Thailand have shown what happens when farmer networks get the right tools. Farmers grew more, spent less on fertilizer, and their networks got stronger. This round lets us do that with agribusinesses across Southeast Asia and South Asia,” said Abhi Agarwal, founder and CEO of Living Roots. “We are here for the long run, and we are excited to work with businesses that want better outcomes for their farmers.” The company is now looking beyond its existing markets. Living Roots is expanding into Central Asia and West Africa, with discussions under way with potential partners and pilot programmes already started. The expansion reflects a broader opportunity for agricultural technology companies that can work through existing agribusiness networks rather than trying to acquire individual farmers one at a time. By embedding its technology and products into businesses that already work with large numbers of growers, Living Roots can potentially scale its approach across entire supply chains. The company's next phase will focus on expanding those partnerships while continuing to build its software and AI capabilities and develop its portfolio of biological and fertilizer-related products. For Living Roots, the proposition is ultimately less about selling another farm input and more about changing how fertilizer decisions are made across fragmented farmer networks. If agribusinesses can use better data and field-level tools to determine what crops need, when they need it and how much to apply, the potential gains extend beyond individual farms to the economics and resilience of the wider supply chain. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4545/agdevco-ventures-makes-49-mn-first-close-for-african-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4545/agdevco-ventures-makes-49-mn-first-close-for-african-agriculture.html Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:46:36 +0530 AgDevCo Ventures, a subsidiary of AgDevCo, has announced a first close of $49 million to address a critical financing gap facing early-stage agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises across Africa. The new investment initiative will provide investments ranging from $1 million to $3 million to early-stage farming and agriprocessing companies that often struggle to access long-term capital. The objective is to help build the next generation of African agribusinesses capable of delivering positive impact at scale. AgDevCo Ventures complements AgDevCo’s main investment strategy, which focuses on later-stage companies with larger capital requirements. By expanding into earlier-stage businesses, the new platform aims to address a segment of the agricultural investment market where the gap in financing provision remains particularly significant. The $49 million first close has been supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and a consortium of senior lenders led by the Isenberg Family Charitable Foundation. IFAD is providing $10 million in subordinated debt funding. The senior lender consortium, which includes the Small Foundation, A to Z Impact, the Rabo Foundation and Netri Fundación Privada, is contributing $11.25 million. The external capital has leveraged a further $28 million equity injection from AgDevCo, using funds provided by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). AgDevCo Ventures is now fully operational under the leadership of Christine Mwangi, who has spent six years with AgDevCo’s East African team in Nairobi. Its board and investment committee include experienced investors from East Africa, including Maurice Nduranu, Ezra Musoke, Kim Kamarebe and Abel Boreto. The platform expects to announce its first investments later in 2026. Over the next decade, AgDevCo Ventures is expected to benefit more than 128,000 smallholder farmers and create approximately 2,900 full-time jobs. Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President at IFAD, said: “IFAD is pleased to provide an investment of USD 10 million to AgDevCo Ventures Limited. As one of the main investors, IFAD expects AgDevCo Ventures’ strategic investments into inclusive agricultural companies to support rural transformation in East Africa and complement IFAD’s current work.” He added that IFAD’s role in attracting private investors into the AgDevCo Ventures structure demonstrated its commitment to working with the private sector to advance rural development. Stefan Freeman, Head of Investments at Ceniarth, speaking on behalf of the consortium of senior lenders, said: “AgDevCo Ventures fills a critical financing gap for high-potential but underserved agri-SMEs.” He said the platform’s approach combines an early-stage investment focus with long-term, flexible mezzanine financing and tailored technical assistance—an area where patient, concessional capital and blended finance can play an important role. Kirsty McNeill MP, UK Minister of State for International Development and Africa, said the UK was backing ambitious agribusinesses across Africa to access the investment needed to grow, create jobs and strengthen food security and supply chains. “We've done just that with AgDevCo Ventures, helping to bring on board other investors to back Africa's growing companies and expertise,” she said. Daniel Hulls, AgDevCo CEO and Chair of AgDevCo Ventures, said the new platform was a core part of AgDevCo’s overall strategy. “We are grateful to the funders that are joining us,” Hulls said. “AgDevCo Ventures is a core part of our overall strategy. It returns us to the part of the market where we started almost two decades ago, where the gap in investment provision is most striking.” He added that bringing private investors into the funding round would enable development finance to go further. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4536/117-6-mn-climate-fund-targets-mongolias-livestock-and-rural-economy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4536/117-6-mn-climate-fund-targets-mongolias-livestock-and-rural-economy.html Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:03:21 +0530 Mongolia's vast pastoral economy is set to receive a major injection of climate-focused capital as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) launch a new financing vehicle designed to modernise livestock value chains, strengthen rural enterprises and bring more private capital into sustainable agribusiness. The Green Inclusive Regional Agribusiness Fund, or GIRAF, brings together $92.6 million in funding from the Green Climate Fund and an anticipated $25 million in co-financing from commercial banks, creating a potential $117.6 million capital pool for Mongolia's agricultural economy. The initiative is designed to address one of the sector's most persistent challenges: limited access to affordable finance for the herder cooperatives, micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses that form the backbone of rural economic activity. Initial financing is expected to direct $37.5 million towards rural businesses, including $3 million earmarked for direct innovation grants. The broader fund structure combines concessional financing with credit guarantees, aiming to reduce the risks that have traditionally discouraged lenders from expanding their presence in Mongolia's agricultural and rural markets. For Mongolia, where livestock production remains deeply connected to the country's economy, communities and landscape, the financing initiative arrives against a backdrop of mounting climate pressures. Rangeland degradation and increasingly severe weather events are creating new challenges for traditional livestock systems, while rural businesses often face significant barriers when seeking the capital needed to invest in more sustainable and resilient operations. GIRAF is intended to change that equation by lowering the cost of finance and reducing lending risks for businesses and cooperatives willing to adopt sustainable rangeland management and climate-resilient agricultural practices. The model goes beyond simply providing cheaper loans. Preferential access to financing will be linked to commercial structures designed to bring herder communities more directly into organised value chains, potentially creating stronger connections between primary producers, cooperatives, processors and markets. The approach is intended to ensure that climate finance delivers benefits across the supply chain rather than remaining concentrated among larger businesses or financial institutions. A major component of the initiative will be the use of digital monitoring and traceability systems. Remote sensing and geospatial technologies will be deployed to assess the environmental and socioeconomic performance of projects receiving support from the fund. That digital infrastructure is expected to provide lenders and impact investors with measurable data on outcomes including land restoration, carbon sequestration and operational efficiency. For climate finance, the ability to verify results could prove as important as the availability of capital itself. By combining concessional financing with measurable environmental performance, GIRAF is designed to create a structure capable of attracting a broader pool of institutional and commercial investors into Mongolia's rural economy. Over the next decade, the fund aims to support approximately 500 small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives, along with 1,000 rural micro-enterprises. The initiative represents a significant attempt to connect three areas that have often developed separately: agricultural finance, climate resilience and digital verification. For rural businesses, the fund could provide access to capital that is both more affordable and better aligned with the realities of climate-exposed agricultural operations. For banks, credit guarantees and digital monitoring could reduce some of the risks associated with lending to smaller enterprises in remote areas. And for investors focused on measurable climate outcomes, the programme creates a framework for tracking the environmental impact of deployed capital. The larger ambition is to build a more resilient livestock and agribusiness economy without disconnecting Mongolia's traditional herding communities from the value they create. By combining public climate finance with commercial banking capital, GIRAF is positioning private-sector participation as a central part of its model. The expected $25 million in bank co-financing also signals an effort to use concessional capital not only as direct funding but as a mechanism for unlocking additional investment. As Mongolia confronts the combined pressures of climate volatility, land degradation and rural financing gaps, the new fund is intended to provide a more integrated response. Its success will ultimately depend on whether it can translate climate finance into commercially viable rural businesses while delivering measurable improvements in land management and resilience. But with a target of reaching 1,500 enterprises and cooperatives over the next decade, the GIRAF initiative represents one of the more ambitious efforts to connect sustainable finance with the transformation of Mongolia's pastoral and agribusiness economy.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4530/computomics-raises-6-3-million-series-b-to-scale-climate-smart-crop-breeding-platform.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4530/computomics-raises-6-3-million-series-b-to-scale-climate-smart-crop-breeding-platform.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:58:14 +0530 Computomics GmbH has raised €6.3 million in new equity in a Series B financing round led by Convent Capital Agri Food Fund, which invested €5 million, as the German agricultural technology company prepares to scale commercial delivery of its climate-smart crop breeding platform. Existing investors, including High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), MBG Baden-Württemberg and Amathaon Capital, also participated in the round, alongside Computomics’ founders and scientific advisers. The new capital will be used to expand the commercial delivery of Computomics’ technology, which uses machine learning to help crop breeders predict how different plant genotypes are likely to perform under specific environmental conditions. The company’s technology combines genomic information with environmental variables, including temperature, rainfall and soil conditions, as well as field measurements. The objective is to give breeders greater insight into how candidate varieties could perform under increasingly variable growing conditions before those varieties go through years of conventional field testing. The financing arrives as European agriculture faces mounting pressure from heat and drought. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has revised down its 2026 yield forecasts for spring and summer crops, with particularly significant reductions for maize and sunflower. France is also heading towards one of its weakest maize harvests in decades, highlighting the growing challenge for breeders seeking to develop varieties capable of maintaining performance under harsher environmental conditions. For Computomics, the changing climate is accelerating the need to modernise how crop varieties are selected. “Breeders have never lacked ambition about climate resilience. What they have lacked is a way to see it before the field tells them, which takes years they no longer have,” said Dr. Sebastian J. Schultheiss, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Computomics. “This financing is about getting that capability into far more breeding programs, faster,” Schultheiss added. Using AI to predict crop performance Computomics has developed machine learning models designed to predict the interaction between a plant’s genetics and its growing environment. Traditional breeding programmes can require extensive field trials across multiple locations and seasons to determine whether a candidate variety is sufficiently resilient and stable. Computomics aims to complement that process by allowing breeders to analyse genetic and environmental information computationally and identify promising candidates earlier. The company’s ×SeedScore platform runs these predictions at the scale of commercial breeding programmes. The technology can help breeders assess questions such as which candidates are likely to maintain performance under hotter and drier conditions, which varieties demonstrate consistent performance across multiple environments and where a particular variety may be best suited for cultivation. The approach is designed to help breeders move beyond simply identifying the highest-performing candidate in a single environment and instead understand how genetics interact with different environmental conditions. Computomics works with commercial breeders across field crops, forages, vegetables and specialty crops. Climate pressure raises urgency for breeders The Series B financing comes against a backdrop of increasing climate volatility across European agriculture. Higher temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent periods of drought are complicating the development of crop varieties that can perform consistently across different growing environments. The challenge is compounded by the time required to bring new varieties to market. Crop varieties currently entering commercial production were often developed using breeding programmes and environmental assumptions that reflect a different climate from the one farmers are increasingly experiencing. Computomics believes predictive breeding can help shorten the feedback loop between genetic selection and real-world performance. By incorporating environmental data into breeding decisions, the company aims to help breeders identify varieties with resilience traits before they are fully validated through multiple seasons of field trials. Convent Capital leads Series B Convent Capital Agri Food Fund led the financing with a €5 million investment, signalling investor confidence in the intersection of agricultural technology, artificial intelligence and climate resilience. Stephen McLoughlin, Partner at Convent Capital Agri Food Fund, said the company’s commercial model is closely linked to its potential environmental impact. “We back companies whose environmental impact grows with their commercial success,” McLoughlin said. “Better breeding predictions mean fewer wasted seasons and varieties that hold up in the field, so the impact case and the business case point the same way. That alignment is why we led this round,” he added. The participation of Computomics’ existing investors provides continuity as the company moves from technology development towards broader commercial deployment. Existing investors back next stage of growth High-Tech Gründerfonds, MBG Baden-Württemberg and Amathaon Capital participated in the Series B, alongside founders and scientific advisers. HTGF has backed Computomics since its seed stage and views AI-enabled breeding as an important technology for adapting agriculture to climate change. “AI-based breeding of stress-resistant crops is part of the German federal government's High-Tech Agenda for good reason: it is one of the levers that matter most as the climate shifts,” said Dr. Frank Hensel, Principal at High-Tech Gründerfonds. “HTGF has supported Computomics since the seed phase and congratulates the team on this growth financing,” Hensel added. The latest investment provides Computomics with additional capital to expand the reach of its technology among commercial breeding organisations and strengthen the company’s ability to translate complex genetic and environmental datasets into practical breeding decisions. From climate-smart breeding to commercial scale The Series B marks another step in Computomics’ effort to make data-driven breeding a more integral part of commercial crop development. The company is targeting a fundamental challenge for agriculture: developing crops that can maintain productivity as the environmental conditions under which they are grown become less predictable. Rather than replacing conventional field trials, Computomics’ platform is designed to give breeders additional information earlier in the selection process, potentially allowing them to focus costly testing and development resources on the most promising candidates. The company’s technology therefore sits at the intersection of AI, genomics, agricultural data and climate adaptation. With €6.3 million of new equity, Computomics now plans to expand commercial delivery of its platform and bring predictive breeding capabilities to more breeding programmes. The financing also benefits from support from the European Union under the InvestEU Fund, adding a European policy dimension to efforts to accelerate technologies that can strengthen agricultural resilience. As climate pressure intensifies across European farmland, the ability to predict which crop varieties can withstand heat, drought and changing environments could become an increasingly important competitive advantage for breeders—and a critical tool for farmers seeking more reliable yields. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4529/queensland-invests-2-mn-in-cattle-breeding-startup-nbryo-to-accelerate-genetic-gains.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4529/queensland-invests-2-mn-in-cattle-breeding-startup-nbryo-to-accelerate-genetic-gains.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:53:14 +0530 The Queensland Government is investing $2 million in Brisbane-based cattle breeding technology company Nbryo, marking the first investment announced under the state’s $30 million Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund. The investment, managed by Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), will support Nbryo’s efforts to develop and commercialise embryo production technologies designed to accelerate genetic improvement in cattle while making advanced breeding tools more accessible and affordable to producers. Founded in 2024, Nbryo is developing a platform that combines in vitro embryo production with bio-digital and robotic technologies to enable the production of high-quality embryos at scale. The company’s ambition is to compress what would traditionally require years of conventional breeding into a significantly shorter cycle. Its technology platform is designed around the potential to achieve seven years’ worth of breeding progress within a seven-day in-vitro embryo production cycle. The Queensland Government said the investment will help Nbryo move its technology towards commercial deployment and expand access to superior livestock genetics for beef and dairy producers. “Queensland has an incredible opportunity to lead the world in agricultural technology innovation,” said Paul Niven, Chief Executive Officer of Nbryo. “We’re proud to showcase the work being undertaken at Nbryo and the role advanced reproductive technologies can play in helping make better herds faster,” Niven said. “Translating scientific innovation into practical outcomes for cattle farmers is at the core of our mission. Every improvement in reproductive efficiency has the potential to deliver significant benefits for producers, the supply chain and the broader agricultural sector.” Tackling the slow pace of genetic improvement Nbryo is targeting a longstanding challenge in livestock production: the time required to achieve meaningful genetic improvement through conventional breeding. Existing breeding systems can be slow and difficult to scale. In many cases, achieving a 10 per cent improvement in a trait or group of traits can take around seven years, while annual improvement may be limited to approximately 1.5 per cent. Nbryo aims to change that equation by combining advanced reproductive technologies with digital systems and robotics. The company’s platform is designed to increase selection intensity and accuracy while enabling elite embryos to be produced at scale. The approach could allow cattle breeders to identify desirable genetic traits and multiply them more rapidly, potentially shortening breeding cycles and improving the speed at which superior genetics enter commercial herds. For producers, faster genetic progress could translate into improvements in herd performance, productivity and profitability, while also helping reduce the cost and time associated with accessing advanced breeding technologies. First investment under Queensland’s $30 million innovation fundThe Nbryo investment is the first commitment announced through the Queensland Government’s $30 million Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund, launched in 2024. The fund was established to make equity investments across multiple stages of business growth and help agricultural technologies move beyond pilot projects into commercially scalable enterprises. The programme is designed to support businesses developing technologies that can deliver measurable improvements across Queensland’s agricultural value chain, including on-farm productivity, profitability and sustainability. QIC is managing the investment using its commercial investment expertise to identify and support innovative businesses with the potential to deliver long-term benefits to Queensland’s primary industries. The investment in Nbryo will help the company expand its technology and improve producers’ access to superior livestock genetics. Government targets $30 billion primary production sector The investment comes as the Queensland Government pursues a target of increasing the value of the state’s primary production sector to $30 billion by 2030. Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said agricultural technology would be critical to achieving that goal. “The Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund will help Queensland producers reach this bold goal by getting game-changing technology from concept to on-farm application sooner,” Perrett said. “Queensland is home to almost half Australia’s beef herd, and this investment will help accelerate technologies that improve access to superior genetics, reduce costs and support a more productive and profitable beef and dairy sector,” he added. Perrett, who is also a beef producer, said the technology being developed by Nbryo could help make advanced breeding tools more accessible to producers. “As a beef producer myself, I know how important it is to maximise productivity and make every dollar count,” he said. “Nbryo is developing technology that has the potential to make advanced breeding tools more accessible and affordable for producers, helping them improve herd performance and profitability.” Agriculture innovation moves from lab to farm The Queensland Government sees the Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund as a mechanism for closing the gap between scientific research and commercial agricultural applications. Rather than focusing only on early-stage research, the fund is intended to help promising technologies progress towards commercialisation and practical on-farm use. For Nbryo, that means scaling a technology platform that combines reproductive science with automation, digital systems and robotics. The company’s longer-term objective is to make accelerated genetic improvement available to cattle breeders globally, potentially creating a new model for how elite genetics are selected, reproduced and distributed. The ability to produce high-quality embryos at scale could also provide producers with greater access to genetics that might otherwise be difficult or expensive to obtain. Queensland backs technology-led agricultural growth State Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the investment reflected the Queensland Government’s broader focus on creating the conditions for agricultural innovation and business growth. “We are backing our primary producers to develop the technology they need to stay at the forefront and continue to grow our agricultural sector,” Bates said. “The Government is creating the conditions for innovation, investment and job creation and supporting the long-term success of Queensland’s primary industries.” The investment in Nbryo gives the Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund its first major test in the market, while providing the Brisbane-based startup with capital to advance its reproductive technology platform.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4528/oceanloop-secures-up-to-38-5-million-to-scale-its-land-based-aquaculture-technology-and-europes-first-farmed-giant-grouper.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4528/oceanloop-secures-up-to-38-5-million-to-scale-its-land-based-aquaculture-technology-and-europes-first-farmed-giant-grouper.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:42:49 +0530 German aquaculture technology company Oceanloop has secured up to €38.5 million in financing to scale its software-driven recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and expand commercial production of Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) in Europe. The financing marks a major transition for Oceanloop, which has spent more than a decade developing and operating land-based marine aquaculture systems. The company has now moved from biological and technical development into commercial production, becoming the first company to farm Giant Grouper in Europe. The funding combines new equity commitments from Hatch Blue’s Blue Revolution Fund and Stolt Ventures, the venture investment arm of Stolt-Nielsen, with a €32 million venture-debt facility from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB financing is supported by the European Union’s InvestEU programme and is intended to support Oceanloop’s research, development and commercial expansion in Germany and Spain. The company’s existing land-based farm in Strande near Kiel began commercial sales in April 2026 through Oceanloop’s sister company, Honest Catch. The facility is expected to produce approximately 20 tonnes of Giant Grouper in 2026 and around 40 tonnes in 2027. The new capital will support the next phase of Oceanloop’s expansion. Construction of a new 250-tonne-per-year farm in Kiel is planned to begin by the end of 2026. The company is then planning a 2,000-tonne commercial facility on Gran Canaria, with construction currently scheduled to start in 2029. “This financing marks the beginning of Oceanloop’s industrial scale-up,” said Dr. Fabian Riedel, Founder and CEO of Oceanloop. “Together with Sander Aqua, we have spent more than a decade developing, operating and continuously improving land-based marine aquaculture systems.” “With Hatch Blue, Stolt Ventures and the European Investment Bank, we are bringing together specialist aquaculture investment expertise, decades of commercial seafood experience and long-term European growth financing. This gives us the foundation to scale Oceanloop from proven technology into an international aquaculture platform,” he added. From R&D to commercial production Oceanloop’s financing comes at a critical point in the company’s development as it seeks to demonstrate that land-based marine aquaculture can move beyond pilot and R&D facilities into repeatable commercial operations. The company’s existing site in Strande near Kiel has been used to develop and optimise its biological and technical systems. With commercial sales now underway, Oceanloop is using the site as a foundation for its larger-scale expansion. The planned 250-tonne Kiel farm will complement the existing R&D operation and is designed to become both a commercial production facility and a reference platform for Oceanloop’s wider technology rollout. The facility is expected to combine farming operations with applied research, biological optimisation, laboratory services, digital monitoring, software development and operator training. Oceanloop intends to use the facility to demonstrate its complete operating model under commercial conditions, covering the production cycle from juvenile stocking and biological management to harvesting, processing and product quality. Data generated at the Kiel site will be used to continuously improve future farm designs, feeding strategies, animal welfare, energy efficiency and overall production performance. The company expects this approach to help convert its more than 10 years of operational, biological and engineering experience into a repeatable model that can be deployed in other locations. Gran Canaria to become first industrial-scale platform Following the expansion in Kiel, Oceanloop plans to develop a 2,000-tonne annual production facility on Gran Canaria. Oceanloop already operates a local subsidiary on the island and is progressing project development, planning and site-related activities. The proposed facility is intended to become Oceanloop’s first industrial-scale production platform and a key reference project for the international deployment of its RAS technology. The Gran Canaria project is being designed as an integrated aquaculture platform covering hatchery operations, farming, processing, digital farm management and quality control. The location is also expected to offer several advantages for land-based aquaculture, including access to seawater, renewable-energy potential, aquaculture expertise and proximity to major European seafood markets. The company currently expects construction to begin in 2029. Giant Grouper becomes Oceanloop’s lead commercial species Oceanloop will initially focus the commercial rollout of its own farms on Giant Grouper, a species that the company considers particularly well suited to its land-based farming platform. Giant Grouper is one of the world’s largest grouper species and is highly valued in Asian premium seafood markets. It is known for its firm white flesh, delicate flavour and culinary versatility. Oceanloop believes these characteristics make the species attractive to professional kitchens, foodservice operators and premium seafood distributors. By producing Giant Grouper locally in Europe, the company aims to establish a new premium seafood category while offering European buyers an alternative to long-distance imports. The company’s focus on Giant Grouper is also intended to demonstrate the flexibility of its technology. Oceanloop’s RAS platform is designed to be modular, software-controlled and adaptable to different marine species, farm sizes and regional operating requirements. The company will continue its research and development activities in land-based shrimp farming. Oceanloop is already in discussions with potential international partners interested in deploying its technology for regional shrimp production. These discussions could result in licensing agreements, strategic partnerships and joint ventures in seafood markets that remain heavily dependent on imports. Oceanloop says its platform can support partners throughout the development process, from assessing species, market conditions, locations, water supply and energy availability to detailed engineering and construction supervision. Future operating teams could also be trained at the Kiel facility before Oceanloop specialists assist with system commissioning, stocking and biological stabilisation at new sites. “Our own European farms will initially focus on Giant Grouper, but the wider Oceanloop platform is designed for international replication across different species and markets,” said Dr. Bert Wecker, Founder and CTO of Oceanloop. “We see significant interest from partners that want to produce premium seafood closer to consumption without having to develop the required biology, engineering, software and operational expertise from the ground up,” Wecker said. Hatch Blue brings specialist aquaculture investment expertise The new financing brings Hatch Blue’s Blue Revolution Fund (BRF) into Oceanloop’s growth story. Hatch Blue is a global investment firm focused on aquaculture, combining investment with venture programmes and advisory activities across major aquaculture production markets. The Blue Revolution Fund is a €92 million fund focused on scaling sustainable innovation in aquaculture from Seed to Series A. For Oceanloop, Hatch Blue brings specialist knowledge of aquaculture, an international network and experience supporting technology-driven farming companies as they move from pilot operations towards commercial scale. Its expertise spans areas including biology, farm economics, seafood markets and international project development. “Oceanloop has demonstrated the quality of the product, the strength of the technology, and a clear market strategy, backed by a team that combines technical expertise, biological understanding and commercial savviness,” said Georg Baunach, Founder and CEO of Hatch Blue. Stolt Ventures adds decades of seafood experience Stolt Ventures, the venture investment arm of Stolt-Nielsen, is also participating in the financing. Stolt-Nielsen has longstanding interests in logistics, distribution and aquaculture. Through Stolt Sea Farm, the group has been involved in premium seafood farming since 1972. Stolt Sea Farm is a land-based aquaculture company and supplier of turbot and sole, with experience covering species development, hatchery operations, farming, processing, biosecurity, product quality, food safety and international seafood distribution. The company has also developed and operated recirculation systems for marine species. Oceanloop said Stolt Ventures brings more than financial capital to the partnership. Its connection to Stolt Sea Farm provides access to decades of practical experience in scaling premium marine aquaculture, developing species, operating facilities in different locations and establishing routes to market. “The combination of Stolt-Nielsen’s operational aquaculture experience and Oceanloop’s integrated RAS platform creates a strong strategic fit,” Riedel said. “Very few investors can combine long-term capital with first-hand knowledge of hatcheries, marine biology, farm operations, processing and international seafood markets,” he added. Axel de Mégille, Head of Stolt Ventures, said Oceanloop has developed a differentiated platform for the controlled production of premium marine species on land. “Its focus on biology, repeatable farm design and commercial operations strongly aligns with Stolt-Nielsen’s long-term experience in aquaculture and the development of high-quality seafood markets,” de Mégille said. EIB provides €32 million venture debt The European Investment Bank is supporting Oceanloop with a €32 million venture-debt facility. The facility was initially signed on October 7, 2024, and amended on July 20, 2026, to include Giant Grouper farming. The financing is intended to support Oceanloop’s growth in Germany, its expansion to Gran Canaria and continued development of its recirculating aquaculture technology. The EIB project commitment covers research, development and innovation activities in Germany, as well as the construction and operation of an RAS and processing unit for Grouper in the Canary Islands. EIB venture debt is designed to support innovative European growth companies by combining long-term financing with instruments linked to company performance. This allows companies to finance major growth programmes without relying exclusively on conventional equity capital. The Oceanloop facility is backed by InvestEU, the European Union programme designed to mobilise investment in sustainable infrastructure, innovation and strategic European industries. The EIB’s participation highlights the potential role of land-based aquaculture in strengthening European seafood supply, innovation and lower-impact protein production. “Land-based aquaculture can become an important additional pillar of European seafood supply,” Riedel said. “The EIB financing allows us to invest with a long-term perspective in our technology, infrastructure and biological capabilities that are difficult to finance through conventional start-up capital alone,” he added. Building a European platform for land-based seafood Oceanloop’s latest financing represents a shift from proving the feasibility of its technology to building a scalable commercial business. The company’s immediate priorities are the expansion of its Kiel operation, development of the planned Gran Canaria facility and continued optimisation of its software-driven RAS platform. While Giant Grouper will remain the initial focus of Oceanloop’s own European farms, the company intends to use the underlying technology across species and markets. Its longer-term strategy is to establish a platform that allows premium seafood to be produced closer to consumers while reducing dependence on long-distance supply chains. The combination of specialist aquaculture investors, commercial seafood expertise and European growth financing gives Oceanloop a new capital base from which to pursue that strategy. With commercial sales already underway in Germany and two larger facilities planned, the company is now entering the next stage of its ambition: turning more than a decade of marine biology, engineering and operational experience into a repeatable model for industrial-scale land-based aquaculture. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/4/4510/why-indias-next-agritech-wave-will-be-driven-by-value-creation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/4/4510/why-indias-next-agritech-wave-will-be-driven-by-value-creation.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:37:46 +0530 The Indian agriculture investment story is entering an important new phase. Rather than viewing it simply as a “post-hype” cycle, it may be more accurate to describe it as a post-narrative, value-creation cycle—one where investors are looking beyond market size and technology narratives to assess the fundamentals of building enduring businesses. Capital is certainly not leaving Indian agriculture. Instead, it is moving deeper into the value chain, as reflected in recent fund-raises and institutional interest in companies such as Superplum, Arboreal Bioinnovations, KisaanSay and Pehle Jaisa, alongside the IPO and institutional capital raised by Milky Mist. These developments point to a more discerning investment environment, where differentiated business models and demonstrable value creation are gaining importance. For several years, investors were willing to underwrite large market opportunities, rapid technology adoption and aggressive growth. Today, the questions are far more fundamental: Does the business solve a real problem? Who is willing to pay for that solution? Can customers be acquired efficiently? Are revenues and cash flows predictable? And, ultimately, can technology deliver measurable economic value across the agricultural value chain? In this context, the investment lens is also broadening. Agriculture is no longer being viewed merely through the prism of farm-level opportunities. The larger opportunity lies across an interconnected ecosystem spanning farm mechanisation, rural credit, aquaculture, biotechnology, food processing, logistics and supply chains. In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Harsh Deodhar, Principal, Enrission India Capital, offers insights into this changing investment landscape. Drawing from Enrission India Capital’s experience and its broader approach to agriculture, Deodhar examines where capital is moving, what investors are demanding from agritech businesses, and why the next phase of growth will be defined less by compelling narratives and more by sustainable economics, execution and measurable value creation. His perspective offers an important takeaway for entrepreneurs and investors alike: the next chapter of Indian agritech may not be about discovering the next big story, but about building businesses that can prove their value. Has Indian agritech entered a post-hype investment cycle? Yes—but I would call it a maturity cycle rather than a correction cycle. The first wave of Indian agritech investing was largely about digitising a fragmented sector. Marketplaces, farmer apps, advisory platforms and digital distribution models attracted significant investor attention. Some of those businesses created tremendous value, but the sector also learned that agricultural technology has a different scaling curve from consumer internet. Agriculture has fragmented customers, seasonal cash flows, working-capital requirements, regulatory dependencies and significant physical-world execution. Technology alone cannot eliminate those realities. It can improve the way the ecosystem functions, but the underlying economics of agriculture still have to work. The numbers tell us that capital has already become more selective. Indian agrifood tech startups raised approximately $940 million across 129 deals in 2023, a 60 per cent decline in funding from 2022, even though deal count remained relatively stable. That is an important distinction: investor interest did not disappear; the price and size of capital changed. I therefore do not see this as investors losing interest in agriculture. Rather, the investment lens has become more sophisticated. Investors are asking deeper questions about the businesses they are backing and the economic value they are creating. At EIC, our evaluation framework today is therefore much more focused on quality of revenue rather than just quantity of revenue. We look at the nature of the revenue, the customer, retention, contribution margins, working-capital requirements and the underlying economics of the business. A company may show rapid top-line growth, but if that growth requires disproportionately higher capital, discounts or customer acquisition costs, the quality of that growth becomes questionable. For us, this value-chain approach can be observed with KiVi. KiVi represents a different part of the same value chain. It works across credit, commerce and distribution for the farm-gate ecosystem. The interesting proposition is not simply “fintech for farmers”; it is the ability to build a technology layer around an existing agricultural economic network. That distinction is important. The opportunity is not necessarily to create an entirely new agricultural behaviour. It can also be about making an existing economic network more efficient. That is the change I see in the market: investors are increasingly asking where the economic surplus is being created and how much of that surplus the startup can capture. The next phase of agritech investment will therefore be less about the strength of the narrative and more about the strength of the underlying business. Where is institutional capital moving next? I expect the next significant wave of institutional capital to move towards businesses that sit between agriculture and industrial-scale value creation. The opportunity is much broader than what has traditionally been classified as agritech. Agriculture is connected to infrastructure, manufacturing, biotechnology, finance, logistics, food processing, energy and the broader biological economy. As investors become more sophisticated, these intersections are becoming increasingly interesting. Three areas particularly interest me. First is agri-infrastructure and mechanisation. India's agricultural productivity cannot be transformed purely through software. Mechanisation, storage, cold chains, logistics, irrigation, processing and supply-chain infrastructure are enormous opportunities. There is a fundamental physical layer to agriculture. Farmers need access to machinery, water, storage and markets. Produce needs to move efficiently from the farm to processors, retailers and consumers. Losses need to be reduced. Productivity needs to improve. Therefore, technology businesses that are enabling these physical assets to operate more efficiently can create significant value. In many cases, the next generation of agricultural technology may be less about an app and more about improving the economics of a physical agricultural process. Second is biologicals and climate-resilient agriculture. There is a growing opportunity around alternative proteins, biological inputs, waste utilisation, carbon efficiency, water efficiency and technologies that improve agricultural productivity without proportionally increasing resource consumption. Our investment in Loopworm is a good illustration. The company operates at the intersection of biotechnology, agriculture, animal nutrition and the circular economy, using insects as a biological platform to create products from agricultural and organic waste. It demonstrates why the future opportunity is not necessarily “agritech” in the traditional sense—it is technology applied to the broader agri-biological economy. This is an important shift in how we think about the sector. Agricultural value creation does not stop at the farm gate. Biological resources, agricultural waste, animal nutrition and alternative production systems can all become part of the investment opportunity. Third is digitally enabled financial and distribution infrastructure. Agriculture remains fundamentally constrained by access to working capital, market linkages and fragmented distribution. Platforms such as KiVi demonstrate that there is substantial opportunity in building the infrastructure through which farmers, FPOs, rural entrepreneurs, lenders and buyers interact. The value here comes from connecting fragmented participants and making transactions more efficient. If technology can reduce friction, improve access to capital or make distribution more predictable, it can create measurable economic value. I also expect aquaculture and allied agriculture to become increasingly important. At EIC, our investment in Fishmongers is an example of this broader approach. The company is building a technology-enabled fish supply chain using IoT-based aquaculture and transportation technologies. Aquaculture illustrates how large the opportunity becomes when we stop defining agriculture narrowly. It has production, biological risk, logistics, cold chains, transportation, quality management and market-linkage requirements. Technology can potentially improve each of these layers. This is agriculture investing expanding beyond the traditional definition of the farm. The larger opportunity, therefore, is the agri-value chain, not just the farm. Are valuations becoming more realistic? Valuation getting more realistic is a healthy sign of maturity for the ecosystem. During the funding boom, some businesses were valued primarily on future potential—large TAMs, user numbers and aggressive growth projections. The market today is much more interested in what I would call quality-adjusted growth. A company growing 100 per cent but consuming significant amounts of capital may be less attractive than a company growing 40–50 per cent with strong contribution margins, high retention and a credible path to profitability. That is particularly relevant in agriculture because scaling often requires working capital and physical execution. The capital required to grow can therefore be materially different from what we see in purely digital businesses. For agriculture in particular, I think investors will increasingly value contribution margin rather than GMV; cash conversion rather than bookings; repeat transactions rather than registered farmers; farmer income or productivity improvement where relevant; working-capital efficiency; customer retention; revenue predictability; and the capital required to reach the next Rs 100 crore of revenue. These metrics tell us much more about the sustainability of a business than headline growth alone. The question is not simply whether a company can grow. The question is how efficiently it can grow. This is also changing the conversation between founders and investors. Founders need to think about capital efficiency from the beginning because the market will increasingly reward businesses that can demonstrate operating leverage. Founders also need to recognise that the objective of a fundraising round is not to maximise valuation at any cost. An unnecessarily high valuation can create a problem in the next round if operating performance does not catch up. A valuation is ultimately a reflection of the business that has been built. If the underlying economics improve, the valuation can follow. The best founders today are building businesses that can earn their next valuation rather than negotiate it. That, in my view, is one of the clearest signs that the ecosystem is maturing. What will successful exits look like? I expect India to see a combination of strategic acquisitions, IPOs and secondary transactions, rather than one dominant exit route. For many agribusinesses, strategic acquisition may actually be more logical than an IPO. Large FMCG companies, food processors, agricultural-input companies, logistics companies, financial institutions and global corporations have strong reasons to acquire technology, distribution networks, brands and intellectual property. The strategic value of an agritech company may therefore extend beyond its standalone financial performance. A larger company may see value in its distribution network, customer relationships, technology, data capabilities, brand or access to a particular agricultural ecosystem. We are already seeing how strategic capital is entering food and agriculture. For example, Temasek invested in Milky Mist ahead of its IPO, while the company has built a large-scale value-added dairy business with significant profitability and distribution. That is instructive because it demonstrates the type of business that can eventually attract multiple pools of capital: a real operating business, with scale, margins, distribution and a credible public-market pathway. Food processing is particularly interesting in this context. India's agricultural exports increased from $34.5 billion in FY20 to $51.1 billion in FY25, while processed food accounted for 20.4 per cent of exports. That suggests the value-creation opportunity is increasingly moving from simply producing agricultural commodities to processing, branding and exporting them. This is a significant opportunity because value addition can fundamentally change the economics of agricultural production. Instead of competing only on the price of a commodity, businesses can build differentiated products, brands and distribution networks. The exit ecosystem will strengthen when more Indian agribusinesses reach institutional scale and when strategic buyers begin viewing startups as acquisition targets rather than merely technology vendors. I also expect secondary transactions to become more relevant as the ecosystem matures. As businesses grow, early investors and founders will have opportunities to partially realise value while allowing companies to bring in larger institutional investors for the next phase of growth. Ultimately, successful exits will come from businesses that have demonstrated that their economic model works at scale. What would make Indian agribusiness truly investable at scale? The biggest requirement is formalisation of the agricultural value chain. India has enormous agricultural output, but the value chain remains fragmented across millions of farmers, intermediaries, traders, processors, financiers and logistics providers. Unity in diversity is an absolute truth for agri-based startups. Every 100 km in India, language changes, habits change, buying patterns change, problem definition changes and hence the agri-economics changes. That makes scaling particularly challenging. Post-pandemic, we have seen a great spike in farm-to-plate startups, and many of these businesses have real value. But scale is a massive challenge. A model that works in one geography or commodity may not automatically work across another. The unit economics can change because of differences in crop patterns, farmer behaviour, logistics, purchasing power, infrastructure and market structures. Technology can connect these participants, but technology alone is not enough. We need better agricultural data infrastructure, stronger FPOs, interoperable digital systems, easier access to institutional credit, improved warehousing and cold-chain infrastructure, predictable regulations and greater adoption of modern processing and logistics. There is encouraging progress. By February 2026, India had registered 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations, while food-processing initiatives have expanded cold-chain, processing and backward- and forward-linkage infrastructure. Agricultural exports and processed-food exports are also growing. From an investor's perspective, however, the biggest opportunity is to connect these pieces. The agricultural ecosystem has many individual components, but the value is often lost because these components do not interact efficiently. Better connectivity between farmers, FPOs, financial institutions, processors, logistics providers and buyers can unlock significant economic value. This is why our investment philosophy at EIC increasingly looks at the economic infrastructure surrounding agriculture rather than agriculture in isolation. For us, KiVi addresses capital and distribution. Fishmongers addresses aquaculture and supply-chain efficiency. Loopworm looks at biological production and circularity. These may appear to be very different businesses, but they have one thing in common: each attempts to remove a structural inefficiency from the agricultural economy. That is the lens through which we look at opportunities. We are not necessarily looking for businesses that simply call themselves agritech. We are looking for businesses that solve important problems within the agricultural economy and can build scalable, defensible businesses around those solutions. The real opportunity is therefore not simply to build more agritech companies. It is to build the infrastructure, technology, financial systems and businesses that make Indian agriculture more productive, efficient, resilient and globally competitive. That is the transition from venture capital to value creation—and I believe it is only beginning. -- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4508/ranchbot-lands-15-mn-series-b-amid-tough-agtech-funding-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4508/ranchbot-lands-15-mn-series-b-amid-tough-agtech-funding-market.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:53:33 +0530 Ranchbot, a ranch technology company specialising in satellite-connected water and livestock monitoring, has raised more than $15 million in a Series B funding round as it accelerates its expansion across the United States and broadens its ambitions in connected agricultural infrastructure. The financing round, which closed in early August, was led by Lewis & Clark Partners, with participation from Fulcrum Global Capital, Builders VC, the Cultiv8 Livestock Technology Fund, Lever VC and Macdoch Ventures. Alongside the funding, the company completed a corporate restructuring that establishes Ranchbot Technology Holdings, a Delaware corporation headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, as its new global parent company. Originally founded in Sydney, Australia, in 2014 under the Farmbot brand, Ranchbot has grown into a provider of remote monitoring technologies for livestock operations. The company now serves more than 12,000 customers and supports the monitoring of approximately 10 million cattle and 15 million sheep. The new capital will be directed towards expanding Ranchbot's U.S. team, advancing its hardware and software capabilities and extending its technology beyond its core water-monitoring solutions. Ranchbot's platform uses satellite-connected technology to help ranchers remotely monitor water infrastructure and livestock operations, reducing the need for frequent manual inspections across large and often remote properties. The company is now positioning itself to play a broader role in the development of connected infrastructure for agriculture. The funding comes at a challenging time for the wider agtech investment sector, which has faced slowing deal activity and increased investor scrutiny. However, Ranchbot's established customer base and focus on solving practical infrastructure challenges at ranch scale have helped differentiate the company from several earlier agtech ventures that struggled to demonstrate commercial viability. With fresh capital and a new U.S.-based holding structure, Ranchbot is preparing for its next phase of growth, betting that connected infrastructure, remote monitoring and data-driven management will become increasingly important as livestock producers seek to improve operational efficiency across large-scale agricultural operations. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/4/4466/how-praj-plans-to-scale-2g-ethanol-saf-and-bio-isobutanol.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/4/4466/how-praj-plans-to-scale-2g-ethanol-saf-and-bio-isobutanol.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:45:51 +0530 In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Atul Mulay, President – Bioenergy, Praj Industries Ltd, discusses the company’s growth opportunities beyond E20, including bio-isobutanol, 2G ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel, CBG and green chemicals. He explains why feedstock mapping, low-carbon certification, co-product valorisation and decentralised biomass storage will determine the commercial success of India’s bioenergy transition. Mulay also outlines Praj’s vision of moving beyond biofuels towards an integrated bioeconomy that creates greater value from every tonne of biomass. What is Praj’s next big growth opportunity beyond E20? E20 is a recent milestone, but Praj’s involvement in India’s ethanol journey began much earlier, with the development of the ecosystem around E10. Our approach has never been limited to supplying technology for individual plants. We have worked closely with the wider bioenergy ecosystem, including policymakers, fuel companies, technology partners and industry stakeholders. The ethanol programme has already helped India reduce its dependence on imported fuel and improve foreign-exchange savings. The next phase will require a broader portfolio of molecules and applications. One important opportunity is bio-isobutanol. Praj has been working on this technology for nearly a decade. Isobutanol can be blended with diesel and has properties that make it more suitable for diesel applications than ethanol. India is currently moving towards structured isobutanol-diesel trials, including a planned 2 per cent pilot across commercial vehicles. Praj’s bio-isobutanol technology is moving towards commercialisation, with the first commercial order expected during FY2027. The company is also developing the pathway from ethanol to jet fuel and has demonstrated integrated Alcohol-to-Jet technologies. Praj has worked with Axens to demonstrate ethanol-to-jet production at its SAF facility in Pune, including both ethanol and bio-isobutanol feedstock routes. The company has also worked on biofuel applications for aviation and developed fuel for drones under the relevant US authority framework. These developments show how the ethanol ecosystem can expand into aviation, unmanned mobility, industrial fuels and other high-value applications. CBG is another important area. Praj is working on technologies for converting agricultural and organic waste into renewable gas. But the future of bioenergy will depend on feedstock. Mapping the availability, quality, seasonality and logistics of biomass is essential. Technology, innovation and scale-up will be the three pillars of the next phase. We are also developing second-generation feedstock solutions and working on technologies that can improve the economics of low-carbon molecules. Can 2G ethanol become commercially competitive without subsidies? Yes, but commercial competitiveness will depend on more than ethanol sales. The key is co-product valorisation. Second-generation ethanol made from agricultural residues can have a lower carbon intensity than conventional first-generation ethanol. That can create additional value in markets such as Europe, where demand for low-carbon fuels is growing and lifecycle emissions are increasingly linked to market access. However, 2G plants must be designed as integrated biorefineries. The economics can improve when producers extract value from lignin, carbon dioxide, proteins, chemicals, heat, power and other co-products rather than depending only on ethanol revenue. Praj has been working on this approach for the past four years. The company has explored products such as distilled industrial oils and protein from rice-based feedstocks. These co-products can be used to cross-subsidise ethanol production and improve the overall financial performance of a plant. The objective is to develop a green-molecule platform rather than a single-product facility. A plant that produces ethanol, chemicals, proteins, energy and other materials can generate more value from each tonne of feedstock. Over the next two to three years, the focus will be on commercialisation. Subsidies and capital support may be important during the early development phase, particularly because 2G plants involve high upfront costs and complex feedstock systems. But long-term competitiveness must come from technology performance, scale, carbon value and co-product revenue. What is the biggest bottleneck in scaling India’s SAF industry? Feedstock and carbon-intensity mapping are the biggest challenges. SAF projects require large volumes of sustainable feedstock, but the industry must also be able to demonstrate the carbon footprint of that feedstock. Every tonne of biomass has an associated footprint covering cultivation, collection, transport, processing and conversion. A low-carbon feedstock can produce a more valuable fuel than a feedstock with a higher lifecycle footprint. This is why the industry must develop reliable systems for mapping and certifying carbon intensity. Brazil has already made progress in mapping the carbon intensity of sugarcane feedstock. India will need similar systems for sugarcane, maize, rice residues, paddy straw, bagasse, Napier grass and other biomass sources. Certification and awareness will be important. Farmers, aggregators, transporters, processors and fuel producers must understand how their activities affect the final carbon score. There must also be a price differentiation mechanism. If low-carbon feedstock and high-carbon feedstock receive the same price, there will be little commercial incentive to invest in better practices. Market-based pricing will become increasingly important, but government support is still required during the early phase. Capital assistance covering up to 30 per cent of project costs can help reduce the initial investment burden and attract private capital into SAF production. Praj’s integrated SAF platform is designed to support both ethanol-to-jet and isobutanol-to-jet pathways. This flexibility is important because India will need multiple technologies and feedstocks to build a commercially resilient SAF industry. How can India unlock its massive agricultural-residue potential for biofuels? Agricultural residue is particularly suited to CBG and second-generation biofuel production. India has abundant biomass, but abundance alone does not create a functioning supply chain. Punjab, for example, has the potential to supply a significant share of the feedstock required for large-scale projects. The challenge is that paddy residue is available for a short period during the harvesting season. If it is not collected, baled and stored quickly, it is either burnt or becomes difficult to recover. Storage is therefore as important as collection. India needs decentralised storage systems located close to farms and villages. These facilities can be connected with panchayats, local bodies, aggregators and CBG plants. A decentralised model can reduce transport distances and improve feedstock reliability. Instead of moving loose biomass across long distances, residues can be aggregated, processed and stored at multiple local centres before being transported to larger conversion facilities. The industry also needs digital mapping of biomass. Developers should know where feedstock is located, what quantity is available, when it can be collected, what it will cost and how far it is from the plant. Farmers must also have a clear economic incentive. Collection systems should provide transparent payments and ensure that farmers understand the value of residues. Feedstock aggregation will not succeed if farmers are asked to change practices without receiving a dependable return. Agricultural-residue projects must also be designed around local conditions. Technologies should match the type of biomass, the climate, the logistics network and the expected end product. One standard plant design will not work equally well for every region. Is Praj’s future bigger in biofuels—or in the wider bioeconomy? Aligning with the vision of our Founder and Chairman, Pramod Chaudhari, Biofuels are one part of our agenda on creation of bioeconomy . The larger opportunity lies in building an integrated platform for renewable fuels, chemicals, materials, proteins, energy and agricultural value creation. The vision is to use biomass more efficiently and extract maximum value from every component. Ethanol can become a feedstock for SAF, isobutanol and biochemicals. Agricultural residues can produce CBG, 2G ethanol, lignin and other products. Rice and other crops can generate protein and industrial co-products. Carbon dioxide can become a feedstock for fuels and chemicals. This is why co-product valorisation is so important. It improves the economics of biofuel plants and creates products that can compete in markets beyond energy. The future will also depend on collaboration. Farmers provide feedstock. Technology companies develop conversion systems. Fuel companies create offtake. Policymakers establish standards and incentives. Financial institutions support capital-intensive projects. Customers create demand for low-carbon products. Praj’s role is to build the technology and engineering platforms that connect these stakeholders. The company’s future will therefore be defined not only by ethanol capacity, but by its ability to support the transition towards a low-carbon, circular and commercially viable bioeconomy. India has already built the foundation through ethanol blending. The next phase will require a much wider system—one that includes advanced biofuels, SAF, CBG, isobutanol, green chemicals, feedstock mapping and co-product markets. The opportunity beyond E20 is not simply to produce more fuel. It is to create more value from every tonne of biomass. -- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agropsectrumindia.com)   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4461/plantible-foods-secures-35-mn-to-quintuple-plant-based-protein-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4461/plantible-foods-secures-35-mn-to-quintuple-plant-based-protein-production.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:54:05 +0530 Plantible Foods has secured $35 million in combined debt and equity financing to expand production of its plant-derived Rubi Protein™ and scale its controlled-environment agriculture platform in rural Texas. The financing includes a $25 million loan from X-Caliber Rural Capital through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s OneRD Business & Industry program, alongside a $10 million equity investment from RA Capital Management and existing investors. The funding will support the construction of up to 50 additional greenhouses at Plantible’s Ranchito facility in Eldorado, Texas. The expansion is expected to increase Plantible’s annual Rubi Protein production capacity fivefold, taking output to more than 1,000 metric tons and allowing the company to address growing customer demand and expand into new markets. “This funding and expansion is about delivering value for our customers, for Eldorado and Schleicher County, and for society,” said Tony Martens, co-founder and CEO of Plantible Foods. “We now have the means to build capacity and meet the industry’s demand.” Plantible produces Rubi Protein from Lemna, commonly known as water lentils, using an enclosed aquatic farming system. Its 100-acre aquafarm outside Eldorado is designed around controlled crop cycles, enabling more consistent production while reducing exposure to seasonal variability and extreme weather. The company is positioning the technology as an alternative approach to producing functional protein ingredients while addressing some of the resource constraints associated with conventional protein production. Rubi Protein contains all nine essential amino acids and vitamin B12 and has a neutral taste and no known allergens, according to Plantible. The company already supplies customers including ICL Food Specialties, which uses Rubi Protein as a binding ingredient in food formulations. Plantible expects the expanded production footprint to help meet its existing customer pipeline while opening opportunities across additional food and consumer-product applications. The financing follows a series of commercial and regulatory milestones for the company. In February 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a “No Questions” letter confirming Rubi Protein’s Generally Recognized as Safe status, marking what Plantible described as the first U.S. government approval for isolated RuBisCO protein for food applications. The USDA-backed financing also highlights the growing role of alternative financing models in helping food and agricultural biotechnology companies move from pilot-scale technology to commercial production. For Plantible, the investment is about more than increasing protein output. The company is building its manufacturing footprint in Schleicher County, where it has created skilled jobs across operations, engineering and research since establishing its first commercial site in 2022. The expansion could provide a blueprint for deploying modular, controlled-environment protein production in other rural communities, linking agricultural biotechnology with local manufacturing, workforce development and new economic opportunities. As food manufacturers search for functional, clean-label and resource-efficient protein ingredients, Plantible is betting that its water-lentil platform can move beyond an emerging alternative-protein technology into a scalable industrial ingredient business. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4440/cgiar-receives-nz3-39-mn-to-accelerate-climate-adaptation-for-smallholder-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4440/cgiar-receives-nz3-39-mn-to-accelerate-climate-adaptation-for-smallholder-farmers.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:16:28 +0530 New Zealand has committed NZ$3.39 million to extend the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas (AMD), reinforcing international efforts to strengthen climate resilience, food security and sustainable agricultural production across some of Asia's most productive yet climate-vulnerable farming regions. The funding, announced by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters during the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC)+1 Sessions, provides a 12-month extension to the AMD programme, ensuring continued momentum after the successful completion of its first phase (2022–2025). The investment will support climate-smart agriculture across the Mekong Delta (Cambodia and Vietnam), Irrawaddy Delta (Myanmar), and the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta (Bangladesh and India)—regions that collectively produce a significant share of Asia's rice, horticultural crops and aquaculture products while facing mounting threats from climate change, sea-level rise and extreme weather. The extension reflects growing recognition that safeguarding delta ecosystems is central to regional food security, as climate variability increasingly disrupts agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. Over the coming year, the initiative will provide 350,000 agricultural workers with timely weather forecasts, climate-risk information and digital advisory services to help farmers adopt climate-smart practices, manage production risks and improve on-farm resilience. Beyond supporting farmers, the programme will strengthen government decision-making by expanding the use of climate-risk mapping, advanced food systems analysis and evidence-based land-use planning. It will also accelerate the regional deployment of climate-smart technologies through public extension networks, non-governmental organizations, private-sector partners and community-based institutions. According to Dr. Bjoern Ole Sander, scientist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and leader of the AMD initiative, the programme remains focused on removing systemic barriers that limit the large-scale adoption of transformative agricultural technologies. "Our mission remains to create resilient, inclusive and productive deltas by removing systemic barriers to scaling transformative technologies and practices at community, national and regional levels," Dr. Sander said. The next phase will place particular emphasis on expanding diversified farming systems, strengthening nutrition-sensitive food networks, scaling digital climate advisory platforms, and improving governance, institutional capacity and investment planning across participating countries. The AMD initiative brings together expertise from six CGIAR research centres alongside numerous international and national research institutions, reflecting the increasingly collaborative nature of global efforts to address climate adaptation and food system transformation. As governments seek practical solutions to rising climate risks and growing food demand, New Zealand's latest investment underscores the expanding role of international partnerships in accelerating agricultural innovation, strengthening smallholder resilience and protecting the productivity of Asia's critical delta ecosystems.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4433/x-caliber-closes-25-mn-usda-loan-for-plantible-foods-expansion.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4433/x-caliber-closes-25-mn-usda-loan-for-plantible-foods-expansion.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:17:10 +0530 Plant-based ingredient innovator Plantible Foods has secured a $25 million USDA OneRD Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan—the maximum financing available under the federal program—to significantly expand its commercial production footprint in Texas, underscoring growing public-sector support for next-generation sustainable food manufacturing. The financing, arranged by X-Caliber Rural Capital (XRC), a licensed USDA OneRD lender and affiliate of X-Caliber Capital Holdings, will fund the expansion of Plantible's Ranchito production facility in Eldorado, Texas. The project will add up to 50 commercial greenhouses, increasing the company's annual production capacity for its flagship Rubi Protein™ ingredient to more than 1,000 metric tons. The investment comes as demand accelerates for sustainable, functional plant proteins capable of meeting food manufacturers' clean-label, nutritional and environmental objectives. Plantible has built its proprietary platform around Lemna (water lentils), transforming the aquatic plant into high-value functional ingredients through a controlled cultivation and processing system. Unlike conventional plant proteins, Plantible's Rubi Protein delivers a complete amino acid profile, vitamin B12, neutral flavor characteristics and no known allergens, positioning it as a differentiated ingredient for the rapidly evolving alternative protein market. The USDA Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Program is designed to expand access to capital for businesses operating in eligible rural communities by providing federal loan guarantees that encourage private lending. The program supports projects that generate employment, attract private investment and strengthen rural economic development. "Plantible represents exactly the type of company the USDA Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Program was designed to support—an innovative business with proven technology, strong leadership and a meaningful commitment to rural communities," said Anna West, President of X-Caliber Rural Capital. "Providing the maximum financing available under the program demonstrates how USDA lending can help businesses secure the capital they need to scale operations, create jobs and generate long-term economic opportunity in rural America." The expansion is expected to substantially increase domestic production of advanced plant-based food ingredients while generating new employment opportunities across Schleicher County. Beyond construction activity, the project is anticipated to strengthen the regional manufacturing ecosystem through increased demand for local suppliers, contractors and skilled technical talent. X-Caliber Rural Capital structured the financing to align with Plantible's long-term commercial growth strategy while advancing the USDA's broader mission of promoting investment in rural America. "Plantible has built an impressive platform with a clear commercial growth strategy, and we were able to structure financing that aligned with the company's long-term objectives," said Shaun Stehr, Vice President at X-Caliber Rural Capital. Founded by Dutch entrepreneurs Tony Martens and Maurits van de Ven, Plantible has developed a proprietary production platform that converts water lentils into functional food ingredients through controlled greenhouse cultivation. The company operates its commercial manufacturing facility in Eldorado, Texas, while maintaining its headquarters and research and development center in San Marcos, California. "This financing represents an important milestone for Plantible as we continue scaling our operations in Eldorado," said Tony Martens, Co-Founder and CEO of Plantible Foods. "The expansion will enable us to better serve our customers while continuing to invest in the community where we have built our manufacturing operations." Plantible has also achieved a significant regulatory milestone, becoming the first company to receive an FDA 'No Questions' letter for isolated RuBisCO protein, providing additional validation for its flagship ingredient as commercialization accelerates. The transaction further highlights increasing collaboration between government-backed financing programs and private capital to accelerate innovation-led manufacturing, particularly in rural communities where advanced agricultural technologies are creating new opportunities for domestic food production, employment and sustainable economic development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4432/insectbiotech-raises-7-2-mn-to-scale-black-soldier-fly-technology-for-agricultural-waste-conversion.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4432/insectbiotech-raises-7-2-mn-to-scale-black-soldier-fly-technology-for-agricultural-waste-conversion.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:06:31 +0530 Spanish biotechnology startup InsectBiotech has secured €7.2 million in fresh funding to accelerate the commercialization of its insect biotechnology platform that converts agricultural waste into sustainable proteins, oils and regenerative soil products, marking another milestone in Europe's fast-growing circular bioeconomy. The investment round was led by Arcano Partners' Asset Management division, which committed €3.8 million through the Impacto Andalucía Innovación y Desarrollo SICC fund. A consortium of U.S. investors contributed the remaining €3.4 million, providing the capital needed to expand the company's research pipeline and industrial-scale production capabilities. The funding comes as Europe intensifies efforts to reduce agricultural waste, strengthen domestic protein production and promote regenerative farming practices. InsectBiotech's proprietary platform utilizes Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae to biologically convert agricultural residues—including olive pomace (alperujo)—into high-value proteins and oils for animal nutrition, alongside bio-based products designed to improve soil health. Having spent several years validating its technology through research collaborations, pilot production and commercial testing, the Seville-based company is now preparing to move into the next phase of industrial deployment. A significant portion of the investment will finance the construction of a new processing facility in Andalusia capable of handling 7,500 tonnes of agricultural waste annually. Strategically located close to major olive-growing regions, the plant will transform waste streams generated by olive mills and agricultural operations into commercially valuable products while supporting rural employment and local supply chains. The technology underpinning the company was developed through years of research in collaboration with the University of Granada, resulting in a patented insect bioconversion process that positions InsectBiotech within Europe's emerging sustainable protein sector. The investment also reflects growing institutional support for innovation-led companies in southern Spain. Arcano manages the €55 million Impacto Andalucía Innovación y Desarrollo SICC fund, primarily financed through the Andalusia ERDF 2021–2027 Programme and the Regional Government of Andalusia. The initiative forms part of a broader financial instrument established by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to stimulate research, innovation and digitalization across the region. "The support of key investors such as Arcano Partners will allow us to scale both our research and production capabilities," said Ignacio Gavilán, CEO and Co-founder of InsectBiotech. "We aim to achieve meaningful production volumes, reduce Spain's and the European Union's dependence on imported proteins, and foster regenerative agricultural models." Arcano said the investment aligns with its strategy of deploying public capital alongside private investment to accelerate innovative businesses capable of delivering both commercial returns and measurable environmental impact. The funding highlights increasing investor confidence in insect biotechnology as governments and industries seek scalable alternatives to conventional feed ingredients while addressing agricultural waste management and resource efficiency. As Europe pursues circular economy goals and greater food system resilience, companies capable of transforming agricultural by-products into value-added biological products are attracting growing strategic interest. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4398/quercus-biosolutions-closes-oversubscribed-5-mn-seed-round-to-build-new-category-of-ai-designed-crop-protection.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4398/quercus-biosolutions-closes-oversubscribed-5-mn-seed-round-to-build-new-category-of-ai-designed-crop-protection.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 17:01:58 +0530 Quercus Biosolutions, an agricultural biotechnology company using generative AI to build a new class of crop protection compounds, today announced the close of its oversubscribed $5 million seed financing. The round was led by Serra Ventures, with participation from Starshot Capital, Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, Flyover Capital, Rootstock Capital, Iowa Corn Opportunities Fund, Agricap Fund, Kentucky Corn Plus, Ag Ventures Alliance, Ag Startup Engine, and others.The syndicate was assembled deliberately, pairing investors who can judge the technology with investors who answer to the growers who will use it. On one side are technology and climate funds with experience in AI-enabled platforms and science-based ventures. On the other are producer-backed funds that represent the voice of the farmer and the commercial reality of what growers need in the field. The financing follows the company’s emergence from stealth in March 2025. Crop protection is a roughly $80 billion global market on track to exceed $100 billion by 2030. Herbicides are its largest segment, more than 40 percent of the total, and weed control is where resistance pressure has advanced furthest. Growers in major row crop systems have watched their most dependable options narrow season by season, while the alternatives that promise a cleaner profile have not consistently matched the efficacy legacy tools have delivered. That gap, between the performance growers expect and what regulators and food markets increasingly require, is where Quercus has chosen to start, on a platform built to extend across crop protection. Owing to the practices at the center of regenerative agriculture - cover cropping and no-till among them - depend on reliable weed control, closing it carries consequences well beyond the farm gate.Quercus designs its compounds using generative AI, engineering mini-proteins to bind validated biological targets with the efficacy and cost structure of chemistry. These designed mini-proteins are a new class of crop protection compounds, and they are the basis for the category the company is building. The generative design platform behind them carries a track record from well beyond agriculture: more than $30 million of development investment to date, and validated mini-proteins produced across multiple industries and applications. Because the active ingredient is a protein, it is designed to break down in the environment and to carry a favorable regulatory profile; and because the compounds are a fundamentally new modality, they can be directed at targets that fall outside existing resistance groups, giving growers a way to stay ahead while sitting alongside the chemistry already in their programs. The seed capital gives Quercus room to advance on several fronts at once, including regulatory and field work across a portfolio that now includes more than five active programs, and building toward what it intends to be the platform of choice for designed crop protection. It plans to pursue multiple routes to market, and the financing provides the powder to establish a series of strategic partnerships, beginning with pilot programs alongside major strategics in the herbicide category. “Growers are facing steady resistance pressure across the tools they depend on, and they need new modes of action to stay ahead of it,” said Dr. Jon Lightner, CEO and Co-Founder of Quercus Biosolutions. “We are not asking them to make tradeoffs. We are developing products to perform at the level of the best chemistry on cost and in the field, with a favorable environmental and regulatory profile. The need is real, and we are building fast to meet it.” “We led this round due to the rare combination of a genuinely differentiated platform, a significant market opportunity desperate for innovation, a team that has built and scaled high-value enterprises in this space before, and an advisory bench as strong as any we have seen at this stage,” said Rob Schultz, Managing Partner at Serra Ventures.“So far, most of the value created by AI has stayed on a screen,” said Dan Kerr, Managing Partner at Flyover Capital. “Quercus takes generative design into the field and turns it into a physical product a grower can put on an acre. The advantage compounds: every program sharpens the platform and adds to the IP behind it, which makes it far harder to copy than software. That is where the next generation of durable AI companies gets built, and Quercus is at the leading edge of it.” “Every so often, a technology redefines what’s possible,” said Matt Crisp, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Quercus Biosolutions. “We believe this platform is one of those rare inflection points for agriculture. As it compounds with every program, it creates the kind of enduring advantage that gives rise to an entirely new category.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4385/renaissance-bioscience-receives-genome-bc-funding-to-extend-rnai-biopesticide-platform-to-target-soil-dwelling-crop-pests.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4385/renaissance-bioscience-receives-genome-bc-funding-to-extend-rnai-biopesticide-platform-to-target-soil-dwelling-crop-pests.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:24:54 +0530 Renaissance BioScience Corp., a global leader in yeast bioengineering providing solutions for environmental and industrial challenges in the agriculture, food, animal and human health, and energy industries, is pleased to announce a new Genome BC funded project to extend the reach of its yeast-based RNA interference (RNAi) biopesticide technology from above-ground insect pests to target soil-dwelling crop pests, beginning with destructive wireworms. The project will advance the development of a precision biopesticide against wireworms and represents a significant new application for the company's proprietary RNAi technology.  Opening the Door to Below-Ground Pest Control Renaissance has successfully focused its RNAi technology on insect pests that feed on plant foliage. The wireworm project represents the company's first effort to adapt its hardy, yeast-based RNAi protection and delivery technology to pests that live and feed below the soil surface. This represents a fundamentally different technical challenge that, if successful, could significantly expand the number of insect targets and crop protection applications that RNAi biopesticides can address. Combined with advanced formulation technologies, Renaissance's yeast-based delivery platform will protect RNAi in the challenging soil environment while promoting ingestion by wireworms, overcoming key barriers to effective soil-applied RNAi biopesticides. Wireworms are the soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles and are among agriculture's most persistent and destructive insect pests, damaging dozens of economically important crops. Globally, they are a significant pest to potatoes, root vegetables, corn and cereals. Living underground for several years, they feed on germinating seeds and seedlings, often destroying stands before crops emerge, and continue feeding on roots and tubers through the growing season, making them especially difficult to detect and control. The project will focus on developing a precision RNAi biopesticide targeting Agriotes species of wireworms, one of the world's most economically important soil-dwelling crop pests, responsible for substantial crop losses in Europe, North America, and other key agricultural markets. By identifying genes essential for survival that are conserved across two Agriotes species, Renaissance aims to develop a targeted solution capable of controlling more than one species with a single product. “Wireworms are one of agriculture's most challenging insect pests because they spend up to five years as larvae below ground, where conventional control options are limited,” said Dr. John Husnik, co-CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of Renaissance BioScience. He added, “Beyond developing a solution for wireworms, this project is strategically important because it will help determine how our yeast-based RNAi platform can be successfully extended from leaf-feeding insects to also target soil-dwelling pests. Wireworms are just the beginning. If we can successfully adapt our technology for below-ground pests, it opens the door to developing precision biopesticides for an entirely new range of economically costly agricultural pests.” Expanding the Commercial Applications of Renaissance's RNAi Platform The wireworm program builds on Renaissance's growing portfolio of RNAi-based crop protection technologies, complementing the company's ongoing development of precision biopesticides for other damaging agricultural insect pests. Owing to the underlying RNAi yeast platform has already demonstrated promise against above-ground pests, Renaissance believes this project could establish the foundation for future RNAi products targeting a broad range of economically important soil-dwelling insects and larvae. Successfully extending the technology below ground would represent a significant platform advance, opening new opportunities across multiple crops and agricultural markets while supporting the growing demand for environmentally sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides. “This support from Genome BC recognizes the tremendous potential of precision biological technologies to transform sustainable agriculture, and we appreciate their support and vision,” added Dr. Husnik. “Our goal is to provide growers with a new tool for managing wireworms while expanding the capabilities of our yeast platform to address an entirely new category of agricultural pests.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4346/village-capital-launches-innovative-capital-facility-for-early-stage-companies-in-northwest-arkansas.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4346/village-capital-launches-innovative-capital-facility-for-early-stage-companies-in-northwest-arkansas.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 08:55:34 +0530 Village Capital has announced the launch of the VilCap Innovative Capital Facility NWA, an investment facility supported by the Walton Family Foundation. The Facility will invest in early-stage, scalable companies across Northwest Arkansas using financing structures aligned with their unique stage of growth. Many early-stage companies struggle to access capital because they do not fit neatly into traditional financing models. They may be too early for bank financing, need more support than grants or personal networks can offer, or find that venture capital isn't a fit — either because they don't meet the growth profile it requires, or because they don't want to give up the ownership and control it entails. The VilCap Innovative Capital Facility NWA is designed to fill this gap by matching financing to each company’s stage, business model, and growth trajectory. Through the Facility, Village Capital will make approximately five investments using revenue-based financing, including redeemable equity and revenue-based loans, which tie repayments to company performance rather than fixed repayment schedules. This approach gives founders greater flexibility while allowing businesses to grow sustainably. “Northwest Arkansas is home to a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, with founders building solutions across supply chain, food systems, health, and beyond,” said Heather Matranga, Managing Director, Venture & Investments, at Village Capital. “This Facility is designed to align capital with business needs, helping founders build stronger companies while creating lasting value for their communities.” Village Capital is committed to partnering with local organizations that are deeply embedded in Northwest Arkansas to bring market expertise into the investment process, identify strong investment opportunities, and build awareness around revenue-based financing instruments. The Facility will also generate research on the region’s financing landscape to help attract additional flexible capital over time. Early-stage, growing companies in NWA are encouraged to apply. The Facility is offering up to $ 150K to businesses with at least $ 100K in annual revenue. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4345/acumens-araf-secures-90-mn-to-expand-climate-resilient-agriculture-investments-across-africa.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4345/acumens-araf-secures-90-mn-to-expand-climate-resilient-agriculture-investments-across-africa.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 08:41:48 +0530 Acumen's Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF) has secured US$90 million in new committed capital to expand investments in climate-resilient agribusinesses across Africa, strengthening support for smallholder farmers facing increasing climate-related risks. The latest fundraising marks the next phase of ARAF's investment strategy, building on the fund launched in 2020 as the world's first equity vehicle dedicated to strengthening the climate resilience of smallholder farmers. The additional capital will enable the fund to broaden its footprint beyond East and West Africa into North Africa while backing businesses that help farmers adapt to a changing climate. The new commitments are backed by a consortium of development finance institutions and impact investors, including returning investors Green Climate Fund (GCF), FMO and Proparco, alongside new partners Swedfund, BIO, FASA and a family office investor. ARAF invests in high-growth agricultural and food businesses that improve farmers' access to finance, quality inputs, markets, technology and climate-smart farming solutions. The fund targets enterprises capable of delivering both commercial returns and measurable social and environmental impact across Africa's agricultural value chains. Since its launch, ARAF has invested in 12 portfolio companies, directly reaching more than three million smallholder farmers across Africa. According to the fund, over 80 per cent of participating farmers have reported improvements in both farm incomes and crop yields. With the additional capital, ARAF aims to extend its direct impact to at least four million more farmers in the coming years. Smallholder farmers produce nearly 80 per cent of Africa's food supply but remain among the most vulnerable to climate-related disruptions, including prolonged droughts, floods and increasingly erratic rainfall. Limited access to financing, agricultural inputs, advisory services and reliable markets has further constrained their ability to adapt, creating significant risks for regional food security and rural livelihoods. By investing in scalable agribusinesses that provide climate adaptation solutions, ARAF seeks to strengthen the resilience of agricultural production while improving income opportunities for farming communities. The fund's blended finance model is also designed to attract private investment into climate-smart agriculture, an area that continues to face a significant financing gap despite growing demand. The latest capital raise reflects increasing confidence among development finance institutions that climate adaptation in agriculture can deliver both measurable development outcomes and long-term investment value. As climate risks continue to intensify across Africa, blended finance vehicles such as ARAF are expected to play a growing role in scaling private-sector solutions that strengthen food systems, improve rural livelihoods and enhance agricultural resilience. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4343/alder-point-secures-4-million-from-rockefeller-foundation-to-advance-regenerative-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4343/alder-point-secures-4-million-from-rockefeller-foundation-to-advance-regenerative-agriculture.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 08:24:46 +0530 The Rockefeller Foundation has committed $4 million to Alder Point Capital Management to accelerate investment in climate-resilient farmland and timberland across the United States, reinforcing efforts to improve land stewardship while supporting economic growth in rural communities. The investment will enable Alder Point to expand its strategy of acquiring high-quality but undermanaged farmland and timberland and partnering with local farmers, foresters and land operators to restore soil health, improve water resources and strengthen forest ecosystems. The approach is designed to enhance both environmental outcomes and the long-term productivity and value of working lands. The commitment also aligns with The Rockefeller Foundation's broader strategy to promote sustainable rural development by linking environmental restoration with economic opportunity. The funding supports the Foundation's Big Bet on Good Jobs for America, an initiative focused on creating quality employment and revitalising economically distressed communities through long-term investment. Working lands—including farmland and timberland—remain central to the economic vitality of many rural regions in the United States. However, years of underinvestment, intensive land use practices and growing climate pressures have reduced productivity while increasing environmental risks. The Foundation said restoring these landscapes requires sustained investment in regenerative management practices that improve both natural resources and economic resilience. Alder Point's land management strategy includes the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices such as cover cropping and rotational grazing, alongside sustainable forestry measures including selective harvesting, replanting programmes and investments in water infrastructure and operational efficiency. These interventions are intended to improve soil fertility, water quality and forest health while strengthening long-term returns for landowners and rural communities. The latest investment provides Alder Point with long-term, mission-aligned capital to scale these initiatives while strengthening measurement of environmental and social outcomes across its portfolio. The company will continue working with local producers and land managers to enhance biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable resource management while supporting employment and economic activity in rural areas. The partnership reflects growing investor interest in natural capital strategies that combine financial performance with measurable environmental and community benefits. As institutional capital increasingly flows toward regenerative agriculture and sustainable forestry, investments in responsible land stewardship are expected to play an expanding role in strengthening food systems, climate resilience and rural prosperity. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4295/rize-secures-47-million-to-scale-climate-smart-rice-platform-across-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4295/rize-secures-47-million-to-scale-climate-smart-rice-platform-across-southeast-asia.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 17:17:40 +0530 Climate-focused agritech startup Rize has raised $47 million in fresh funding to accelerate the expansion of its technology-driven rice cultivation platform across Southeast Asia, strengthening efforts to improve farmer incomes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilient, export-oriented rice supply chains. The financing brings together a consortium of global climate and development finance investors, underscoring growing confidence in technology-enabled regenerative agriculture as a scalable solution to food security and climate challenges. The latest investment will support Rize's next phase of growth by expanding its presence beyond Vietnam and Indonesia while enhancing artificial intelligence capabilities, digital traceability systems and carbon-focused agricultural initiatives. The equity round was led by BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts, with participation from The Rockefeller Foundation and existing investors Temasek and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Complementing the equity investment, debt financing has been mobilised through BIDV, Temasek Foundation and UOB, providing additional capital to support operational expansion. Since its Series A financing two years ago, Rize has increased the scale of its operations by more than tenfold, evolving into one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing climate-smart agriculture platforms. Today, the company partners with approximately 17,000 smallholder farmers cultivating more than 50,000 hectares across Vietnam and Indonesia, supported by a multidisciplinary workforce spanning agronomy, technology development and field operations. The newly raised capital will primarily be directed toward strengthening export market access through enhanced end-to-end traceability, enabling rice producers to meet increasingly stringent international food safety and sustainability standards. The company also plans to expand the adoption of alternate wetting and drying (AWD)—a water management practice that significantly lowers methane emissions while reducing irrigation requirements and improving farm profitability. In parallel, Rize intends to invest heavily in AI-powered decision-support tools designed for farmers and field teams. These digital technologies will help optimise crop management, improve productivity, support compliance with maximum residue level (MRL) requirements and generate reliable farm-level data for carbon programmes and sustainable commodity markets. The company also plans to broaden its platform into a collaborative agricultural ecosystem, allowing input suppliers, technology providers and service companies to connect directly with its growing network of farmers. This integrated approach is expected to accelerate the adoption of regenerative farming practices while improving access to agronomic services and commercial opportunities. Founded in late 2022 through a collaborative initiative involving Temasek, 100x100 and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Rize was established with the objective of modernising rice cultivation for smallholder farmers while integrating climate resilience into agricultural production systems. Commenting on the latest funding milestone, Dhruv Sawhney, Co-founder and CEO of Rize, said the investment validates the company's vision of combining climate action with improved livelihoods for farming communities. He noted that the new capital will enable Rize to significantly expand its geographic footprint, deepen investments in advanced technologies and strengthen market connectivity, helping farmers achieve higher productivity, greater resilience and improved economic returns while supporting low-emission agricultural production. Alexandre Martin-Min, Head of Natural Capital & Impact Investments at BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts, said the investment reflects the firm's confidence in scalable platforms capable of delivering measurable environmental outcomes alongside sustainable financial performance. He added that Rize's integrated approach to sustainable agriculture, carbon finance and verified commodity supply chains aligns closely with the firm's long-term investment strategy. Echoing this perspective, Slav Gatchev, Vice President of Innovative Finance at The Rockefeller Foundation, highlighted the challenges faced by smallholder farmers across Asia, including limited access to finance, constrained resource management and volatile market opportunities. He said technology-enabled regenerative agriculture has the potential to improve productivity while strengthening farmer incomes and long-term resilience. As governments and global food companies intensify efforts to decarbonise agricultural supply chains, climate-smart rice production is gaining strategic importance. Rice cultivation accounts for a significant share of agricultural methane emissions globally, making innovations such as AI-driven farm management, digital traceability and water-efficient cultivation practices increasingly critical for achieving climate targets without compromising food production. With fresh capital, expanded partnerships and growing demand for sustainable commodities, Rize aims to position itself as a leading digital agriculture platform supporting the transition toward low-emission, traceable and export-ready rice production across Southeast Asia. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4243/adb-extends-10-mn-social-loan-to-premium-nexus-to-modernise-mongolias-food-distribution-network.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4243/adb-extends-10-mn-social-loan-to-premium-nexus-to-modernise-mongolias-food-distribution-network.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:19:36 +0530 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $10 million social loan with Premium Nexus JSC, Mongolia's largest convenience store operator, to strengthen the country's food distribution ecosystem through expanded retail infrastructure, enhanced cold chain logistics and greater access to affordable food and essential goods. The investment underscores ADB's growing focus on building resilient, inclusive and efficient food systems across emerging Asian economies. The financing will support the expansion of Premium Nexus' retail and logistics operations, enabling the company to improve supply chain efficiency while addressing longstanding gaps in food accessibility, particularly in underserved rural regions beyond the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. At the core of the project is the development of a modern cold chain distribution centre alongside the establishment of 240 new CU convenience stores across urban and rural Mongolia. The expansion is expected to strengthen product availability, reduce supply chain bottlenecks and improve the distribution of fresh food and essential consumer goods throughout the country. According to Chandra Mohan Arora, Country Operations Head for Mongolia at ADB, unequal access to safe and affordable food continues to pose challenges for many communities, particularly outside major urban centres. He noted that strengthening logistics infrastructure and modern retail networks would improve the consistency and reach of food distribution while simultaneously creating new economic opportunities, especially for women entrepreneurs. Mongolia's retail sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by urbanisation, changing consumer preferences and increasing demand for modern retail formats. However, fragmented supply chains, inadequate logistics infrastructure and inconsistent food distribution continue to constrain market efficiency and limit access to quality products across large parts of the country. The project seeks to address these structural challenges by integrating retail expansion with supply chain modernisation. Beyond improving food availability, the investment is expected to generate approximately 900 new jobs, with a strong emphasis on creating employment opportunities for women and workers in rural communities. The initiative also places significant focus on advancing women's economic participation. Premium Nexus plans to expand franchise opportunities for women entrepreneurs, improve access to financing and increase the visibility of products manufactured by women-owned businesses across its retail network. In addition, the number of local suppliers supporting the company's operations is expected to increase from 420 to 453, strengthening domestic value chains and supporting local enterprise development. Chinzorig Ganbold, Chief Executive Officer of Premium Nexus, described the partnership as an investment that extends beyond commercial expansion, positioning it as a catalyst for strengthening Mongolia's food security, supply chain resilience and inclusive economic development. He added that the social loan designation reflects the company's commitment to generating measurable social impact for consumers, businesses and communities across the country. The financing has been independently verified as a social loan by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) under internationally recognised Social Loan Principles, with proceeds dedicated to employment generation, improved access to essential services and broader socioeconomic empowerment. The transaction is also expected to encourage wider adoption of thematic and impact-focused financing within Mongolia's financial sector. Established in 2017, Premium Nexus operates Mongolia's CU convenience store network under an exclusive franchise agreement with South Korea's BGF Retail Company Limited. As of March 2026, the company manages 557 stores nationwide and employs more than 5,200 people, making it the country's second-largest private sector employer. The investment reflects ADB's broader strategy of supporting sustainable food systems through infrastructure development, private sector partnerships and inclusive financing. As Mongolia continues to modernise its retail landscape amid rising consumer demand and urban growth, investments in logistics, cold chain infrastructure and organised retail are expected to play an increasingly important role in strengthening food security, reducing post-harvest losses and improving market access for producers and consumers alike. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4226/u-s-startup-thinks-it-can-make-green-ammonia-cost-competitive.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4226/u-s-startup-thinks-it-can-make-green-ammonia-cost-competitive.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:13:51 +0530 The global race to decarbonize ammonia production is entering a new phase, with U.S.-based climate technology startup Faraday Earth claiming a significant breakthrough that could bring green ammonia within striking distance of conventional production costs. The company says its plasma-based ammonia production platform can achieve a levelized production cost of around $500 per metric ton—a price point that approaches the economics of traditional fossil fuel-derived, or "gray," ammonia. If commercially validated at scale, the technology could remove one of the biggest barriers preventing widespread adoption of low-carbon fertilizers. The milestone follows a recent investment from agri-food venture capital firm AgFunder, underscoring growing investor confidence in next-generation fertilizer technologies that combine clean energy, artificial intelligence and decentralized manufacturing. Reinventing a Century-Old Industrial Process For more than a century, global ammonia production has relied on the Haber-Bosch process, an energy-intensive technology that consumes vast quantities of natural gas while accounting for a significant share of industrial carbon emissions. Faraday Earth is pursuing a fundamentally different pathway. Instead of relying on extreme temperatures and high-pressure reactors, the company employs non-thermal plasma generated through high-voltage electric fields to activate atmospheric nitrogen. The activated nitrogen is then combined with green hydrogen produced through electrolysis or naturally occurring geological hydrogen sources to synthesize ammonia. By replacing fossil fuel-driven chemistry with electricity-powered plasma, the system aims to dramatically reduce emissions while improving production flexibility. Artificial Intelligence Powers the Reactor One of the defining features of the platform is its integration of artificial intelligence into reactor optimization. Rather than operating under fixed parameters, the system continuously analyzes reactor performance using a digital twin powered by machine learning algorithms. The software dynamically adjusts operating conditions to maximize nitrogen activation and improve ammonia yields in real time. The combination of advanced plasma physics and AI-driven optimization reflects a broader trend in industrial manufacturing, where intelligent process control is becoming as valuable as the underlying hardware itself. Decentralizing Fertilizer Production Faraday Earth is also challenging the conventional economics of ammonia manufacturing. Traditional ammonia plants require multibillion-dollar investments and operate at enormous scale, making production highly centralized and dependent on extensive transportation networks. The company's alternative consists of modular, container-sized production units capable of generating several metric tons of ammonia each day. Such systems could enable fertilizer manufacturers, distributors and large agricultural operations to produce ammonia much closer to where it is ultimately consumed. Localized production has the potential to reduce transportation costs, improve supply chain resilience and provide greater protection against disruptions in global fertilizer markets. Agriculture's Decarbonization Opportunity Ammonia remains the essential building block for nitrogen fertilizers that sustain agricultural productivity worldwide. At the same time, conventional ammonia production is responsible for a substantial share of industrial greenhouse gas emissions, making it a priority sector for decarbonization. As governments and fertilizer manufacturers pursue lower-carbon alternatives, technologies capable of delivering green ammonia at competitive costs are attracting increasing commercial interest. Faraday Earth has already moved beyond laboratory research, deploying a demonstration system, securing its first commercial customer and entering into a commercialization agreement with a major industry partner. While large-scale deployment remains the next critical challenge, the company's progress suggests that green ammonia may be approaching an economic tipping point. If plasma-enabled production proves commercially scalable, it could fundamentally reshape how one of agriculture's most essential inputs is manufactured—bringing fertilizer production closer to farms while reducing the industry's carbon footprint. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4206/canberra-backs-vietnams-science-skills-and-climate-agenda-with-new-aid-package.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4206/canberra-backs-vietnams-science-skills-and-climate-agenda-with-new-aid-package.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:43:32 +0530 Australia has committed AUD 100 million in development assistance to Vietnam for the 2026-27 fiscal year, reinforcing the rapidly expanding Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and supporting Vietnam's ambitions in innovation, skills development and climate resilience. The funding commitment was announced during a meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird at the Government Office in Hanoi, where both sides reaffirmed their intention to deepen cooperation across trade, investment and sustainable development. The new assistance package will prioritize three key areas: advancing science and technology capabilities, strengthening skills and human resource development, and supporting initiatives aimed at addressing climate change and enhancing resilience. The announcement comes as Vietnam and Australia continue to accelerate the implementation of their 2024-2027 Action Plan under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework. Bilateral cooperation has expanded significantly in recent years, spanning trade, investment, energy transition, education, agriculture and regional development. Both countries are also seeking to unlock greater economic opportunities by pursuing an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 20 billion and doubling two-way investment over the coming years. Vietnam has called for greater market access for its exports, particularly agricultural, forestry and fishery products, while also encouraging Australia to reduce trade barriers and facilitate investment flows between the two economies. The Vietnamese government reiterated its commitment to creating a stable and attractive environment for foreign investors, including Australian companies, through continued regulatory reforms and improvements to the legal and institutional framework governing foreign investment. Australia, for its part, has signaled its intention to encourage greater business engagement in Vietnam, aligning with its broader Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which identifies Vietnam as one of the region's most dynamic and strategically important economies. Beyond economic cooperation, the two countries are also strengthening collaboration in capacity building, training and governance support, with Australia continuing to provide technical assistance and human capital development initiatives for Vietnamese officials and institutions. The two sides also discussed preparations for future high-level exchanges and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening political trust and maintaining regular bilateral cooperation mechanisms across a broad range of sectors. Australia further reiterated its support for Vietnam's preparations to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in 2027, a major diplomatic event expected to reinforce Vietnam's growing role in regional economic and political affairs. The latest development assistance package highlights Australia's long-term commitment to supporting Vietnam's economic transformation and sustainable development agenda while further cementing a strategic partnership that has become increasingly important to both countries amid shifting regional and global dynamics. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4188/swedish-agtech-startup-arevo-raises-7-3-mn-to-bring-next-generation-fertilizer-technology-to-brazil.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4188/swedish-agtech-startup-arevo-raises-7-3-mn-to-bring-next-generation-fertilizer-technology-to-brazil.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:19:35 +0530 Swedish agricultural technology company Arevo has secured €7.3 million in new funding as it accelerates plans to commercialize its Arginex fertilizer platform in Brazil by 2027, betting on the growing demand for more sustainable and efficient nutrient solutions in commercial horticulture. The latest investment will be used to support regulatory approvals, expand commercial operations, and fund additional agronomic trials as the company prepares for entry into one of the world's largest horticultural markets. Arevo's technology addresses a growing challenge facing commercial growers as the industry increasingly transitions away from peat-based growing media. Environmental concerns and regulatory restrictions have accelerated the adoption of peat-free substrates such as coir, rockwool, and wood fiber, but these alternatives have created new nutrient management challenges because conventional mineral fertilizers were originally developed to perform within the chemistry of peat-based systems. Arginex has been designed specifically for peat-free growing environments. The platform utilizes arginine, an amino acid, combined with phosphate to deliver nitrogen in a molecular form that the company believes is better suited to the faster pH dynamics of modern growing substrates. The approach is intended to improve nitrogen uptake while reducing nutrient losses caused by leaching and volatilization. The company positions Arginex as a potential alternative to conventional nitrogen fertilizers rather than a supplementary input, with the technology aimed at materially lowering synthetic nitrogen requirements over an entire crop cycle in peat-free production systems. Brazil has emerged as the company's primary commercialization target due to its sizable ornamental and vegetable horticulture industries and the increasing adoption of peat-free substrates driven by environmental considerations and evolving agricultural practices. The country's large protected cultivation sector also presents a significant opportunity for nutrient technologies that can improve productivity while reducing fertilizer dependency. The latest funding round follows Arevo's introduction of Arginex to European markets in 2025, where the technology has been targeted at protected cropping systems and nursery production. The company is now seeking to build on its early market presence by expanding internationally and establishing Brazil as a strategic growth market. Founded on research into amino-acid-based nitrogen delivery systems, Arevo is part of a growing wave of agricultural technology companies seeking to improve nutrient-use efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint of modern farming. Rising fertilizer costs, stricter environmental regulations, and increasing pressure to improve agricultural sustainability have created a growing market for alternatives that can deliver higher nutrient efficiency with fewer inputs. The investment also underscores broader investor confidence in technologies designed to address the intersection of productivity and sustainability in agriculture. As growers worldwide seek ways to optimize nutrient management and reduce dependence on conventional fertilizers, innovations that improve resource efficiency are expected to play an increasingly important role in the future of commercial horticulture. With fresh capital in hand and a major international expansion on the horizon, Arevo is positioning itself at the forefront of the next generation of fertilizer technologies, aiming to reshape nutrient management for a rapidly evolving horticulture industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4166/adb-etg-sign-sustainability-linked-loan-to-support-coffee-cashew-farmers-in-india-and-viet-nam.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4166/adb-etg-sign-sustainability-linked-loan-to-support-coffee-cashew-farmers-in-india-and-viet-nam.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:08:23 +0530 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $50 million sustainability-linked loan with ETC Group (ETG) to support the procurement, market access, and exports of coffee and cashew from smallholder farmers in India and Viet Nam. The financing will provide working capital for ETG to procure sustainably-sourced coffee and cashew from around 5,700 smallholder farmers—around 25 per cent of whom are women—in both countries. It will help uncertified farmers obtain sustainability certification and fair legal agreements that reduce their exposure to market risks, and enable farmers to secure more stable incomes. ADB will also provide $850,000 in technical assistance to improve farmers' capacity to adapt to extreme weather events, including through regenerative agroforestry practices. "This investment demonstrates how ADB can work alongside other development finance institutions (DFI) to channel private capital into sustainable agricultural supply chains," said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Department Isabel Chatterton. "By joining a multi-DFI facility and linking financing directly to sustainability targets, we are helping thousands of smallholder farmers—especially women—secure better incomes, access stable markets, and build resilience to extreme weather. This is consistent with ADB's commitment to mobilize $40 billion for food system transformation in Asia and the Pacific by 2030." India is a major global producer of coffee and cashew, while Viet Nam is the world's largest exporter of processed cashew kernels and the second-largest coffee exporter. However, farmers in both countries often face financial constraints and limited access to affordable inputs such as high-quality seeds and fertilizers. Productivity is further affected by aging coffee tree stocks, poor soil health, outdated farming practices, and changing weather patterns. Women farmers face additional barriers, including limited access to land, capital, information, and specialized training. “We are very pleased to partner with ADB in Asia, enabling us to truly make an impact on the lives of people, while keeping a keen focus on addressing pressing issues pertaining to climate change and land conservation. We are enthused to continue this journey and to play our role in creating a sustainable future for generations to come,” said ETG Chief Treasury Officer Paul Van Spaendonk. The loan is structured as a sustainability-linked instrument, tying borrowing costs to pre-agreed environmental and social targets. The targets were reviewed by Sustainalytics, an independent third party, which issued a second-party opinion confirming alignment with international best practice. Annual audits are performed by DNV. The ADB loan will be part of an existing syndicated facility with seven other DFIs—Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V., Trade and Development Bank, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft, FinDev Canada, OPEC Fund for International Development, Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique, and Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank—through an accordion option that allows additional lenders to join on the same terms. The facility includes a 2-year extension option. ETG has a diverse portfolio of expertise across various industries, encompassing agricultural inputs, chemicals, logistics, processing, food and food ingredients, energy, metals, technology and supply chain optimization. ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4120/rainbow-crops-secures-e9-7-mn-to-accelerate-ai-powered-crop-innovation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4120/rainbow-crops-secures-e9-7-mn-to-accelerate-ai-powered-crop-innovation.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:59:10 +0530 Funding round strengthens development of next-generation gene-editing platform designed to fast-track climate-resilient, high-performance crop varieties Rainbow Crops, a biotechnology company focused on advancing crop improvement through artificial intelligence and multiplex genome editing, has raised €9.7 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round, marking a significant endorsement of emerging technologies aimed at transforming global plant breeding. The investment was led by Italian venture capital firm LIFTT and its investment vehicle LIFTT EuroInvest, with participation from existing backers including Agri Investment Fund (AIF), PINC, and VIB. New investors joining the round include Corteva, through its Corteva Catalyst investment platform, and Maia Ventures. The financing follows a recent $7 million grant awarded to the company by the Gates Foundation, further strengthening Rainbow Crops’ growth trajectory. The fresh capital will be deployed to expand the company’s proprietary Trait Foundry platform, enhance its AI-driven genome engineering capabilities, broaden applications across multiple crop species, and scale scientific and technical teams. The move comes as agricultural systems worldwide confront mounting pressure from climate volatility, resource constraints, and the growing demand for more resilient and productive crop varieties. Reimagining Crop Breeding Through AI and Genome Engineering Traditional breeding has delivered substantial gains in agricultural productivity over the decades, but developing complex traits such as yield enhancement, stress tolerance, and climate resilience remains a lengthy and resource-intensive process. Rainbow Crops is seeking to compress that timeline through a technology stack that combines artificial intelligence, multiplex genome editing, precision breeding, and automated phenotyping. Its platform is designed to identify and engineer combinations of genetic variants associated with complex agronomic traits, enabling breeders to explore multi-gene architectures at a scale previously difficult to achieve. By integrating genome editing directly into breeding workflows, the company aims to generate more predictable outcomes while accelerating the development of improved crop varieties. Proof-of-concept trials have already been demonstrated in corn, providing early validation for the platform’s commercial potential. Investor Confidence Reflects Growing Interest in Agricultural Biotechnology The funding round underscores increasing investor appetite for technologies capable of addressing the dual challenge of improving productivity while strengthening resilience against climate-related disruptions. Investors cited Rainbow Crops’ ability to combine artificial intelligence with advanced genome engineering, supported by field validation, proprietary datasets, and growing engagement with major seed companies. Access to scientific expertise and research infrastructure through Belgium’s VIB ecosystem further strengthened the company’s investment case. Positioning for the Next Phase of Growth With regulatory environments in several markets becoming more receptive to gene-editing technologies, companies capable of delivering faster and more precise crop improvement solutions are attracting heightened attention across the agricultural innovation landscape. Rainbow Crops now aims to transition from early-stage validation to broader platform deployment, building partnerships across the global seed industry while expanding its portfolio of climate-resilient and high-performing crop traits. As agriculture increasingly turns to biotechnology and data-driven innovation to secure future food production, the latest funding round positions Rainbow Crops among a new generation of companies seeking to redefine how crops are developed in an era of mounting environmental and economic uncertainty. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4081/leaf-lands-13-mn-series-b-as-agribusiness-bets-big-on-ai.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4081/leaf-lands-13-mn-series-b-as-agribusiness-bets-big-on-ai.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:42:10 +0530 Funding round backed by Leaps by Bayer and strategic industry investors as demand grows for connected farm data and AI-driven decision-making Agricultural data platform Leaf Agriculture has secured $13 million in Series B financing, strengthening its position as a key infrastructure provider for the rapidly expanding ecosystem of AI-powered agricultural technologies. The round was co-led by Leaps by Bayer, the impact investment arm of Bayer, alongside a consortium of strategic investors from across the agricultural value chain. The new capital will be used to expand Leaf’s data management capabilities and support the growing demand for artificial intelligence applications across farming, agribusiness, insurance, sustainability and commodity markets. The investment comes at a particularly challenging moment for global agriculture. Farmers are contending with rising input costs, volatile commodity markets and mounting weather-related uncertainty. Fertilizer prices have climbed sharply following disruptions to global energy and shipping routes, while crop margins remain under pressure in several major producing regions. Against this backdrop, digital efficiency is emerging as a critical competitive advantage. Leaf has built its business around a problem that has long frustrated agricultural technology providers: the fragmentation of farm data. Modern farms generate vast amounts of information through machinery, sensors, agronomic platforms and enterprise software systems, but much of that data remains trapped in disconnected formats and proprietary ecosystems. The company acts as a data integration layer, enabling agricultural organizations to access, standardize and utilize information generated across multiple platforms. Industry observers often compare its role to infrastructure providers that transformed other sectors by simplifying access to complex data networks. By converting fragmented datasets into structured and interoperable information, Leaf enables technology developers to build advanced analytics, automation tools and AI-driven applications capable of improving decision-making throughout the agricultural production cycle—from crop planning and planting to harvest, marketing and risk management. Since its launch, the company has expanded its reach significantly and now processes farm data representing a substantial share of digitally connected agricultural acreage worldwide. While largely invisible to growers themselves, its technology powers services used by crop insurers, agricultural retailers, food companies, sustainability platforms, seed developers and commodity traders. The practical benefits for farmers are increasingly tangible. Connected insurance platforms can accelerate claims processing, agronomic advisors can generate field-specific recommendations based on historical performance data, and sustainability programs can automate compliance reporting that previously required extensive manual record-keeping. The latest financing reflects growing investor confidence that artificial intelligence will become a foundational technology across agriculture, provided the underlying data infrastructure is robust enough to support it. “Digital tools are transforming how farmers engage with seeds, crop protection products and farm management systems,” said Dr. Jeremy Williams, Head of Digital Farming and Commercial Ecosystems at Bayer Crop Science. He noted that improved connectivity between digital platforms allows growers to derive greater value from farm data across insurance, sustainability and agronomic applications, adding that Bayer’s investment reflects its commitment to a more connected agricultural ecosystem. For Leaf, the funding marks another step in its broader mission of modernizing agriculture through better data management. Company leadership said that while data has always been central to agricultural decision-making, advances in AI are dramatically increasing the value of clean, standardized and accessible information. With support from strategic investors, the company plans to deepen its role as the infrastructure backbone powering the next generation of agricultural intelligence. As agribusiness increasingly embraces automation and predictive analytics, Leaf is positioning itself at the center of a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem—one where data, rather than machinery alone, may become agriculture’s most valuable asset. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4070/swarm-engineering-raises-10m-series-a-to-transform-operational-decisions-with-ai.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4070/swarm-engineering-raises-10m-series-a-to-transform-operational-decisions-with-ai.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:05:16 +0530 Domain-trained AI agents and optimization algorithms for faster, higher-quality operational decisions in agrifood and manufacturing   SWARM Engineering, the decision intelligence company for agrifood and manufacturing, today announced it has raised $10 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round led by S2G Investments and AgRogue Growth Partners, with participation from Radicle Growth, Grit Road Partners, Middleland Capital, Open Prairie, Serra Ventures, and Trailhead Capital. The funding will accelerate SWARM's mission to transform operational decisions with AI, delivering optimization across supply chain, workforce, and logistics.   Agrifood and manufacturing companies operate in environments where demand shifts daily, supply chains fragment, and margins compress with every delayed or misinformed decision. The urgency is real: Disrupted trade lanes are redrawing supply chains in real time. Input costs, labor, and transportation are simultaneously volatile. Margins that were once manageable are now existential. Operations leaders who once asked, "should we invest in AI" are now asking "how fast can we deploy."  Despite this, most organizations still rely on planning tools built for a slower, more predictable world. Led by Microsoft, Palantir, Google, and UiPath veterans with deep roots in agentic AI, optimization, and industrial operations, SWARM addresses this directly with domain-trained AI agents and optimization algorithms that understand the actual decision logic, constraints, and variables that drive these operations.  SWARM also announced that Jason Trusley, SVP and Chief Strategy Officer at Land O'Lakes, Inc., has joined its Advisory Board, bringing enterprise strategy leadership and deep roots across the U.S. cooperative and agrifood ecosystem.  "In agrifood and manufacturing, every operational decision has a downstream consequence,” said Shail Khiyara, CEO of SWARM Engineering. “Most AI platforms learn your business over time. SWARM is different because it’s built on the ontology of these industries - the decision logic, the constraints, the relationships between variables that can take decades to accumulate. That domain knowledge is native, not acquired, and that's not something generic AI can replicate."   SWARM's operational AI is purpose-built for agrifood and manufacturing, combining intelligent agents and optimization algorithms into a single system that uniquely understands how these industries make decisions. Built on the operational ontology of these industries, it ingests real-time data, preserves institutional knowledge across an organization, and runs scenarios across thousands of variables in minutes.   Customers simulate hundreds of logistics and supply chain scenarios in minutes, compress planning cycles that once took days, and gain cross-functional visibility that legacy planning tools never delivered. Recognized by AgTech Breakthrough as a back-to-back award winner in 2024 and 2025, SWARM is transforming operational decision-making across some of the most complex supply chain and logistics networks in North America.  “We run a complex multi-site manufacturing operation where inventory decisions have real financial consequences. SWARM didn't just improve our planning process, it changed what’s possible. We freed up working capital we didn't know we had and cut planning cycles by 40 per cent. That is what domain-trained AI looks like in a manufacturing environment," said Oscar Bolaños, COO, Springs Window Fashions, a global manufacturer of custom window treatments with more than 9,000 employees and brands including Bali, Graber, and Horizons.   “Most AI platforms are built for generic problems. Agrifood and manufacturing don't have generic problems. Co-leading this round reflects our conviction in the platform SWARM is building and the management team behind it, one with the domain depth and enterprise-grade foundation to become a defining player in how these industries operate," said Mike Wise, Principal at S2G Investments.  "Agrifood has been underserved by technology for decades. SWARM is the first company we have seen that truly understands how operational decisions get made in this industry, at the field level, the facility level, and the network level. Shail brings the kind of operator credibility this industry demands and rarely gets from an AI company. That is why we co-led this round," said Kirk Haney, Managing Partner at Radicle Growth.   The new capital will accelerate SWARM's operational AI roadmap, expanding decision intelligence across new use cases in agrifood and manufacturing. Additionally, it will help to scale go-to-market operations and deepen integrations with leading ERP and supply chain systems to reduce time to value for customers.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4043/hubei-jinghesheng-biotech-accelerates-expansion-targets-5000-tonne-clothianidin-capacity.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4043/hubei-jinghesheng-biotech-accelerates-expansion-targets-5000-tonne-clothianidin-capacity.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:56:51 +0530 Chinese agrochemical manufacturer strengthens production footprint with RMB50 million investment aimed at meeting growing global demand for insecticide solutions. Hubei Jinghesheng Biotechnology is set to significantly strengthen its position in the global crop protection market following plans to expand its clothianidin production capacity to 5,000 tonnes annually, underscoring China's continuing investment in strategic agrochemical manufacturing. The company recently announced the environmental impact assessment for its latest expansion programme, which will increase annual clothianidin output from the current 2,000 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes upon completion. Located at Lingang Industrial Park in Songzi City, Hubei Province, the project represents a total investment of approximately RMB50 million and forms part of the company's broader strategy to enhance manufacturing efficiency, optimise production processes and strengthen supply capabilities for key insecticide active ingredients. The expansion will involve the installation of additional production infrastructure, including reactors, heat exchangers and storage facilities, alongside upgrades to environmental protection systems and supporting utilities. These investments are intended not only to raise output but also to improve operational sustainability and production reliability. Clothianidin, a widely used insecticide active ingredient, plays an important role in protecting crops against a broad spectrum of insect pests and remains a key component of modern crop protection programmes across several agricultural markets. Established in March 2021, Hubei Jinghesheng Biotechnology has rapidly emerged as a specialised player in the research, development, production and marketing of pesticides and pesticide intermediates. The company currently operates manufacturing facilities with a combined annual capacity of 13,600 tonnes of pesticides and intermediates. Its production portfolio includes active ingredients such as clothianidin and chlorfenapyr, supported by integrated manufacturing lines for associated intermediates. Industry observers note that the latest expansion reflects a broader trend within China's agrochemical sector, where manufacturers are increasingly investing in scale, process optimisation and supply-chain resilience amid evolving global demand dynamics. As international agricultural markets continue to seek reliable sources of crop protection products, capacity expansions of this nature are expected to reinforce China's role as a critical supplier of agrochemical active ingredients to growers worldwide. For Hubei Jinghesheng Biotechnology, the project represents a significant step in its growth trajectory, positioning the company to better serve both domestic and export markets while enhancing its competitiveness within an increasingly sophisticated global agrochemical industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4040/german-startup-eternal-ag-raises-eur-8-mn-to-develop-autonomous-robots-for-greenhouse.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4040/german-startup-eternal-ag-raises-eur-8-mn-to-develop-autonomous-robots-for-greenhouse.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:49:18 +0530 The investment will be used to accelerate the company's European expansion and extend the technology's capabilities to new crop types. Eternal.ag, a startup building autonomous harvesting robots for greenhouses, today announced it has raised EUR 8 million in funding from Simon Capital, Oyster Bay Venture Capital, EquityPitcher Ventures and Backbone Ventures. Eternal.ag is developing fully autonomous robots that perform greenhouse crop work without human operators. Greenhouses are increasingly essential for securing the year-round supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, being far more resilient to seasonal weather, climate change, land shortages and pests than outdoor farming. However, greenhouse labor availability is falling rapidly - in Europe, by as much as 30 per cent since 2010 - and forecasts say this trend will continue, leaving growers with structural staffing shortages. By automating physically demanding harvesting work, eternal.ag's robots enable greenhouses to operate reliably and continuously, even when labor is unavailable or inconsistent. By 2040, the company envisions fully automated greenhouse operations powered by robotics, requiring no manual operations. Eternal.ag's first commercial product to launch is Harvester, a fully autonomous harvesting robot designed for tomato greenhouses. Harvester operates up to 22 hours a day consistently and works as part of an intelligent AI-powered system to ensure quality of produce and cut. Built as a modular system, the platform is designed to expand over time with additional robotic functions to better serve broader greenhouse operations. "Autonomous robots only work if they can handle real-world variability between plants, layouts, and daily operations," said Renji John, CEO and co-founder of eternal.ag. "We develop and validate our robots using simulation-first development. That allows us to train, test, and fail safely in virtual greenhouses - cutting iteration cycles from months to days. Once deployed, every robot action feeds data back into the system, which is designed to learn, improve and scale." "Climate change, labor shortages, and rising demand are pushing food production to its limits," said Niklas Leske, Principal at Simon Capital. "Greenhouse horticulture is one of the most efficient and sustainable ways to grow fresh produce year-round. Yet, labor shortages put the industry at risk, and robotics is the only future-proof solution to build a decentralized, resilient food supply chain for the next generation. eternal.ag's experienced team has a deep understanding of what growers are up against and has developed a solution to tackle this in a sustainable and measured way." Founded by Renji John and Sherry Kunjachan, eternal.ag has built a team of 26 employees so far, working across Europe and India, with headquarters in Cologne and offices in Bengaluru. The new funding will be used to accelerate product development, expand commercial deployments across Europe, and extend to additional crop types. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4029/hue-city-launches-10-mn-climate-resilience-initiative-backed-by-green-climate-fund.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4029/hue-city-launches-10-mn-climate-resilience-initiative-backed-by-green-climate-fund.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:38:28 +0530 Five-year project will strengthen climate adaptation, restore vulnerable ecosystems and develop resilient agricultural value chains through innovative financing and nature-based solutions Hue City has launched an ambitious $10 million climate adaptation and resilience programme, marking a significant step in Vietnam’s efforts to strengthen climate preparedness and safeguard vulnerable agricultural and environmental systems against escalating climate risks. The initiative, formally known as the VIE/301 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Finance Project, is being funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Government of Luxembourg, with implementation support from the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency (LuxDev). Scheduled to run from 2025 to 2029, the project seeks to enhance climate resilience through ecosystem restoration, early warning systems and innovative financing mechanisms that support climate-smart agricultural development. At a time when climate change is increasingly affecting agricultural productivity, natural ecosystems and rural livelihoods across Southeast Asia, the project positions Hue as a key testing ground for integrated adaptation strategies that combine environmental restoration with economic resilience. Central to the initiative is the adoption of ecosystem-based adaptation approaches, which move beyond traditional afforestation programmes to include natural forest regeneration, forest enrichment and the restoration of degraded landscapes. The project will prioritise native tree species that are naturally adapted to local climatic conditions and the unique ecological characteristics of coastal sand dune environments. By focusing on ecosystem restoration alongside climate resilience, project developers aim to strengthen the region’s natural capacity to withstand extreme weather events while improving biodiversity and environmental sustainability. A major component of the programme will involve the development of climate-resilient agricultural value chains, supported by innovative financial models designed to encourage investment in sustainable farming systems. Businesses, cooperatives and local producers are expected to play a central role in these value chains, helping translate climate adaptation efforts into long-term economic opportunities for rural communities. Officials involved in the project believe that strengthening market linkages and improving access to climate-focused financing can help agricultural producers better manage climate-related risks while creating more resilient income streams. The project will also support the enhancement of early warning systems and climate data platforms, enabling more effective monitoring of weather-related threats and improving the capacity of local authorities and communities to respond to climate-induced emergencies. During recent consultations between the Hue City People’s Committee and LuxDev, stakeholders agreed to refine the project’s implementation framework by shifting from a predominantly administrative coordination structure to a more specialised technical coordination mechanism. The adjustment is intended to improve implementation efficiency and ensure stronger alignment between project activities and technical requirements. Informed by baseline assessments conducted during the project’s planning phase, additional considerations have been incorporated into the implementation strategy, including local climate risk profiles, institutional conditions and community-specific vulnerabilities. Project planners have also emphasised the importance of maintaining rigorous environmental and social safeguards throughout implementation. Gender inclusion, stakeholder participation and grievance redress mechanisms will form key components of the project’s governance framework, reflecting international standards increasingly associated with climate finance initiatives. Subject to final approval by the Green Climate Fund, the first year of implementation is expected to prioritise the establishment of early warning infrastructure, data management platforms and pilot adaptation models that can be replicated across other climate-vulnerable regions. Local authorities have reiterated their commitment to supporting the programme, emphasising close collaboration with development partners to ensure activities remain aligned with local realities and deliver measurable outcomes on schedule. The launch of the VIE/301 project comes as Vietnam continues to intensify efforts to address climate vulnerabilities affecting agriculture, water resources and coastal ecosystems. Hue, which faces recurring threats from storms, flooding and environmental degradation, is widely viewed as one of the regions where successful climate adaptation interventions could generate significant long-term benefits. By combining nature-based solutions, climate-resilient agriculture, financial innovation and institutional strengthening, the initiative aims not only to reduce vulnerability but also to create a more sustainable development pathway for local communities. As climate adaptation increasingly shifts from policy aspiration to implementation on the ground, the Hue project represents an important example of how international climate finance can be mobilised to support practical, locally driven solutions that strengthen both environmental resilience and rural livelihoods. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4023/philippines-and-vietnam-accelerate-efforts-to-expand-bilateral-trade-to-20-bn.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4023/philippines-and-vietnam-accelerate-efforts-to-expand-bilateral-trade-to-20-bn.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:59:52 +0530 Agricultural cooperation, export diversification and supply-chain stability emerge as key priorities in renewed economic engagement The Philippines is intensifying efforts to reshape its agricultural trading relationship with Vietnam as both nations pursue an ambitious goal of expanding bilateral commerce to $ 20 billion, up from the current $ 15 billion, while addressing structural trade imbalances that have long tilted in Hanoi’s favor. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Manila is exploring new avenues to increase Philippine agricultural exports to Vietnam and strengthen the implementation of existing trade agreements, particularly in commodities critical to regional food security. The initiative follows commitments made by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vietnamese President Tô Lâm to deepen economic engagement and elevate bilateral trade relations, reflecting the growing strategic importance of agricultural cooperation within Southeast Asia. While Vietnam remains the Philippines’ most significant supplier of imported rice, the relationship has also contributed to a substantial trade imbalance. Philippine officials estimate that the bilateral agricultural trade gap currently stands at approximately $ 2.7 billion, underscoring the need for more diversified and balanced commercial exchanges. Beyond increasing trade volumes, Manila is seeking greater certainty and accountability in agricultural transactions, with contract enforcement emerging as a central issue in discussions between the two governments. “One of the major issues is that when prices go up, the Vietnamese side normally rescinds the contract,” Tiu Laurel noted during meetings with Vietnamese counterparts, highlighting a long-standing concern among Philippine importers and policymakers regarding the reliability of supply agreements during periods of market volatility. The agriculture secretary indicated that the issue would remain a priority in forthcoming bilateral negotiations as both countries work toward creating a more predictable and resilient trading framework. He added that Philippine government agencies and industry stakeholders are increasingly adopting a coordinated approach to negotiations in an effort to strengthen commercial safeguards and improve transaction reliability. Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Le Manh Hung, acknowledged the concerns raised by the Philippine delegation and assured officials that the matter would be elevated to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for further examination and dialogue. As part of broader efforts to reinforce institutional cooperation, Tiu Laurel also emphasized the need to urgently reactivate and strengthen the technical mechanisms underpinning the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) and the Joint Committee on Agriculture (JCA). The move follows directives from both national leaders to accelerate discussions on outstanding trade concerns and expand opportunities for agricultural collaboration. The renewed engagement comes at a time when food security has become an increasingly important component of regional economic policy, with governments across Southeast Asia seeking more stable supply chains and stronger cross-border partnerships amid global market uncertainties. Tiu Laurel further highlighted the importance of closer bilateral coordination ahead of a scheduled European Union agricultural audit in September, noting that enhanced cooperation could help facilitate smoother trade flows, strengthen regulatory compliance and improve access to international markets. The Philippines and Vietnam have emerged as key agricultural partners over the past decade, with rice trade serving as a cornerstone of the relationship. However, officials in Manila increasingly view the next phase of engagement as extending beyond commodity imports toward broader collaboration in agricultural development, market access and supply-chain resilience. By pursuing expanded exports, stronger contractual protections and deeper institutional cooperation, the Philippines aims not only to increase trade volumes but also to foster a more equitable and sustainable commercial partnership with one of its most important regional allies. As both governments advance toward their $ 20 billion trade target, policymakers see an opportunity to transform bilateral agricultural relations from a predominantly buyer-seller dynamic into a more balanced framework capable of supporting long-term economic growth, food security and regional stability. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4013/34-7-mn-agnue-program-targets-one-of-agricultures-biggest-efficiency-challenges.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/4013/34-7-mn-agnue-program-targets-one-of-agricultures-biggest-efficiency-challenges.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:00:17 +0530 Researchers across the U.S. and Europe will study nitrogen dynamics to develop smarter fertilizer strategies that protect both profitability and the environment In a significant bid to address one of modern agriculture’s most persistent productivity and sustainability challenges, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation have unveiled the Agricultural Nitrogen Use Efficiency Platform (AgNUE), a five-year, $34.7 million collaborative research initiative designed to transform how farmers manage nitrogen fertilizer. The programme combines $7.5 million in funding from FFAR with $27.2 million in matching support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, creating an international research network focused on improving nitrogen-use efficiency through extensive field experimentation, advanced monitoring systems, predictive modelling, and artificial intelligence-driven decision support. Nitrogen fertilizer remains indispensable to modern crop production, underpinning the high yields required to feed a growing global population. Yet its management continues to pose a formidable challenge. In many farming systems, fertilizer is routinely applied in excess, driven largely by uncertainty regarding crop requirements and the absence of highly localized management recommendations. Such inefficiencies not only inflate production costs but also contribute to water-quality degradation and increased emissions of nitrous oxide, one of agriculture’s most potent greenhouse gases. The AgNUE initiative seeks to address this challenge by generating an unprecedented understanding of how nitrogen behaves across different soils, climates, and cropping systems. By leveraging cutting-edge measurement technologies and scientific methodologies, researchers aim to uncover the factors that influence nitrogen uptake, movement, and loss within agricultural landscapes. “Farmers need science-based solutions that improve efficiency without sacrificing yields,” said Allison Thomson, Scientific Program Director at Sustaining Vibrant Agroecosystems. “This collaborative research effort can help generate critical data to inform science-based management strategies that strengthen U.S. agriculture’s competitiveness and protect farmer profitability. Ultimately, AgNUE will help ensure farmers can produce abundant food, lower input costs, and protect their land for generations to come.” The initiative brings together a distinguished consortium of academic institutions from both sides of the Atlantic, including North Carolina State University, the University of Illinois, Colorado State University, and Aarhus University, among others. FFAR’s contribution will specifically support research activities across U.S.-based universities and field sites, ensuring that American growers directly benefit from the programme’s findings. A cornerstone of the project will be the establishment of a network of research locations spanning diverse agroecological environments. These sites will employ sophisticated monitoring technologies to track how nitrogen moves through agricultural systems under varying environmental conditions and management practices. The resulting datasets will feed into next-generation predictive models capable of forecasting nitrogen losses and fertilizer performance with far greater precision than currently possible. Researchers believe that integrating field observations with advanced analytics and artificial intelligence will substantially reduce uncertainty surrounding nutrient management decisions. The ultimate ambition is to provide farmers with more accurate, site-specific recommendations regarding fertilizer rates, application timing, and nutrient stewardship practices. Such tools could simultaneously enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve environmental outcomes. Beyond farm-level decision-making, the knowledge generated through AgNUE is expected to support broader policy development, stimulate innovation across the agricultural technology sector, and accelerate adoption of practices that balance economic performance with environmental responsibility. As global agriculture faces mounting pressure to produce more with fewer resources, the AgNUE platform represents a strategic effort to redefine nitrogen management through data, science, and collaboration—turning one of farming’s most complex variables into a more precise and sustainable instrument for growth. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3976/son-la-launches-forest-carbon-development-project-with-international-partners.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3976/son-la-launches-forest-carbon-development-project-with-international-partners.html Thu, 28 May 2026 13:43:50 +0530 CARE and Government of Canada support aims to build capacity for carbon credits, forest protection, and climate adaptation planning The People’s Committee of Son La Province, in coordination with CARE International in Viet Nam, has officially launched the Carbon for Good (C4G) Project, a $ 624,000 initiative aimed at strengthening climate change mitigation capacity, advancing sustainable forest management, and supporting the development of a forest carbon market in the province. The launch event was held on May 27, bringing together provincial leaders, representatives of relevant departments and agencies, development partners, and international stakeholders, including the Embassy of Canada in Viet Nam and CARE International in Viet Nam. Funded through support from the Government of Canada and CARE International, the project will be implemented over a 33-month period through March 2028 across five communes in Son La Province: Muong La, Chieng Lao, Muong Bu, Chieng Hoa, and Ngoc Chien. The initiative is designed to enhance the capacity of local stakeholders in implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation priorities, with a strong focus on forest protection, sustainable forest development, and the mobilization of innovative financial mechanisms, including carbon credits. It also seeks to encourage broader participation from the private sector and local communities in forest conservation efforts. According to project documents, C4G will deliver three key outcomes. First, it will generate scientific studies, data analysis, and evidence-based recommendations to support forest management strategies and the development of forest carbon credit mechanisms, while encouraging private sector engagement in sustainable forestry investment. Second, the project will strengthen institutional and technical capacity among relevant stakeholders in Son La to mobilize sustainable financial resources for forest protection, forest development, and poverty reduction. Third, it will establish a comprehensive database identifying potential areas for carbon project development, serving as a foundation for future planning and classification of carbon initiatives in the province. The project will also facilitate knowledge exchange on international carbon market practices, while improving awareness among local authorities and communities on the benefits of participation. Son La Province, which possesses nearly 697,000 hectares of forestry land and a forest coverage rate of 47.43 per cent, is recognized as one of the key forested provinces in Viet Nam’s northern mountainous region. The province currently generates approximately $ 8.4–9.5 million annually from forest environmental service payments, which contribute significantly to forest protection efforts and local livelihoods. Speaking at the launch, Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People’s Committee, Nguyen Minh Tien, emphasized the strategic importance of the project in supporting the province’s climate commitments, strengthening scientific and technical foundations, and advancing the development of a transparent and functional forest carbon market. Representatives from the Embassy of Canada and CARE International in Viet Nam expressed strong support for Son La’s forestry potential and reaffirmed their commitment to assisting the province through capacity building, resource mobilization, and international knowledge sharing. The project aligns with Viet Nam’s broader national objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and is expected to contribute meaningfully to both environmental sustainability and socio-economic development through improved forest governance and climate finance mechanisms. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3951/philippines-deploys-rs-22-3-cr-agricultural-relief-shield-as-input-inflation-batters-negros-oriental-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3951/philippines-deploys-rs-22-3-cr-agricultural-relief-shield-as-input-inflation-batters-negros-oriental-farmers.html Tue, 26 May 2026 12:53:50 +0530 Presidential intervention targets nearly 67,000 vulnerable growers amid escalating fuel, fertiliser and commodity shocks reverberating through the farm economy In a significant fiscal intervention aimed at insulating vulnerable farming communities from intensifying global economic turbulence, the Philippine government has activated an agricultural relief package exceeding PHP 155 million (approximately Rs 22.3 crore) for nearly 67,000 farmers across Negros Oriental. The initiative, rolled out under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), underscores mounting state concern over the accelerating transmission of geopolitical instability into domestic agricultural economics, particularly through surging fuel prices, fertiliser inflation and rising commodity costs. Officials from the Department of Agriculture–Provincial Agriculture Technical Coordinating Agency (DA-PATCO) confirmed that disbursement operations commenced last month, with approximately 80 per cent of identified beneficiaries already covered. As of May 22, more than 50,900 smallholder rice, corn and sugarcane farmers had received emergency financial assistance under the programme, signalling one of the province’s largest recent rural-support mobilisations. The intervention spans 25 local government units across Negros Oriental, with distribution already completed in 17 municipalities while the remaining areas are scheduled for imminent rollout. Each beneficiary is entitled to receive PHP 2,325 in direct cash assistance, designed to partially offset the mounting cost pressures confronting small-scale agricultural producers amid persistent volatility in global energy and input markets. Officials clarified that recipients retain discretionary authority over fund utilisation, enabling farmers to deploy the assistance toward operational farm expenses, input procurement, transportation costs, debt obligations or household sustenance. The programme arrives against a backdrop of intensifying pressure on Asian agricultural systems, where energy-linked inflation is increasingly reshaping production economics across fertiliser-intensive and logistics-dependent crop sectors. Beyond direct fiscal transfers, DA-PATCO has simultaneously expanded the distribution of subsidised seeds and fertilisers in an effort to stabilise productivity and mitigate the risk of deeper farm-level distress during upcoming cultivation cycles. Agricultural policy observers note that the Philippine intervention reflects a broader regional trend wherein governments are being compelled to strengthen subsidy frameworks, emergency support mechanisms and rural-protection architectures to contain the cascading effects of global commodity disruptions on food security and agricultural stability. The Negros Oriental relief rollout also illustrates how local farm economies are becoming progressively exposed to external geopolitical flashpoints, with energy market disruptions now exerting direct influence over cultivation costs, farmgate economics and rural livelihoods across developing agricultural regions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3948/blended-finance-models-to-drive-private-investment-in-african-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3948/blended-finance-models-to-drive-private-investment-in-african-agriculture.html Mon, 25 May 2026 15:31:18 +0530 Risk-sharing mechanisms and guarantees designed to unlock greater participation from commercial lenders in food systems financing Ecobank Group and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) have entered into a strategic partnership designed to expand agricultural financing and strengthen food systems across Africa, as development institutions intensify efforts to address persistent credit gaps in the sector. The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, establishes a framework to improve access to finance for agribusinesses, cooperatives, farmer organisations, and small and medium-sized enterprises operating across agricultural value chains. Under the partnership, both institutions will collaborate on the development of tailored financing solutions including working capital support, equipment financing, and trade finance products specifically structured for agriculture-linked enterprises. The initiative also focuses on expanding investment readiness and strengthening financial inclusion across rural economies. A central component of the partnership is the reduction of lending risk in agriculture through blended finance mechanisms, including guarantees and risk-sharing structures aimed at encouraging greater private sector participation in agricultural credit markets. The programme is also designed to mobilise catalytic capital to support scalable investment in food systems transformation. The collaboration places strong emphasis on inclusion, particularly through targeted support for women- and youth-led agribusinesses. This will be achieved by aligning Ecobank’s financial inclusion programmes with AGRA’s initiatives focused on empowering women entrepreneurs and youth-led enterprises in agriculture. The initiative comes at a time when African agriculture continues to face structural financing constraints despite its central role in employment, food security, and economic growth. Both organisations have positioned the partnership as a step toward transforming agriculture into a more commercially viable and investment-ready sector. By combining Ecobank’s pan-African banking network with AGRA’s agricultural development expertise, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of resilient, inclusive, and climate-adaptive food systems across the continent. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3944/world-bank-flags-mixed-risk-levels-but-sustains-positive-implementation-outlook.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3944/world-bank-flags-mixed-risk-levels-but-sustains-positive-implementation-outlook.html Mon, 25 May 2026 14:43:18 +0530 While transport project remains under substantial risk, agriculture programme shows moderate risk with steady disbursement progress The World Bank has affirmed steady progress in two major development initiatives in Mindanao focused on transport connectivity and agricultural transformation, underscoring continued implementation momentum across infrastructure and rural development programs in the southern Philippines. The Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project (MTCIP) and the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) have both been assessed as satisfactorily progressing, according to the lender’s latest implementation status reports, despite differing risk classifications and funding disbursement timelines. MTCIP, implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways, is aimed at strengthening inter-island connectivity, improving climate resilience, and enhancing road safety along key corridors including the Cagayan de Oro–Davao–General Santos route. The project also focuses on upgrading local road networks and modernising transport asset management systems to support long-term infrastructure durability. While procurement activities have commenced and are expected to accelerate with additional consultancy engagements, the project continues under a substantial risk rating. No disbursements have been recorded so far from the approved $506.99 million financing package, which is scheduled to run until 2032. In parallel, MIADP, led by the Department of Agriculture, is advancing with a focus on improving agricultural productivity, market access, and resilience among farmer and fisherfolk groups in selected ancestral domains. The project has reached a key implementation phase following completion of social preparation activities across all targeted domains, enabling a shift toward scaled-up execution. According to the World Bank, the initiative has recorded progress across infrastructure development, institutional strengthening, and enterprise support components, including increased participation of women-led groups in value-chain activities. The project, classified under moderate risk, has so far disbursed $26.84 million out of a total $100 million financing envelope, with completion targeted for 2029. Together, the two initiatives reflect a broader development push aimed at integrating climate-resilient infrastructure with inclusive agricultural growth strategies in Mindanao, while strengthening institutional capacity and improving rural livelihoods across the region. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3923/philippines-agriculture-reform-gains-momentum-with-1-bn-world-bank-financing-package.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3923/philippines-agriculture-reform-gains-momentum-with-1-bn-world-bank-financing-package.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:55:11 +0530 PSAT initiative introduces outcome-based funding to transform productivity and resilience The Philippines has unveiled an ambitious $1 billion agricultural transformation initiative in partnership with the World Bank and the United Kingdom, marking a major shift toward results-based development financing designed to modernise farming systems, strengthen food security, and improve rural livelihoods. The programme, officially launched by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the Philippine Sustainable Agriculture Transformation (PSAT) initiative, represents the country’s first engagement under the World Bank’s Program-for-Results (PforR) framework, which disburses funds only after predefined performance targets are met. Officials say the approach signals a transition away from traditional input-based financing toward accountability-driven agricultural reform. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the programme is designed to simultaneously raise productivity, stabilise food supply chains, and build resilience against climate shocks. “This financing allows us to raise farm productivity, stabilize food supply, and protect millions of livelihoods dependent on agriculture. By strengthening value chains and building climate resilience, we are supporting rural incomes and reinforcing a key pillar of the economy,” he said. The PSAT programme focuses on three core result areas: increasing rice-based agricultural output, improving efficiency and climate resilience across value chains, and strengthening institutional performance within the agriculture sector. By linking productivity gains with supply chain efficiency and governance reforms, the initiative aims to deliver measurable, end-to-end improvements across the agricultural ecosystem. A defining feature of the programme is its use of disbursement-linked indicators (DLIs), which require the government to achieve verifiable milestones before accessing funding tranches. While this structure may slow initial capital deployment, policymakers argue it ensures transparency, accountability, and performance-driven implementation across all levels of execution. The World Bank expects an initial disbursement of $300 million in 2026, providing fiscal support at a time when the Philippines continues to face rising energy costs, climate-related disruptions, and pressure on food systems. Zafer Mustafaoğlu, World Bank Division Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, said the programme could have a transformative impact on rural livelihoods. “These programs will help at least five million farmers diversify livelihoods, increase income, and manage climate risks. Rural communities will benefit from modernized services, stronger value chains, and a more resilient food system,” he said. In addition to the main financing package, the initiative includes a $24.5 million Technical Assistance for Sustainable Agriculture Transformation (TASAT) grant, with $14.5 million contributed by the United Kingdom under its Just Rural Transition Support Programme. The grant component is intended to complement large-scale financing with capacity building, institutional strengthening, and technical support for implementation. British Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton said the programme reflects the growing urgency of addressing the intersection of agriculture, climate change, and food security. She noted that intensifying climate impacts are already disrupting farming systems and rural economies. “Agriculture sits at the crossroads of climate change, food security and economic growth. As farmers face stronger typhoons, floods and disrupted supply chains, transforming agriculture is not just a technical task—it is a strategic necessity,” she said, adding that the partnership aims to strengthen resilience while protecting land and nature. Officials from the Department of Agriculture described PSAT and TASAT as a potential benchmark for results-based financing in the region, where funding is increasingly being tied to measurable impact rather than disbursement volumes. DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the initiative could serve as a model for future agricultural reform programmes, emphasizing performance accountability as a core principle of public investment. The combined package reflects a broader shift in development finance toward outcome-oriented models that integrate productivity, climate adaptation, and institutional reform. As the Philippines confronts intensifying climate risks and structural challenges in its agricultural sector, the PSAT programme positions the country as a test case for large-scale, results-driven agricultural transformation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3919/inside-hailirs-next-growth-phase-capacity-expansion-green-chemistry-global-ambitions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3919/inside-hailirs-next-growth-phase-capacity-expansion-green-chemistry-global-ambitions.html Mon, 18 May 2026 12:48:16 +0530 With Hengning Biotech emerging as a core growth platform, Hailir deepens its push into proprietary technicals and value-added formulations Chinese agrochemical manufacturer Hailir Pesticides and Chemicals Group Co., Ltd. is accelerating its long-term strategy of technical material (TC) and formulation integration, as its flagship Qingdao Hengning Biotech Phase II project moves steadily toward commercial scale. During its earnings presentation on May 8, Hailir addressed investor questions surrounding the progress of Hengning Phase II, profitability trends within its TC business, first-quarter performance fluctuations, and the company’s broader growth roadmap. The message from management was clear: Hailir is doubling down on a “dual-engine” strategy built around TC–formulation synergy and balanced domestic–international expansion, positioning Hengning Biotech as the core growth platform of its technical-grade pesticide business. The Hengning Biotech Phase II project, which broke ground in 2022, has already begun transitioning from construction to operational execution. Among the earliest projects to enter trial production were the company’s 2,000 tonnes/year tolfenpyrad TC and 1,500 tonnes/year dinotefuran TC facilities in 2024. Hailir has since expanded its investment ambitions. In April 2025, the company’s board approved a new round of large-scale investments at Hengning Biotech, including planned capacities for 6,000 tonnes/year chlorfenapyr, 5,000 tonnes/year fluopyram, 6,000 tonnes/year fluxapyroxad, and 3,000 tonnes/year bixafen, alongside 10,000 tonnes/year difluoropyrazole acid and associated intermediates. Construction on the fluxapyroxad and bixafen projects is currently underway. While Hengning Biotech remains in an investment-heavy growth phase, its financial trajectory is beginning to improve. The company reported a net loss of RMB 93.7 million in 2025, though management noted that losses narrowed significantly compared with previous periods as newer production lines entered phased commercialisation. The ramp-up reflects a multi-year capacity expansion strategy that began in 2022, when Hengning’s 40,000 tonnes/year agrochemical TC and intermediates project — covering products such as difenoconazole, diafenthiuron, chlorfenapyr, and propiconazole — entered trial production. By 2023, self-produced propiconazole technical had already entered the market, followed by tolfenpyrad and dinotefuran in 2024. At the centre of Hailir’s long-term strategy is tighter integration between technical-grade pesticide production and higher-margin formulation businesses. The company says it will continue strengthening both production efficiency and market coordination, leveraging proprietary TC supply advantages to expand formulation sales across domestic and export markets. On the TC side, Hailir is accelerating commercialisation and capacity release for a broad portfolio of active ingredients, including dinotefuran, tolfenpyrad, difenoconazole, propiconazole, diafenthiuron, chlorfenapyr, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, pyraclostrobin, prothioconazole, clothianidin, and emamectin benzoate. Increasing self-sufficiency in technical materials remains central to the company’s margin and supply-chain strategy. Simultaneously, the company is pushing deeper into differentiated formulations and value-added crop solutions. By leveraging internally produced technicals, Hailir aims to strengthen strategic product portfolios, improve agronomic service systems, expand distribution networks, and increase the profitability contribution of its formulation business. The company is also positioning sustainability and technological innovation as long-term competitive differentiators. As environmental regulations tighten across China’s agrochemical sector, Hailir continues investing in automated and intelligent manufacturing systems while expanding R&D into low-toxicity, environmentally safer pesticide chemistries and next-generation compounds. Management indicated that Hailir is actively building value chains around key molecules including prothioconazole, pyraclostrobin, thiamethoxam, and clothianidin, while simultaneously advancing new registrations and future compound pipelines. With environmental compliance increasingly becoming a barrier to entry across China’s crop-protection industry, Hailir believes large-scale, standardised manufacturers with integrated production ecosystems are likely to emerge stronger from the next phase of sector consolidation. As capacity ramps up at Hengning and new compounds move closer to commercialisation, Hailir appears to be positioning itself not simply as a pesticide producer, but as a vertically integrated crop-protection platform targeting long-term global competitiveness. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3917/new-report-identifies-250-climate-adaptation-and-resilience-solutions-for-asia-amidst-rising-funder-interest.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3917/new-report-identifies-250-climate-adaptation-and-resilience-solutions-for-asia-amidst-rising-funder-interest.html Mon, 18 May 2026 11:58:25 +0530 Asia-focused report by the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) and collaborators identifies 250+ priority climate adaptation and resilience solutions for Asia, based on over $100 billion in financing flows over 5 years The Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP), in partnership with Temasek, Invesco, and ImpactSF (CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance), and with support from Dalberg, today launched a new report on climate adaptation and resilience (CA&R) in Asia. Launching at Ecosperity Week’s Impact Investing Roundtable 2026 on 19 May, the report — Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Asia: Pricing Risk, Sizing Opportunities, Financing Solutions — examines the region’s climate risks, financing gaps, and barriers constraining investment in adaptation and resilience solutions. The study identifies more than 250 priority climate adaptation and resilience solutions for Asia, grounded in the region’s unique climate risks, hazards, and priorities, and informed by analysis of over $100 billion in climate adaptation and resilience financing flows between 2021 and 2025. The report highlights persistent barriers limiting climate adaptation investments, including fragmented approaches, data gaps, limited visibility of investable opportunities, and unclear financing pathways. The identified CA&R solutions span three tiers of commercial viability, including 94 low or no commercial viability solutions that remain foundational for building long-term regional resilience, 93 emerging opportunities requiring catalytic capital to scale, and 65 commercially viable solutions with proven market track records. Together, these provide clear entry points across the capital spectrum — from early-stage innovation and ecosystem development to scaling resilient infrastructure and mature technologies. Accompanying the report is a first-of-its-kind fund flow intelligence dashboard mapping public, private, and philanthropic capital flows across China, India, and Southeast Asia (SEA), alongside emerging impact opportunities. Also launched is the Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Asia Case Study Library, featuring 50 real-world examples of companies, financial institutions, and philanthropies advancing climate adaptation and resilience initiatives. In addition, the report includes a sectoral deep dive titled Building a Climate-Adapted and Resilient Agri-Food System in Southeast Asia, focused on strengthening agri-food resilience across SEA — a major priority reflected in regional National Adaptation Plans. Asia continues to face intensifying climate risks. The region is warming at twice the global average rate, and since 2000, climate-related disasters have affected 3.7 billion people in Asia — more than triple the number impacted in the rest of the world combined. By 2030, Asia is expected to account for around 75 per cent of the global CA&R financing gap, while companies across the region could face nearly $336 billion in annual climate-related costs. Despite these risks, annual CA&R financing flows in Asia remain significantly below the estimated requirement of more than $200 billion annually, with current flows standing at only around $19 billion. Agriculture remains among the sectors most vulnerable to climate change impacts. While the sector contributes 9.8 per cent to Southeast Asia’s GDP, annual production growth of key staple foods has remained below 1.3 per cent over the past decade. Climate stress could reduce crop yields by as much as 41 per cent, with much of the burden falling on the region’s nearly 100 million smallholder farmers, many of whom survive on less than $2 a day. Commenting on the challenge, Dr. Godefroy Grosjean, Co-Lead, CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF), said, “Impacts of climate risks vary according to crop or livestock, where they are and when the risk is going to be experienced. This determines the necessary strategy required for resilience uplift. ImpactSF uses CGIAR-produced scientific data along with AI-based approaches to support investment processes in risk identification and mitigation and impact reporting for investees. This is extremely critical because if risks are ignored, they will eventually impact the financial bottom line of businesses in the agriculture and food sector.” The report further identifies several structural barriers constraining capital deployment into climate adaptation and resilience. These include underdeveloped policy and regulatory environments, limited access to climate-risk and cost data, and mismatches between available financing and investable solutions. Many adaptation projects also remain highly localised, difficult to scale, and dependent on longer investment horizons, requiring coordinated action across governments, private investors, and philanthropic capital providers. Norbert Ling, Head of Fixed Income Portfolio Management, APAC, Invesco, noted, “While it’s clear that investing for climate adaptation and resilience is still at a nascent stage, the critical work of identifying barriers, assessing commerciality and mapping context-specific investment opportunities is a major step forward that can move investors from exploration to tactical implementation. This analysis helps bring greater transparency to where capital is most needed across Asia, and where investable opportunities may be emerging.” Encouragingly, investor interest in climate adaptation and resilience is steadily increasing. Among 165 Asia-based funders surveyed for the report, 81 funders — representing 49 per cent — are already actively investing in CA&R initiatives, while another 47 funders, or 28 per cent, are exploring opportunities in the space. Collectively, these organisations manage more than $1 trillion in annual assets under management. However, converting interest into large-scale capital deployment continues to be constrained by limited investment-ready pipelines, macroeconomic risks, deal structuring challenges, and gaps in institutional mandates, technical expertise, and data availability. To address these challenges, the report outlines a roadmap built around seven critical actions. These include embedding climate adaptation as both a value and growth driver, mobilising capital strategically across the financing spectrum, improving climate-risk pricing and resilience valuation, creating impact-linked decision pathways, strengthening shared data and knowledge infrastructure, building climate-aligned financial systems, and fostering deeper cross-sector collaboration for scale. Commenting on the significance of the report, Dawn Chan, CEO, Centre for Impact Investing and Practices, said, “Climate adaptation and resilience financing in Asia remains constrained by limited data, fragmented approaches, and uncertainty around where capital can be most effective. We hope this report helps to provide greater clarity on the opportunities and roles different stakeholders can play in advancing solutions across the region. As climate risks intensify, stronger coordination between public, private, and philanthropic capital will be essential to accelerate action.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3913/resurrect-bio-raises-capital-to-accelerate-gene-edited-disease-resistance-in-crops.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3913/resurrect-bio-raises-capital-to-accelerate-gene-edited-disease-resistance-in-crops.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:04:26 +0530 The oversubscribed round brings total funding to approximately $12.4 million since inception UK-based biotechnology company Resurrect Bio has announced the final close of its Series A funding round at $10.3 million, exceeding its original target and underscoring strong investor confidence in next-generation crop protection technologies. The round was led by Corteva through its Corteva Catalyst platform, with participation from Calculus Capital, Pymwymic, UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital), SynBioVen, and AgFunder. The final close brings the company’s total capital raised since inception to approximately $12.4 million. The oversubscription follows growing momentum in agricultural biotechnology focused on durable, gene-based disease resistance and comes shortly after a joint development agreement with Corteva announced in March 2026 to advance disease resistance traits in corn. Resurrect Bio is developing an integrated biotechnology platform designed to accelerate the discovery and deployment of crop disease resistance traits through a combination of computational biology, functional screening, and gene reactivation approaches. At the center of its technology stack is the FloraFold® AI in-silico discovery platform, which models plant–pathogen protein interactions to identify potential resistance pathways. This is complemented by a high-throughput functional biology system that validates predicted interactions at scale, alongside a proprietary “Resurrection” platform aimed at reactivating dormant or cryptic resistance mechanisms already present in elite crop germplasm. Together, these systems are intended to significantly shorten the timeline between discovery and field deployment of disease-resistant traits, addressing one of the key bottlenecks in traditional crop breeding and trait development. The newly secured capital will be used to expand research and development operations, scale computational and biological infrastructure, and deepen collaboration with seed companies and plant breeders through joint development agreements. Chief Executive Officer Cian Duggan said the financing reflects growing conviction in scalable, AI-enabled approaches to agricultural resilience. “We're proud to have closed this round with such a distinguished and strategically aligned group of partners,” he said. “The strength of this raise reflects growing conviction in what we're building: a scalable, AI-driven platform for resurrecting disease resistance in the world's most important crops.” He added that the company is actively seeking additional partnerships to accelerate commercial deployment of durable resistance traits across major crop systems. Investor Elizabeth Klein-Edmonds of Calculus Capital highlighted the persistent global challenge of crop disease and the potential of gene-based solutions to reduce reliance on chemical crop protection while improving yields and farm resilience. The investment signals continued momentum in agricultural biotechnology, particularly in platforms combining artificial intelligence, gene editing, and advanced plant science to address systemic threats to global food production. With fresh capital in place, Resurrect Bio is positioning itself at the intersection of computational biology and agricultural innovation, aiming to bring faster, more durable disease resistance solutions to global seed pipelines. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3880/agdevco-ploughs-15-mn-into-east-african-aquaculture-as-tilapia-sector-scales-new-frontiers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3880/agdevco-ploughs-15-mn-into-east-african-aquaculture-as-tilapia-sector-scales-new-frontiers.html Wed, 13 May 2026 17:06:11 +0530 Follow-on investment in Victory Group signals rising conviction in Africa’s aquaculture thesis, as integrated fish-farming platforms race to meet surging protein demand across Kenya, Rwanda and beyond In a calculated reinforcement of its long-term bet on Africa’s emerging blue-economy infrastructure, AgDevCo has committed a US$15 million follow-on investment into Victory Group, a vertically integrated East African aquaculture enterprise specialising in Nile tilapia production. The infusion of capital underscores a broader structural narrative: that fish farming is steadily evolving from a fragmented artisanal activity into a scalable, investment-grade protein industry anchored in food security imperatives and demographic expansion. The financing, structured as mezzanine debt, is designed to accelerate the company’s regional expansion across Kenya and Rwanda, with additional early-stage positioning in Tanzania. At its core, the investment is intended to deepen production capacity, enhance distribution networks, and stabilise supply in markets increasingly characterised by protein deficits and volatility in wild fish stocks. Victory Group’s operating model—spanning hatcheries, cage farming systems in Lake Victoria and Lake Kivu, processing infrastructure, and a distributed retail network—has been positioned as a vertically integrated response to structural inefficiencies in East Africa’s aquatic food systems. With wild catch volumes from the Great Lakes in long-term decline, regional consumption patterns have shifted decisively toward farmed fish, particularly affordable tilapia, which now functions as a critical protein staple for millions of low- and middle-income consumers. AgDevCo’s latest commitment builds on an earlier US$4 million investment made in 2021, which the investor describes as having materially improved production efficiency and operational scale. The current expansion trajectory is expected to significantly increase output capacity, with projections indicating annual production targets in the region of 30,000 tonnes as new infrastructure comes online. From an investment standpoint, the transaction reflects growing institutional confidence in aquaculture as a climate-resilient protein system—one capable of delivering both commercial returns and developmental impact. The model’s dual mandate is explicit: to improve affordability and access to high-quality protein while simultaneously generating employment across fragmented rural value chains, including small-scale traders who form the backbone of informal food distribution networks. Industry observers note that East Africa’s aquaculture sector is now entering a phase of consolidation and capital intensity, driven by rising urban demand, declining capture fisheries, and increasing institutional participation from impact investors. In this context, Victory Group’s integrated production architecture is being positioned not merely as a corporate expansion, but as an infrastructure platform for regional food security. As capital flows deepen into aquaculture systems across the continent, the AgDevCo–Victory Group transaction reflects a broader recalibration in agricultural investment logic: away from extractive models and toward vertically integrated, technology-enabled protein ecosystems designed to withstand climate stress while scaling nutritional access. The underlying thesis remains unequivocal—fish is no longer simply a commodity; it is fast becoming strategic infrastructure in Africa’s evolving food economy. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3833/uae-presidential-court-commits-1-5-mn-to-adb-agricultural-innovation-fund-to-strengthen-food-security-across-asia-pacific.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3833/uae-presidential-court-commits-1-5-mn-to-adb-agricultural-innovation-fund-to-strengthen-food-security-across-asia-pacific.html Wed, 06 May 2026 15:15:07 +0530 Partnership to accelerate AI-driven and climate-smart farming technologies for farmers across the region The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Presidential Court has committed a $1.5 million grant to an innovative agricultural fund administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), reinforcing global efforts to accelerate technology-driven agricultural transformation and strengthen food security across Asia and the Pacific. The grant, provided through the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court, was formally announced during ADB’s 59th Annual Meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as part of a broader cofinancing agreement aimed at scaling proven, high-impact agricultural technologies throughout the region. The initiative seeks to embed evidence-based agricultural innovations into national farming programmes, enabling governments and farmers to adopt smarter, more efficient, and climate-resilient agricultural practices. Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director of ADB’s Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, said the partnership comes at a critical time as farmers across the region continue to grapple with rising fertilizer prices and increasing volatility in global agricultural markets. He noted that the investment forms part of ADB’s wider efforts to reduce both fertilizer usage and input costs through precision agriculture technologies capable of identifying where and when agricultural inputs are most effectively needed. The technical assistance under the initiative will be guided by the Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale), an international platform supported by the UAE and the Gates Foundation. The programme also forms part of Abu Dhabi’s AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development, launched in 2025 to expand access to artificial intelligence-powered farming tools for agricultural communities worldwide. In addition, the initiative benefits from support provided through the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific since 2024. The agricultural innovation fund promotes the adoption of advanced farming solutions across Asia-Pacific, including satellite monitoring systems, AI-powered weather forecasting, and precision agriculture technologies designed to optimise the use of fertilizers and other farm inputs. ADB stated that these innovations will help farmers improve productivity while reducing input costs and enhancing resilience against global market disruptions and climate-related challenges. Alongside technology adoption, ADB continues to support regional food security through emergency financing programmes, coordinated fertilizer procurement initiatives ahead of planting seasons, and expanded access to credit, trade finance, and working capital for farmers and agribusinesses. The institution is also backing policy reforms aimed at reducing export restrictions and strengthening regional food security frameworks such as the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve. Khalfan Al Matrooshi, Advisor at the International Affairs Office of the UAE Presidential Court, said international cooperation remains essential to strengthening global food security and building resilient agricultural systems. He noted that Abu Dhabi’s AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development is designed to convene strategic partners, financing, and expertise to accelerate innovation and deliver sustainable outcomes for farmers globally. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3832/asia-pacific-nature-finance-push-gains-momentum-as-germany-partners-with-adb.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3832/asia-pacific-nature-finance-push-gains-momentum-as-germany-partners-with-adb.html Wed, 06 May 2026 15:09:25 +0530 Germany commits €5.5 Million in grant financing to accelerate biodiversity protection and nature-based solutions   The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Germany have expanded their strategic partnership to accelerate nature finance and biodiversity investments across Asia and the Pacific, marking a significant step towards strengthening climate resilience and sustainable development in the region.   Announced during the ADB Annual Meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Germany has formally joined ADB’s Nature Solutions Finance Hub as a financing partner, committing €5.5 million ($6.5 million) in grant co-financing to support the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of ecosystems and biodiversity.   The financing contribution is being provided through Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and will be implemented in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).   The announcement coincided with the signing of an implementation agreement between ADB and GIZ, formalising the collaboration and reinforcing the growing international momentum behind nature-positive financing initiatives.   ADB President Masato Kanda said nature remains central to inclusive growth, long-term development, and climate resilience across Asia and the Pacific.   He noted that Germany’s participation strengthens an expanding coalition of global partners working to scale up investments in nature through coordinated action, innovative financing structures, and long-term development collaboration.   Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary of BMZ and ADB Governor for Germany, described the partnership as an important platform for combining Germany’s technical and financial expertise with ADB’s regional reach and development capabilities.   He stated that the collaboration would help deliver nature-based solutions aimed at addressing biodiversity loss and climate-related challenges across the region.   Launched in 2023, the Nature Solutions Finance Hub was established with the objective of catalysing at least $5 billion in nature-positive investments by 2030.   The initiative seeks to address two of the most significant barriers to scaling nature finance globally — the shortage of bankable investment-ready projects and the limited availability of financial instruments capable of attracting private-sector capital at scale.   In addition to Germany, the Hub’s growing network of partners includes Agence Française de Développement, the European Union, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Global Environment Facility, and the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility, supported by the United Kingdom and the Green Climate Fund, alongside multiple technical partners.   The Hub is currently supporting nearly 20 projects within ADB’s development pipeline, with a strong focus on nature-based and climate-resilient infrastructure solutions.   These initiatives include flood resilience programmes in the Philippines, coastal ecosystem management projects in Thailand, river basin restoration efforts in Bangladesh, and watershed rehabilitation programmes in Uzbekistan.   ADB highlighted that approximately 75 per cent of Asia and the Pacific’s gross domestic product is linked to sectors that are moderately or heavily dependent on nature, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and tourism.   However, despite the region’s deep economic reliance on natural ecosystems, the global nature finance gap is estimated to exceed $900 billion annually.   The Nature Solutions Finance Hub is being positioned as an innovative partnership model aimed at narrowing this financing gap while mobilising greater public and private investment towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management.   Founded in 1966, ADB remains one of the region’s leading multilateral development institutions, supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth through strategic financing, infrastructure development, and collaborative partnerships across Asia and the Pacific.     ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3807/bayer-foundations-kyra-constanze-pauly-on-why-blended-finance-could-reshape-global-food-systems.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3807/bayer-foundations-kyra-constanze-pauly-on-why-blended-finance-could-reshape-global-food-systems.html Mon, 04 May 2026 16:16:48 +0530 Exclusive AgroSpectrum interview with Kyra Constanze Pauly, Managing Director of Bayer Foundation, on catalytic capital, smallholder resilience, and the new Bayer Foundation–UNCDF investment push in African agri-food markets The conversation comes as Bayer Foundation and United Nations Capital Development Fund announced the inaugural investments under the Food Systems Innovation Finance Facility (FSIFF), extending two local currency loans of $500,000 each to Omia Agribusiness in Uganda and SokoFresh in Kenya to expand farmer services, reduce food loss, improve cold storage infrastructure, and strengthen market access for smallholders. Kyra highlighted that the initiative reflects a broader shift beyond traditional grant-based development models toward blended finance structures that combine philanthropic capital with market-compatible instruments to drive long-term agricultural resilience, farmer incomes, and food-system sustainability. As concessional funding declines globally, how does Bayer Foundation justify deploying catalytic capital in ways that may blur the line between philanthropy and market-making?  Effective and inclusive markets are a good thing. When markets work better, they deliver tangible benefits for people on the ground – from more reliable access to nutritious food to stronger livelihoods for smallholder farmers and more resilient local economies.  In many low- and middle‑income countries, particularly in food systems, promising solutions fail to scale because early risks are too high, and traditional funding falls short. This is where we see a clear role for catalytic philanthropic capital. By deploying it thoughtfully, we can help de‑risk early innovation, unlock additional capital, and ensure that limited philanthropic resources achieve greater, longer‑lasting impact.  Working with partners like the United Nations Capital Development Fund, who combine deep development expertise with fair and responsible financial instruments, helps us keep social impact firmly at the center. Finance, for us, is not an end in itself. It is a practical tool to leverage resources, help markets serve people better, and create durable change where purely grant‑based approaches or commercial capital alone are insufficient.  In partnering with United Nations Capital Development Fund, what structural advantage does this model have over traditional grant-based development approaches in actually transforming food systems?  Grant‑based support has an important role and remains essential, especially at very early stages or in fragile contexts. At the same time, on its own, it has often proven insufficient to sustain or scale transformation in food systems over the long term. Social entrepreneurs – who are among the key changemakers we support – need access to the full spectrum of capital, from grants to loans and equity. In low‑ and middle‑income countries, access to capital and opportunity to build equity remains limited, or available only under unfavorable conditions.  Our partnership with the United Nations Capital Development Fund allows us to address this gap. By combining grants with responsible, market‑compatible financial instruments, we can focus not just on funding individual projects, but on improving how food systems work for smallholder farmers and underserved communities more structurally.  UNCDF’s rigorous approach, strong alignment with the international agreed Sustainable Development Goals, and deep on‑the‑ground expertise help ensure that capital responds to real needs and contributes to lasting, system‑level change. Importantly, UNCDF also brings credibility as a trusted global institution and acts as a convener – mobilizing additional public and private capital beyond our initial contribution. This enables impact to go further than traditional, project‑based grants alone, while strengthening markets and livelihoods in a responsible and inclusive way. The FSIFF aims to “crowd in” private capital – what specific risk-return signals must be proven before institutional investors take these markets seriously?  UNCDF absorbs early-stage risk to incentivize investment and crowd-in private capital into underserved markets and deliver concrete development results for people, small businesses, and vulnerable communities.   Institutional investors will step in, when they see that markets are built on real, everyday value – for farmers, businesses, and food systems. That means solutions genuinely solve problems on the ground, can operate reliably, and continue to deliver benefits over time. For Bayer Foundation, the most important signal is that financial sustainability supports social impact: better incomes for farmers, population food security, less food loss, and stronger food systems resilience. When impact is real and lasting, financial confidence follows.  Investments like Omia and SokoFresh target systemic inefficiencies – how do you ensure these interventions create durable market infrastructure rather than isolated success stories?  We collaborate with UNCDF, whose rigorous due‑diligence process and strong focus on SDG impact help ensure that investments address real systemic gaps rather than short‑term opportunities. Bayer Foundation, UNCDF and its partners in the UN ecosystem support the ventures beyond granting loans through the facility. We facilitate the link of the ventures to other local partners which helps them develop true local ecosystems. This combination helps ensure that investments like Omia and SokoFresh strengthen market infrastructure and create lasting benefits for smallholder farmers and food systems, well beyond a single success story.  How do you rigorously measure impact in complex ecosystems where outcomes are influenced by multiple external variables?  We focus on whether our interventions are contributing to real improvements in farmers’ lives and local food systems. That means tracking practical indicators like income increase and reduced losses over time and grounding these insights in feedback from partners working closely with farming communities. Impact for us is about long‑term resilience, not short‑term attribution.  To measure results with FSIFF, companies report on impact annually as part of portfolio management, including, for example, data points on job creation and earnings of smallholder farmers and changes in market access. A successful project sees a return of capital, which enables recycling of funds into more impactful investments and improved food security and more resilient livelihoods in underserved communities.  To what extent should philanthropic capital tolerate underperformance org. failure in fragile, last-mile economies?  Philanthropic capital bears 100 per cent risk anyway, because its purpose is to be given away for free. So, in principle a higher risk can be tolerated. Still, the FSIFF is thoroughly assessing each venture’s financial health and has return expectations, also to sustain and grow the loan facility over time. Here, the facility’s pipeline coming from the wider UN ecosystem and partner organizations like Bayer Foundation helps to manage risk.   Does the use of concessional finance risk distorting local markets, or is it essential to correcting structural inequities that traditional finance ignores?  Concessional finance plays an important role where markets don’t yet work for everyone. When used thoughtfully, it helps correct structural inequalities and gives smallholder farmers and local enterprises a fair chance to participate. The goal is always to support markets that can eventually function on their own – not to replace them and to encourage commercial investment.  Looking ahead, do you see blended finance vehicles like FSIFF becoming dominant or remaining niche?  Blended finance is an important tool that helps bridge the gap between philanthropy and private investment, especially where risks are high and impact potential is strong. Through the Food Systems Innovation Finance Facility (FSIFF), we use this approach to support solutions that can grow, attract additional capital, and create lasting benefits for smallholder farmers and food systems. Used responsibly, blended finance enables impact‑driven solutions to scale and endure, while keeping social impact clearly at the center. We also see growing momentum in working together with a wide range of partners – from public institutions to private and philanthropic actors – to bring the right kinds of support together and help impact‑driven solutions succeed.  --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3774/olam-advances-breakup-plan-with-olam-agri-stake-sale.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3774/olam-advances-breakup-plan-with-olam-agri-stake-sale.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:25:53 +0530 First tranche deal values business at $4 billion, with full buyout in sight Olam Group Limited has completed the first tranche of its strategic stake sale in Olam Agri to Saudi Agriculture & Livestock Investment Company, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing restructuring strategy. The transaction involves the sale of a 44.58 per cent stake for approximately $1.88 billion, implying a 100 per cent equity valuation of $4.00 billion for Olam Agri, subject to closing adjustments. Following the completion, SALIC becomes the majority shareholder with an 80.01 per cent stake, while Olam Group retains 19.99 per cent, positioning Olam Agri as an associated company. The deal, executed through Olam Group’s wholly owned subsidiary Olam Holdings Pte. Ltd., follows the receipt of all regulatory approvals and fulfillment of closing conditions. It represents a key step in Olam Group’s Updated 2025 Reorganisation Plan, aimed at unlocking shareholder value and optimizing its capital structure. Clear Path to Full Ownership The agreement sets a defined roadmap for full ownership transition. Olam Group retains a put option to divest its remaining 19.99 per cent stake to SALIC within three years for a base consideration of approximately $799.6 million, along with additional option-linked returns and a 6 per cent internal rate of return (IRR). SALIC, in turn, holds a call option to acquire the remaining stake within the same timeframe under identical terms. Upon completion of this second tranche, Olam Agri will become a wholly owned subsidiary of SALIC. Strategic Realignment and Growth Focus The transaction underscores Olam Group’s shift toward portfolio simplification and capital efficiency, as it continues to monetize assets under its broader restructuring framework. The company remains focused on advancing growth initiatives within its remaining businesses while executing further divestments. For Olam Agri, the entry of SALIC—a global food security investor backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth framework—marks a transformational inflection point. The partnership is expected to accelerate expansion across key agricultural value chains, including food, feed, fibre, and fuel, while strengthening its positioning as a global integrated agri-business platform. Strengthening Food Security Linkages The deal also reflects a broader trend of strategic capital flows into global food supply chains, as sovereign-backed investors seek to secure long-term access to agricultural resources. With SALIC’s backing, Olam Agri is poised to scale its operations and deepen its role in addressing global food security challenges. Financial advisory for the transaction was led by Rothschild & Co Singapore Limited, alongside Citigroup Global Markets Singapore Pte. Ltd and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. The completion of the first tranche signals strong execution momentum for Olam Group’s restructuring roadmap, while setting the stage for a full ownership transition of Olam Agri in the coming years. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3743/bayer-foundation-and-the-un-capital-development-fund-announce-inaugural-investments-of-food-systems-innovation-finance-facility-in-agri-businesses-omia-and-sokofresh.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3743/bayer-foundation-and-the-un-capital-development-fund-announce-inaugural-investments-of-food-systems-innovation-finance-facility-in-agri-businesses-omia-and-sokofresh.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:13:59 +0530 Two local currency loans of $500,000 each from the Food Systems Innovation Finance Facility to Omia Agribusiness in Uganda and SokoFresh in Kenya / Omia to expand services and market access for 75,000+ smallholder farmers / SokoFresh to reduce food loss and increase farmer incomes through expanded cold storage and market linkages in Kenya / Innovative financing model combines philanthropic capital from Bayer Foundation with UNCDF’s mandate as dedicated investment partner for underserved markets As part of a strategic partnership, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and Bayer Foundation today announced the first investments under the Food Systems Innovation Finance Facility (FSIFF), committing catalytic capital to support innovative food systems enterprises in underserved markets. The facility’s inaugural investments include a $500,000 local currency loan from UNCDF to Omia Agribusiness Development Group Limited in Uganda and a $500,000 local currency loan from UNCDF to SokoFresh in Kenya, marking the transition from pipeline development to active capital deployment. These first transactions anchor a dynamic, fast-moving pipeline of investments designed to scale agribusiness innovation and strengthen food systems across multiple markets. This comes at a critical moment for development finance. According to the OECD, official development assistance fell by 23.1% in 2025, the largest annual decline on record, returning to levels last seen in 2015. As concessional resources contract, the need to mobilize additional capital into high-impact sectors such as food systems has become increasingly urgent.The Food Systems Innovation Finance Facility (FSIFF), managed by UNCDF with funding from Bayer Foundation, addresses these challenges by investing in high-impact food system enterprises operating in underserved and frontier markets across Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. These businesses are critical to strengthening food security and smallholder livelihoods but often lack access to appropriately structured capital, as grants are limited and traditional financing is frequently too costly or restrictive. The FSIFF responds by deploying catalytic concessional capital through tailored financial instruments, enabling viable enterprises to scale while helping to build a dynamic pipeline of investable opportunities that can crowd in private capital over time. Omia: Scaling inclusive agribusiness models in fragile and last mile contexts Omia Agribusiness Development Group Limited, founded and led by Ugandan entrepreneur Iganachi Razaki Omia, is a locally rooted agri-business providing agricultural inputs, extension services, and market access to smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda — a region shaped by historic conflict, refugee inflows, limited infrastructure, and increasing climate risks.The $500,000 local currency loan will support Omia’s expansion of farmer services and market linkages. Omia currently serves more than 90,000 smallholder farmers, and the investment is expected to reach over 75,000 additional farmers, including 30,000 women and 20,000 refugees.The financing includes an innovative performance-based incentive mechanism, linking loan terms to the achievement of impact targets, particularly outreach to women and refugee farmers.Iganachi Razaki Omia, CEO of Omia Agribusiness, said: “This investment enables us to significantly expand our reach while strengthening farmer incomes, resilience, and food security. Partnering with UNCDF allows us to grow sustainably while deepening our impact in some of the most underserved communities in Uganda. This complements the important support we have previously received from other UN partners including World Food Programme.” SokoFresh: Reducing food loss and increasing farmer incomes in Kenya In Kenya, the FSIFF is investing $500,000 through a four-year local currency loan in SokoFresh, a Kenyan enterprise addressing post-harvest losses and limited market access for smallholder farmers through solar-powered cold storage solutions and market linkages across fresh produce and cereal value chains. The investment will enable SokoFresh to bring cold storage and reliable market access to more than 5,000 smallholder farmers annually, contributing to a projected 10% increase in farmer incomes while significantly reducing post-harvest losses across fresh produce value chains. By improving produce quality, storage, and aggregation, SokoFresh supports more efficient food systems while increasing income stability for farmers and other value chain actors. “Strengthening food systems and reducing post-harvest losses is critical to improving outcomes for smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Denis Karema, CEO of SokoFresh. “This catalytic financing from the United Nations Capital Development Fund enables us to deliver inclusive market access and financial solutions that ensure smallholder farmers have access to reliable markets, prompt payments, and fair pricing. This partnership will accelerate our mission to drive sustainable, inclusive growth and economic empowerment for rural communities reliant on agriculture." Investing beyond grants to unlock sustainable food systemsThe Food Systems Innovation Finance Facility reflects a growing recognition that grant funding alone is insufficient to meet the scale of today’s development challenges.By deploying concessional capital through direct investments and blended finance structures, UNCDF enables partners such as Bayer Foundation to use their capital catalytically — derisking early-stage investments, improving risk-return profiles, and building markets where private capital can follow.Chitkala Kalidas, Executive Director of Bayer Foundation, said: “These inaugural investments demonstrate how philanthropic capital can be used catalytically to strengthen food systems, increase incomes for smallholder farmers, and address structural gaps in agricultural value chains. Together with UNCDF, we are supporting enterprises like Omia and SokoFresh that combine commercial viability with measurable social impact. By partnering with UNCDF, our philanthropic capital can play a stronger, catalytic role in unlocking additional investment and advancing inclusive market development in underserved communities.”Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, UNCDF Executive Secretary, added: “These investments truly signal a new approach to financing development that goes beyond grants. Together with Bayer Foundation, we are paving the way for increased capital to flow to companies like Omia and SokoFresh, demonstrating the investment case in last mile communities and aligning investment capital with the shared food security objectives for Uganda, Kenya and the UN development system.” With official development assistance declining, scaling food systems transformation will require significantly greater participation from private capital. UNCDF and Bayer Foundation are actively inviting new foundations and philanthropies to join the Food Systems Innovation Finance Facility, contributing capital to a dynamic, fast-moving pipeline of investments that strengthen food systems, build investable markets, and scale impact across underserved economies. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3661/australias-terra-firma-secures-western-district-landholding-for-a-550m-regional-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3661/australias-terra-firma-secures-western-district-landholding-for-a-550m-regional-development.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:27:45 +0530 Terra Firma secures 82.15ha Hamilton site in multi-million Western District transaction, underpinning its $550M+ integrated protein infrastructure development. Australia's Terra Firma Equity Limited announced it has secured a strategically located 82.15-hectare freehold industrial landholding at 8525 Henty Highway, Hamilton, Victoria, establishing the foundation for its flagship infrastructure development, Project Linear Spine – Hamilton Food Park. The acquisition represents a significant private multi-million dollar transaction in Victoria’s Western District, reinforcing the region’s role as a cornerstone of Australia’s agricultural and industrial economy. Hamilton Food Park will be developed as a $550+ million, single-stage, Tier-1 integrated protein processing and export precinct, designed to operate at industrial scale and position Victoria at the forefront of global protein manufacturing. Upon completion, the facility is expected to deliver approximately 1,200 head of beef per day and up to 15,000 smallstock per day, supported by fully integrated value-added manufacturing, advanced cold-chain systems, and export-ready logistics infrastructure. At the core of the development is Terra Firma’s 400-metre Linear Spine, a next-generation processing system engineered for continuous, high-efficiency production. Operating on a unidirectional clean-to-dirty flow, the facility is designed to eliminate cross-contamination risk while enabling seamless throughput across all stages of production. The system is capable of delivering the full spectrum of processing activities, including live animal handling, primary despatch, dehiding, evisceration, carcass splitting, deboning, trimming, meat preparation, portioning, value adding, further processing, packing, and labeling. This integrated design establishes a new benchmark for food safety, biosecurity, traceability, and industrial performance. Hamilton Food Park has been designed as a modern, ESG-aligned industrial platform, incorporating advanced cross-contamination controls, integrated water management systems including Clean-In-Place (CIP) and recycling infrastructure, and waste-to-energy and co-product utilisation systems that convert organic waste streams into usable energy. Centralised infrastructure will support energy, water, waste, and digital integration, delivering a low-waste, resource-efficient operating environment. Located in Victoria’s Western District, one of Australia’s most productive livestock regions, the site provides direct access to high-density cattle and smallstock supply, established saleyards, and regional producer networks. Positioned on the Henty Highway, a key arterial freight corridor, the site offers strong connectivity to interstate logistics routes and export infrastructure, including the Port of Portland and Melbourne. The landholding is zoned Industrial 2 (IN2Z), supporting large-scale industrial development. Hamilton Food Park is expected to become one of the most significant regional industrial developments in Victoria, supporting more than 2,000 direct jobs, alongside substantial indirect employment across agriculture, transport, and regional services. The project is expected to drive increased demand for Victorian livestock producers while contributing to long-term regional economic growth. The development aligns with structural changes across the Australian protein sector, including the transition away from live sheep exports by 2028 and the increasing focus on domestic processing, boxed meat exports, and value-added production. Hamilton Food Park is designed to support this transition while strengthening Australia’s global competitiveness. Phillippe Barros, Founder and Chairman of Terra Firma Equity Limited, said: “This is a defining investment in Victoria’s Western District, reinforcing the region’s role as a powerhouse of Australia’s agricultural economy. Hamilton Food Park represents the next generation of protein infrastructure — built for scale, efficiency, and global competitiveness. We are investing in sovereign capability, regional jobs, and long-term supply chain strength.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3651/jica-extends-oda-loan-for-four-key-infrastructure-and-development-projects-across-india.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3651/jica-extends-oda-loan-for-four-key-infrastructure-and-development-projects-across-india.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:30:17 +0530 ODA loan for four key infrastructure and development projects across India The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed loan agreements with the Government of India to provide Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans for four key projects, with exclusive 18,684 million Japanese Yen for the Project for Promoting Sustainable Horticulture in Punjab, India. The loan agreement was signed in New Delhi between Dr. Alok Tiwari, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and Takeuchi Takuro, Chief Representative of JICA India Office. The projects aim to drive sustainable and inclusive development across key sectors in India, including agriculture, urban mobility, and healthcare. In Punjab, the initiative focuses on building a climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable horticulture value chain by promoting high-value crops, strengthening infrastructure, and enabling Indo–Japan collaboration through innovation, research, and digital platforms to enhance market access. 62,294 million Japanese Yen for the Project for Strengthening Tertiary Healthcare Delivery, Medical Education System and Nursing Education System in Maharashtra (I); 18,684 million Japanese Yen for the Project for Promoting Sustainable Horticulture in Punjab; 102,480 million Japanese Yen for the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project (Phase 3) (I); and 92,400 million Japanese Yen for the Mumbai Metro Line 11 Project. Together, these projects are expected to contribute to economic growth, sustainable cities, and climate action, with implementation led by respective state agencies and completion timelines extending between 2032 and 2034. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation, as a sole Japanese governmental agency in charge of ODA implementation. JICA is the world's largest bilateral donor agency. JICA works as a bridge between Japan and emerging countries, and provides assistance in forms of loan, grant and technical cooperation so that the emerging countries can strengthen their capabilities. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3622/digitizing-farm-balance-sheet-rwas-and-future-of-agri-finance.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3622/digitizing-farm-balance-sheet-rwas-and-future-of-agri-finance.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:18:57 +0530 In an exclusive conversation with AgroSpectrum, Dimitra Founder & CEO Jon Trask explains why tokenized real-world assets, blockchain-backed MRV and carbon markets could reshape global agricultural finance Jon Trask discusses how tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) are transitioning from speculative blockchain experiments into institutional-grade financial infrastructure for agriculture. Drawing from Dimitra’s work across emerging markets and its collaboration with MANTRA, Trask highlights how verified farm data, MRV frameworks, and blockchain technology can convert agricultural production, carbon credits, and supply-chain outputs into investable digital assets. He explains that tokenization can address agriculture’s historic paradox of being asset-rich but liquidity-poor, enabling farmers and cooperatives to access new capital pools while improving transparency for investors. The interview also explores the operational realities of scaling agricultural RWAs—from satellite monitoring and IoT-driven data validation to governance structures required for institutional compliance. Looking ahead, Trask argues that tokenized agriculture will likely become part of the core financial infrastructure of global food systems, enabling climate-aligned capital and more efficient, data-driven agricultural markets. At Consensus Hong Kong, industry heavyweights signaled that tokenized real-world assets have crossed from speculation into structural utility. From your vantage point in agriculture, what evidence convinces you that RWAs are entering a long-term institutional cycle rather than a hype-driven one?  The clearest signal we see is the replacement of speculative interest with structural pressure, but in agriculture that pressure is now tied to a very specific outcome: turning physical production into an investable, financeable digital asset. Traceability and MRV can exist without an RWA, but an RWA becomes the bridge between “proof” and “capital” by packaging verified production, performance, and delivery rights into a standardized instrument that institutions can underwrite. Tokenized agricultural RWAs backed by verifiable data help in three concrete ways. First, they make financing underwritable: when the asset is linked to auditable farm and supply-chain records, investors can price risk and deploy capital against real collateral or forward flows (inventory, receivables, offtake agreements), rather than relying on informal guarantees. Second, they improve enforceability and transparency: the same data that supports traceability becomes the evidence layer for covenants, performance triggers, and monitoring, reducing fraud risk and transaction costs for lenders and development finance. Third, they broaden access: producers and cooperatives can use standardized, data-backed RWAs to reach new pools of capital like institutions, development banks, and corporates seeking measurable climate and supply-chain outcomes, without requiring each financier to rebuild due diligence from scratch. Conversations in this space have also shifted. Now, instead of focusing solely on token mechanics, investors want to know about MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) standards, risk frameworks, legal enforceability, and alignment with emerging carbon and sustainability regulations, because those are the prerequisites for financing at scale. This shift tells us the market is maturing: less about short-term trading incentives, and more about building the infrastructure that converts verified agricultural activity into long-term institutional-grade investment products. Agriculture has always been asset-rich but liquidity-poor. How does bringing farmland, inputs, harvests, and carbon credits on-chain fundamentally alter capital formation for producers—especially in emerging markets?  Agriculture has historically been asset-rich but liquidity-poor because the real economic value of land, inputs, outputs, and ecosystem services is difficult to quantify, verify, and transact, especially for smallholder farmers operating under strained and unpredictable conditions. By bringing agricultural assets on-chain, we can capture, verify, and mobilize that value in ways traditional systems have struggled to do, particularly for farmers. When farmland, inputs, harvests, and carbon credits are recorded on-chain, they become trusted and verifiable digital assets that can be tokenized, used as collateral, traded, or tied to performance-based financing. This on-chain asset representation enables farmers to monetize not only what they grow, but how they grow it, unlocking new pathways to climate finance and scalable capital formation. This is particularly true in emerging markets, where producers often lack formal credit histories.  It also moves agriculture beyond a financing model tied only to yield and land value. For instance, carbon credits become liquid climate assets. This, in itself, allows producers to diversify their financing. So, while investors are presented with the opportunity to fund climate-positive agriculture, producers are rewarded for adopting sustainable practices that generate verified, tradeable value. Your partnership with MANTRA aimed to verify carbon credits and tokenize agricultural assets across South America. What did that initiative reveal about institutional appetite for on-chain agricultural RWAs—and the operational hurdles of executing at regional scale?  The partnership with MANTRA revealed that institutional appetite for on-chain agricultural RWAs is real, but highly conditional—and it is becoming more real as projects move from pilots into execution. Investors engage when assets are backed by verifiable data, clear governance, and measurable outcomes, particularly around carbon integrity and sustainability metrics. The conversation is no longer about tokenization as a concept; it is about whether the underlying infrastructure and the legal/financial structure are credible enough to support real-world adoption at scale. It also made clear that, beyond technology, we must offer an opportunity where investors are willing to assume the risk in a way that fits their mandate. In practice, that means structuring investable products with clear risk allocation, enforceable rights, and monitoring-based controls, often combining traceability, MRV, and real cash-flow or collateral mechanisms. This takes time, and institutions typically require iteration on the structure, documentation, and governance as the project advances, and adjustments are often needed along the process as field realities, regulatory requirements, and data maturity become clearer. Executing at regional scale highlighted how operationally complex agriculture still is. Across South America, producers operate under different regulatory environments, data standards, and levels of digital maturity. Verifying carbon credits or tokenizing agricultural assets requires strong MRV frameworks, consistent data collection methodologies, and ground-level partnerships. Technology is only one part of the equation; alignment between farmers, cooperatives, regulators, and other stakeholders, plus the patience to refine the structure over time, is what turns on-chain RWAs into scalable, institutional-grade deployments. Tokenization promises transparency and efficiency—but agriculture is fragmented and analog. What infrastructure layers (data validation, satellite monitoring, IoT, local governance) are essential before RWAs in farming can meet institutional compliance standards?  The crucial piece of this puzzle precedes tokenization. Before real-world agricultural assets can meet institutional compliance standards, the underlying data infrastructure must be robust, verifiable, and transparent. Without reliable ground-truth data, on-chain representation can not withstand institutional scrutiny. The next critical layer is multi-source validation. Satellite monitoring provides independent verification of land use, crop health, and deforestation risk. IoT devices and mobile agronomic tools contribute real-time insights into inputs, yields, and environmental performance. These data streams must be cross-referenced and time-stamped to create an auditable trail. Institutions require defensible MRV frameworks, meaning data must be consistent, tamper-evident, and aligned with emerging regulatory standards for carbon, sustainability, and supply chain traceability.  Finally, local governance and regulatory compliance are essential. Institutional adoption depends not only on technical integrity but also on legal certainty and local stakeholder alignment. With these three factors in place, agricultural RWAs become credible digital representations of real-world activity that can meet compliance expectations and operate at scale. Carbon markets have faced credibility challenges. How does blockchain-based verification improve integrity, and can tokenized agricultural carbon credits realistically meet the scrutiny of global regulators and institutional buyers?  Blockchain-based verification improves integrity by ensuring that once key events and evidence are recorded, they cannot be altered retroactively. That immutability is essential, but on its own it does not solve the credibility problem. The real integrity comes from robust MRV made up of sound methodologies, high-quality field data, third-party auditability, and consistent monitoring. In that context, blockchain is the final credibility layer: it anchors MRV evidence, custody, and credit lifecycle events in a tamper-resistant record, reducing disputes and making reviews faster and more defensible. At Dimitra, we build on that foundation by combining blockchain with AI, IoT, and satellite-based MRV systems so data is captured and validated as close to the source as possible and then permanently attested on-chain. This creates field-level traceability and a practical verification trail that allows institutional buyers and regulators to interrogate the methodology, monitoring outputs, audit logs, issuance, transfers, and retirement records without relying on opaque, manually curated files.  Tokenized agricultural carbon credits can meet global scrutiny, but only when they are issued under recognized standards, backed by rigorous MRV and governance, and structured to support independent auditing and regulatory reporting. In other words, blockchain is not the goal. It is the mechanism that makes strong MRV harder to tamper with and easier to trust at scale. Institutional investors are now seeking yield tied to real economic activity. How does agricultural RWA tokenization compare—on risk, volatility, and return profile—to traditional agri-finance instruments?  For investors, agriculture has always offered yield anchored in productive, real-world activity. However, traditional agri-finance instruments have historically relied on fragmented reporting, periodic audits, and opaque risk assessment. In comparison, Tokenized RWAs, when built on verified field data, satellite monitoring, and blockchain technology, allow risk to be measured continuously. While this doesn’t mitigate the risks inherent to agricultural output (i.e., weather, disease, geopolitical tension), it facilitates greater transparency, which can reduce fraud risk and enable more dynamic risk pricing. Especially in emerging markets, where perceived risk is often inflated due to limited data, structured digital verification can narrow the risk premium and create more accurate return expectations. Ultimately, tokenization connects stakeholders more directly to real agricultural performance, improving visibility into how value is created and how risk is mitigated over time. Smallholder inclusion remains a central narrative. How do you ensure that tokenization empowers farmers with cheaper capital and better market access—rather than concentrating value among platforms and global investors?  Smallholder inclusion is not a narrative at Dimitra; it’s fundamental to our architecture, and one of the hardest parts is simply reaching farmers and sustaining participation at scale. That’s why we don’t try to “onboard farmers” in isolation. We structure projects through cooperatives, NGOs, and local organizations that farmers already trust and interact with, because those partners are essential for field operations, adoption, training, and ongoing data quality. Our approach is designed to make the value farmers already create visible, verifiable, and measurable. It starts with farmer-owned data captured at the field level and transparent value attribution, so any tokenized asset, whether tied to harvests, receivables, or carbon outcomes, originates from and is traceable to the producer, with clear rules on how value is shared. Tokenization only makes sense if it is linked to real benefits, like cheaper capital through underwritable evidence and risk reduction, and better market access by enabling compliance and buyer-ready traceability. By creating verifiable digital records at the farm level, we give farmers a structured way to document how they operate and what they produce, which lowers due diligence costs for lenders and buyers and reduces the information asymmetry that drives high financing costs. We also design governance and distribution so value doesn’t concentrate at the platform level through transparent fee structures, farmer-level attribution, and mechanisms that scale farmer upside as participation grows. The goal is a system where capital and market premiums flow back to farmers because their data and outcomes make the asset investable, not a system where tokenization becomes an extractive layer on top of their work. Regulatory clarity around digital assets is still evolving. What jurisdictions are best positioned to lead in agricultural RWAs, and how critical is harmonized global policy for scaling cross-border tokenized commodity markets?  In order to achieve impactful adoption and scale effectively, we believe in evaluating each jurisdiction on an individual basis. This means taking the social, legal, political, geographical, and cultural context of each individual jurisdiction into careful, specific consideration, as opposed to broadly cross-comparing landscapes.  While we also appreciate that full global harmonization of policy would accelerate adoption, we are not naive to the fact that the probability of this in the short term is low and will probably take many years to achieve. In the interim, we must accept the current reality with patience and work within the confines of each country’s legislative and regulatory boundaries. Looking ahead five to ten years, do you see tokenized agriculture becoming core infrastructure for global food systems finance —or a parallel alternative market serving climate-aligned capital pools?   I believe that tokenized agriculture will become part of the core infrastructure rather than a parallel alternative market. Agricultural systems are already moving towards greater transparency, traceability, and data-driven compliance. Tokenization is a practical way to make those systems more interoperable and verifiable. It won’t replace existing markets overnight, but it will increasingly sit alongside them as a digital layer that improves how agricultural activity is recorded, verified, and exchanged across global supply chains. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3617/singapore-boosts-food-resilience-with-s70-million-investment-over-five-years.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3617/singapore-boosts-food-resilience-with-s70-million-investment-over-five-years.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:04:08 +0530 New measures include an expanded national breeding programme and fresh hatchery support for the aquaculture sector Singapore is committing S$70 million (US$55 million) over the next five years to support local farms in expanding production and enhancing capabilities, as part of efforts to strengthen food security amid increasing global uncertainties. New Phase of Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund Announced  The funding, unveiled by Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad, is an extension of the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund, now rebranded as ACT Fund 2. Since its launch in April 2021, the ACT Fund has assisted farmers in upgrading operations through technology adoption and equipment purchases. This renewed initiative underscores Singapore's focus on food resilience as outlined in the Singapore Food Story 2 strategy, which emphasizes four key pillars: diversifying imports, growing local production, stockpiling, and forming global partnerships. Addressing Heavy Reliance on Imports  With over 90% of its food imported, Singapore is highly vulnerable to supply chain disruptions caused by climate change, disease outbreaks, and geopolitical tensions. Strengthening local food production is therefore a critical priority. While the 30 by 30 initiative successfully boosted local production, its single-pillar focus on local farming left the country exposed to external disruptions. Mr. Zaqy emphasized that a multi-faceted approach is essential for true food supply resilience, even as growing local produce remains a vital component of the strategy. Enhanced Support for Local Farms ACT Fund 2, managed by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), will provide co-funding to help farms adopt advanced technologies, improve productivity, and build climate resilience. This initiative is Singapore’s largest-ever industry support scheme for local agriculture. The first ACT Fund tranche, launched in 2021, supported 150 projects across 60 companies, with a low 3% failure rate. Based on industry feedback, the scheme now includes coverage for marketing, branding, and standalone pre- and post-harvest facilities. A new component, the Industry Partnerships for Capability Transformation Grant, will foster collaborations to address shared challenges like limited economies of scale and supply chain inefficiencies. Focus on Aquaculture and Technology  SFA is also intensifying support for aquaculture through demonstration projects that test overseas farming technologies in Singapore’s tropical marine environment. Successful solutions will be integrated into ACT Fund 2. The national breeding program will expand to include red snappers, while partnerships with overseas breeders will ensure a steady supply of reliable larvae and fingerlings for local farms. Driving Demand for Local Produce  To ensure the commercial success of local farms, SFA is working to increase demand for their products. The Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF) will broaden its offerings under brands like SG Farmers' Market to include more vegetable varieties and processed goods such as sauces and canned items. Additionally, new ready-to-eat marine tilapia products under The Straits Fish brand will be introduced in collaboration with TheSeafoodCompany. Partnerships with food and beverage businesses will also promote SG Farmers' Market products on menus. Growing the Farm-to-Table Movement  The Farm-to-Table Recognition Programme, which acknowledges food operators sourcing at least 15% of their produce locally, has seen significant growth. As of December 2025, 119 food businesses have joined the initiative, further supporting the commercial viability of local farms. This multi-pronged approach reflects Singapore’s commitment to building a resilient and sustainable food ecosystem. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3600/australia-boosts-support-for-agricultural-innovation-at-evokeag-2026-with-450000-commitment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3600/australia-boosts-support-for-agricultural-innovation-at-evokeag-2026-with-450000-commitment.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:53:39 +0530 To foster collaboration and sustainability in agrifood technology The Australian government reaffirmed its dedication to advancing agricultural innovation with a $450,000 funding boost for AgriFutures’ evokeAG, a leading agrifood technology and innovation event. This investment, announced as part of the $23.8 million Showcasing Australian Agriculture – Regional Trade Events program, supported the event over the next three years evokeAG, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, drew approximately 2,000 participants. These included farmers, producers, startups, researchers, policymakers, investors, and business leaders. The event was a hub for collaboration and knowledge sharing, aimed at addressing the most pressing challenges in the agricultural sector This year’s edition focused on three key themes: information and future technology, environment and sustainability, and system and policy. Attendees explored how these areas intersect and shape the future of agriculture. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss and develop solutions that enhanced productivity, resilience, and global competitiveness in the agrifood industry Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP, emphasized the government’s commitment to fostering a modern and innovative agrifood system. “Australian farmers and producers are already world-class innovators, and events like evokeAG provided an opportunity to share ideas, build connections, and create new opportunities,” she said. “We were proud to back evokeAG, which helped forge stronger links between research and industry while showcasing the benefits of innovation for farmers and producers.” AgriFutures Australia, one of the 15 rural research and development corporations in the country, played a pivotal role in supporting the research, development, and extension needs of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries, and forestry industries. Mick Veitch, welcomed the government’s support, stating, “This additional funding will expand the reach of evokeAG, support the growth of emerging and established industries, and strengthen the partnerships needed to translate research into practical on-farm outcomes.” The event was not only a showcase of cutting-edge agrifood technology but also a catalyst for accelerating the adoption of new ideas and technologies. By bringing together the brightest minds across agriculture, research, and industry, evokeAG drove innovation and ensured the agricultural sector remained resilient and globally competitive The government's ongoing support for evokeAG reflected its broader strategy to position Australia as a leader in agricultural innovation. This year's event built on the success of previous iterations, which had already demonstrated the value of connecting diverse stakeholders to address shared challenges. With its focus on sustainability, technology, and policy, evokeAG 2026 was a critical platform for shaping the future of agriculture in Australia and beyond. The funding boost ensured the event could continue to provide a space for collaboration, innovation, and forward-thinking solutions that benefited the entire agricultural ecosystem. Through events like evokeAG, Australia reinforced its position as a global leader in agricultural innovation, equipping its farmers and producers with the tools and networks needed to thrive in an ever-evolving industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3595/malaysia-allocates-rm33mil-for-high-impact-agriculture-projects-under-13mp.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3595/malaysia-allocates-rm33mil-for-high-impact-agriculture-projects-under-13mp.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:07:58 +0530 Government Boosts Agricultural Development with High-Impact Projects Under 12th and 13th Malaysia Plans A total of RM33mil has been approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan to implement high-impact agricultural projects from 2026 to 2030, says Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin. The government has committed significant funding to bolster agricultural development and food security through various high-impact initiatives under the 12th and 13th Malaysia Plans. These efforts aim to enhance food production, improve infrastructure, and support sustainable agricultural practices across the country. Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin announced that RM33 million has been approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan to implement high-impact agricultural projects from 2026 to 2030. This includes the Food Crop Production Zone Empowerment Project, which seeks to ensure the continuity of agricultural advancements nationwide. Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, RM24.98 million was allocated to upgrade existing Permanent Food Production Parks (TKPMs), while RM18.47 million was directed toward developing new parks. TKPM upgrades have been rolled out across the country, except in Perlis, while new park development projects are underway in Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Terengganu, and Perlis. In addition to these initiatives, the government has introduced the Aquaculture Industrial Zone (ZIA) Development initiative to transform the aquaculture sector into a large-scale, sustainable, and competitive commercial industry. A total of RM18 million has been allocated under the 12th Malaysia Plan for the development of high-potential ZIAs focusing on fish, shrimp, and shellfish farming. To date, 54 ZIA locations have been identified nationwide, encompassing both marine and freshwater aquaculture. These efforts have resulted in 12,730 hectares of active cultivation, producing 9,044.46 metric tonnes of aquaculture products valued at RM684 million in 2024. Another key project highlighted by Chan is the Jeniang Water Transfer Scheme in Kedah, approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan with an estimated cost of RM1.34 billion. Upon completion, the project will significantly enhance water management capacity and efficiency in Kedah, particularly within the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) area and surrounding regions. The scheme will channel and store water from Sungai Muda at Naok Dam, ensuring a stable and continuous water supply to support paddy cultivation and related agricultural activities in the area. The government is also driving the national ruminant industry forward through the Pengganda30 Programme, a high-impact initiative under the 13th Malaysia Plan aimed at achieving a 50% self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) for ruminant meat by 2030. With a project cost of RM450 million, the programme is designed as an integrated intervention to rapidly increase the population of meat ruminants, including cattle and goats, delivering substantial impact within a short timeframe. These projects are part of the government’s broader efforts under the National Food Security Programme to address food production challenges and ensure sustainable agricultural growth. In response to a question from Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PN-Rantau Panjang) during Question Time on Feb 9, Chan outlined the scope, locations, and allocations of these initiatives. Siti Zailah had sought details on high-impact agricultural projects implemented nationwide, including their implementation strategies and the government’s role in advancing food security. Chan emphasized that these projects are part of a comprehensive approach to strengthen Malaysia’s agricultural sector. The upgrades to existing TKPMs and the development of new parks aim to increase food production capacity, while the ZIA initiative focuses on modernizing aquaculture practices to meet growing demand. Similarly, the Jeniang Water Transfer Scheme and Pengganda30 Programme are tailored to address specific challenges in water resource management and ruminant production, respectively. The deputy minister noted that these initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to ensuring food security and supporting the livelihoods of farmers and producers. By investing in infrastructure, technology, and targeted interventions, the government aims to create a more resilient and competitive agricultural sector. The announcement underscores the importance of sustained investment in agriculture to meet the country’s food security goals while fostering economic growth in rural areas. With these projects spanning multiple states and focusing on diverse agricultural domains, the government is taking proactive steps to address both immediate and long-term challenges in food production and resource management. This multi-faceted approach demonstrates the government’s determination to position Malaysia as a leader in sustainable agriculture while ensuring the nation’s food supply remains secure and self-sufficient in the years to come. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3365/arborgen-launches-data-driven-pine-seedling-rebrand-to-deliver-greater-transparency-and-simplify-selection.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3365/arborgen-launches-data-driven-pine-seedling-rebrand-to-deliver-greater-transparency-and-simplify-selection.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:18:00 +0530 ArborGen, a global leader in advanced genetics for reforestation, has launched a data-driven rebrand of its pine seedling product line, designed to bring more transparency, clarity, and confidence to customers making reforestation decisions. The update introduces a refreshed structure for ArborGen’s pine seedling categories - OP, OP Pro®, MCP®, MCP Pro®, and MCP Pro+® - paired with the company’s new AG Scoring System, which provides a clear, data-backed view of genetic performance. Together, these changes simplify how landowners, timber companies, and reforestation partners compare and select the right genetics for their goals. “This rebrand is about much more than renaming our products - it’s about making our science more transparent and accessible,” said Justin Birch, CEO of ArborGen. “By bringing the AG Scoring System to the forefront, we’re giving our customers data-driven clarity and helping them make confident, informed choices for their forests.” The AG Scoring System is a proprietary evaluation framework that quantifies genetic performance across key traits, including growth rate, stem form, disease resistance, and survival. The AG Score translates decades of field trial data into an easy-to-understand scale that allows customers to clearly compare seedling families and performance levels within ArborGen’s lineup. “We’ve taken years of research and made it actionable,” said Patrick Cumbie, Vice President of Product Development at ArborGen. “Customers can now see how each family performs across key characteristics, giving them a transparent and consistent way to make selections that align with their site conditions and objectives.” The restructured pine seedling categories represent a progression of genetic performance and value: OP: Reliable performance and balanced return OP Pro®: Improved productivity without added cost MCP®: Controlled cross-pollination for high-performing, uniform results MCP Pro®: Premium genetics for increased yield and return on investment MCP Pro+®: Elite performance for maximum growth and quality The simplified category names, combined with the AG Scoring System, create a clear, consistent experience for customers across all ArborGen nurseries and regions. Reforestation Advisors are available to help customers match their previous seedling selections to the new structure and explore options best suited to their management goals. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3426/future-of-agri-finance-runs-on-mapmycrop-swapnil-jadhav-on-maas-revolution.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3426/future-of-agri-finance-runs-on-mapmycrop-swapnil-jadhav-on-maas-revolution.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:03:09 +0530 In this exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Swapnil Jadhav, Founder & CEO of MapMyCrop, outlines how Monitoring-as-a-Service (MaaS) is redefining agricultural intelligence by shifting the sector from software-based tools to verified, outcome-driven visibility. He explains how MapMyCrop’s 6.2-million farmer validation network, multi-country crop intelligence, and proprietary AI models are solving agriculture’s long-standing “last-mile truth” problem at scale. Jadhav highlights how the company is emerging as the infrastructure backbone for data-driven agri-credit, parametric insurance, and climate-risk modelling as global finance moves toward intelligence-based lending. Swapnil also details how MaaS is becoming central to India’s state-level policy decisions—optimising water, subsidies, and climate governance—while delivering dramatic on-ground impact, such as 60 per cent input savings and 50 per cent quality gains for orange growers. Looking ahead, he positions MapMyCrop as the regulated verification layer of the future, enabling every farm to be visible, every risk quantifiable, and every sustainability claim credible by 2030. MaaS as a Market Redefinition You call MapMyCrop the world’s first Monitoring-as-a-Service platform. What makes MaaS a true category-creation model rather than a rebranded form of agri-tech SaaS ? Monitoring as a service isn't a rebrand—it's a fundamental shift in how agricultural intelligence is delivered. Traditional agri-tech SaaS used to provide software licenses but we at MapMyCrop provide verified, actionable insights as an on-demand service. What makes this category-defining is our Model-as-a-Service architecture: we deploy satellite imagery, weather analytics, and AI-driven crop models continuously across geographies, delivering real-time monitoring without requiring farmers or enterprises to own infrastructure, manage platforms, or interpret raw data. The customers utilize MapMyCrop’s platform for outcomes—verified crop health, yield forecasts, risk alerts—not for software they need to operationalize themselves. That's the core differentiator, we've industrialized agricultural visibility. The Economics of Visibility Satellite intelligence, IoT, and field-level verification are capital intensive. What is the core lever that makes MaaS financially scalable—data monetisation, automation, or enterprise partnerships? Our financial scalability relies on automation and our farmer validation network—not IoT or ground sensors, which are prohibitively expensive at scale. We leverage freely available satellite data and open weather sources, then apply our proprietary AI models to generate insights. The critical lever is our 6.2 million farmer network, which provides ground-truth validation at near-zero marginal cost. This creates a self-reinforcing loop, with more farmers means better model accuracy and then it leads to higher enterprise value which gives us more revenue per insight delivered. We're not just monetizing data but monetizing validated intelligence. Enterprise partnerships with insurers, banks, FMCGs, and governments—provide recurring revenue because they're buying risk reduction and decision confidence, not dashboards. Cracking the Ground-Truthing Barrier Agriculture’s biggest bottleneck is not data scarcity but data validation. How does Map My Crop solve the “last-mile truth” problem that has historically limited insurers, banks, and food companies from making accurate, real-time decisions? You've identified agriculture's Achilles heel. Satellite data is abundant; trust is scarce. MapMyCrop solves the "last-mile truth" problem through our distributed farmer validation network spanning 6.2 million farmers across diverse geographies and partner ecosystems. These farmers act as our ground sensors validating crop stages, stress events, actual yields feeding real-world observations back into our AI models. This isn't crowdsourcing; it's structured validation infrastructure. Combined with our multi-country deployment, we've built longitudinal datasets that capture how crops actually behave across microclimates, soil types, and farming practices, not how models predict they should behave.For insurers, banks, and food companies, this means they can finally underwrite, lend, and procure based on verified field reality, not proxy indicators or farmer declarations. That's the paradigm shift. Transforming Agri-Credit and Insurance As agri-finance shifts from collateral-based lending to data-based underwriting, how is Map My Crop positioning itself as the infrastructure layer for credit scoring, parametric insurance, and climate-risk modelling ? We're positioning MapMyCrop as the rails for data-driven agri-finance, the infrastructure layer that enables lenders and insurers to move from collateral-based to intelligence-based decision-making. Our platform delivers:Our platform supplies granular credit-scoring inputs by analysing farm-level crop health trajectories, input application patterns, and yield-probability curves. It also strengthens parametric insurance design through verified stress-event data—such as drought, excess rainfall, or pest pressure—captured with precise timestamps and geo-tagged evidence. In addition, we deliver forward-looking climate-risk modeling that integrates evolving weather patterns, soil-moisture trends, and crop-vulnerability indices to help institutions anticipate and manage future exposure.Financial institutions don't need to become agronomy experts; they plug into our MaaS layer and receive decision-ready intelligence. As agriculture financing scales to meet the $500B+ credit gap globally, verified monitoring infrastructure isn't optional—it's foundational. Climate, Carbon, and Compliance With Scope 3 emissions reporting and regenerative agriculture commitments rising globally, how central is carbon MRV and climate monitoring to your product roadmap? Do you foresee MaaS becoming mandatory for global agricultural supply chains? Carbon MRV and climate monitoring are central to our roadmap—not as a feature, but as a core product vertical. With Scope 3 reporting mandates tightening and regenerative agriculture commitments accelerating, food companies and agri-processors need verifiable evidence of on-farm carbon sequestration, sustainable practices, and emissions reductions. Our satellite + AI + farmer validation architecture is purpose-built for this: we can monitor practice adoption, quantify biomass changes, and validate interventions at scale without deploying expensive IoT infrastructure. Do I foresee MaaS becoming mandatory? Yes. Within 5 years, major agricultural supply chains will require continuous monitoring and third-party verification of sustainability claims. MapMyCrop is building that verification backbone today. The companies that don't adopt this infrastructure will face compliance risk, supply chain opacity, and premium loss in ESG-conscious markets. Defensibility in a Crowded Tech Landscape With satellite analytics, crop models, and AI becoming increasingly commoditized, what is Map My Crop’s enduring moat—proprietary datasets, longitudinal crop intelligence, integrated advisory, or ecosystem lock-in ? Our moat is longitudinal, validated crop intelligence across diverse agroecologies—and the farmer + partner ecosystem that continuously strengthens it. Satellite access is commoditized. AI models can be replicated. What cannot be easily replicated is: We bring over six years of ground-validated crop performance data spanning multiple crops, geographies, and climate conditions, backed by a 6.2-million-farmer validation network that provides continuous real-time ground truth. This is reinforced by multi-country operational experience—whether it’s understanding how sugarcane behaves differently in Tamil Nadu compared to Uttar Pradesh, or how the economics of orange cultivation diverge between Nagpur and Madhya Pradesh. Added to this is a network of embedded partnerships with state governments, input companies, and financial institutions, creating strong switching costs and making our ecosystem uniquely resilient and hard to replicate. Our defensibility isn't technological—it's systemic. We've built agricultural intelligence infrastructure that gets smarter with every season and every farmer interaction. Competitors can launch satellite analytics; they can't replicate the depth and breadth of our validated knowledge graph. Incorporating the India Success Stories Roorkee Pilot: From Weather Validation to Policy IntelligenceYour Roorkee deployment helped the Uttarakhand government validate weather data and evaluate evapotranspiration and irrigation models. How do you convert such state-level pilots into long-term, scalable policy intelligence platforms across India? The Uttarakhand government engagement demonstrated that accurate, localized intelligence changes policy decisions. By validating weather data and evaluating ET/irrigation models, we helped them move from assumptions to evidence-based resource planning. Converting pilots into long-term platforms requires demonstrating fiscal and governance impact: water savings, subsidy optimization, crop insurance loss reduction. We're now positioned to scale this across Indian states by: We are focused on standardizing our policy intelligence modules—spanning water management, crop diversification, and input subsidy targeting—so they can be seamlessly deployed across diverse agro-climatic contexts. At the same time, we are integrating these modules with the existing workflows of state agricultural departments to ensure smooth adoption and minimal bureaucratic friction. Ultimately, the goal is to demonstrate clear return on investment through pilot results, showcasing improved policy outcomes, reduced wastage, and measurable gains in farmer welfare. State governments are increasingly data-hungry. We're building the agricultural monitoring infrastructure they need for 21st-century governance. Nagpur & MP Oranges: 60 per cent Input Savings, 50 per cent Quality Gains You helped orange growers reduce input costs by 60 per cent and improve fruit quality by 50 per cent.What exactly were the agronomic interventions and digital workflows behind this transformation—and can this model be replicated across India’s horticulture belts at scale? We used satellite and AI-based monitoring to detect crop stress—whether from water, nutrient, or pest issues—well before any visible symptoms appeared. Based on these early signals, we delivered timely and highly specific advisories through our farmer network and partners, prescribing exactly what intervention was needed, when to apply it, and where. This was reinforced by continuous feedback loops on ground performance, allowing us to validate what worked and refine our recommendations on a weekly basis. The result: farmers stopped blanket-spraying and over-fertilizing. They applied inputs precisely when crops needed them, reducing waste dramatically while improving fruit size, color, and brix levels.This model is scalable and replicable because it's not dependent on expensive infrastructure—it's driven by intelligence delivery. We're now deploying similar approaches across pomegranate belts in Maharashtra, mango regions in AP, and banana clusters in Tamil Nadu. India's horticulture sector is $80B+; precision agronomy at MaaS scale can transform its economics. Sugarcane Across Baramati, UP, MP & Tamil Nadu: AI Across Agro-Climates Sugarcane is grown in dramatically different soil, water, and climatic conditions across these states.What did your AI-powered agronomy engine learn from deploying across such diversity, and how does that knowledge strengthen your national and global product strategy? Deploying across such diverse sugarcane regions taught our AI engine something invaluable: crop performance is hyperlocal, but patterns are learnable. We discovered: Water stress manifests very differently across India’s agro-ecologies—Tamil Nadu’s red soils, for instance, face rapid moisture loss and demand tighter irrigation cycles, whereas Uttar Pradesh’s deep alluvial plains retain water longer but are prone to seasonal saturation. Pest pressure, too, follows distinct regional rhythms, with infestation cycles often varying by four to six weeks between zones due to shifts in temperature, humidity, and cropping intensity. Even harvesting windows are no longer dictated by crop age alone; they are increasingly shaped by hyper-local microclimatic cues that determine sugar accumulation, moisture levels, and overall crop quality.This agroecological diversity strengthened our models exponentially. Our AI doesn't just predict sugarcane yields; it understands which interventions work where and why. This cross-geography learning is now our strategic asset—when we enter new crops or new countries, we're not starting from scratch. We're applying battle-tested intelligence frameworks that adapt to local conditions quickly. The 2030 Bet If you had to define Map My Crop in a single sentence in 2030, what would it be? And what bold strategic bet are you making today that the industry still misunderstands or undervalues? If I had to define Map My Crop in 2030 in one sentence: "Map My Crop is the global infrastructure for verified agricultural intelligence—the layer that makes every farm visible, every risk quantifiable, and every sustainability claim credible." The bold bet we're making today that the industry undervalues: That agricultural monitoring will become regulated infrastructure, like financial audits or food safety inspections. Governments, financial institutions, and supply chains will mandate continuous, third-party-verified crop and land-use monitoring within this decade. We're not building a product; we're building the rails that the future agricultural economy will run on. The industry still thinks this is a "nice-to-have" analytics tool. We know it's tomorrow's compliance requirement and competitive necessity. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3423/korea-introduces-crop-disaster-insurance-for-all-four-types-of-fruit-crops.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3423/korea-introduces-crop-disaster-insurance-for-all-four-types-of-fruit-crops.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:54:56 +0530 Farmers' disaster response capabilities to improve for apples , pears , sweet persimmons, and astringent persimmons Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, led by Minister Song Mei-ryeong, has announced plans to launch a new comprehensive risk insurance product covering four fruit varieties—apples, pears, sweet persimmons, and astringent persimmons. This initiative aims to enhance farmers' ability to respond to disasters and will initially be introduced in select major producing cities and counties. The comprehensive risk coverage product for apples , pears , persimmons , and astringent persimmons covers all damages caused by natural disasters throughout the growing period, including after fruit thinning , unlike existing products . In addition , damages such as heatstroke caused by heat waves after fruit thinning can be compensated, making it an advantageous product compared to existing products . Compensation for damage caused by all natural disasters before the enemy ( fruit thinning ) , and damage caused by specific natural disasters after the enemy ( fruit thinning) In particular, the natural disaster anthrax insurance being piloted in apples is a product that compensates for anthrax damage in cases where control is difficult due to weather conditions despite the farmers' efforts to prevent damage. Compensation is made after confirming the farmers' control efforts . When there is rain for 5 consecutive days and the accumulated rainfall is 150mm or more In addition, in the case of garlic and onions , considering the delay in sowing and transplanting due to heavy rain and the demand on the ground, we plan to extend the subscription period for agricultural income stabilization insurance and crop disaster insurance by one week each to encourage as many farmers as possible to subscribe to insurance . ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3403/climate-capital-and-control-dr-josephine-adebayo-calls-for-feminist-reboot-of-nigerias-blue-economy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3403/climate-capital-and-control-dr-josephine-adebayo-calls-for-feminist-reboot-of-nigerias-blue-economy.html Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:33:11 +0530 In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Josephine Oluseyi Adebayo, Lecturer in Fish Nutrition and Health Management, lays bare the gendered inequities shaping Nigeria’s blue economy. She explains how structural barriers — from patriarchal norms to skewed financing systems — confine women to low-margin post-harvest roles despite their centrality to coastal livelihoods. Josephine argues that climate adaptation funding, aquaculture innovation, and trade policy must be redesigned with women not just as beneficiaries but as decision-makers and enterprise leaders. She highlights the transformative potential of cluster farming, insect-protein feed systems, digital branding, and gender-intelligent finance to unlock women-led growth at scale. Looking ahead to 2040, she envisions a blue economy where Nigerian women are owners, innovators, and catalysts of economic resilience — provided the country acts boldly today. Nigeria’s blue economy could unlock billions in value — yet most women remain confined to low-margin post-harvest roles. What structural failures are stopping women from capturing value upstream? Nigeria's blue economy is incredibly promising, but women's participation is largely a function of societal and cultural dynamics rather than clear policy constraints. Normative gender expectations and patriarchal order historically relegated women to downstream roles as processors and traders, while men monopolized the more financially lucrative and capital-intensive fields of fishing and logistics. In several coastal settlements, women remain oblivious to upstream prospects, or if they do exist, they lack the resources to systematically pursue them. Transforming this situation necessitates more than just policy design. It requires a robust mix of responsiveness, training, gender aware investment and policy inclusion aimed at empowering women to navigate beyond traditional roles and occupy an equitable place throughout the entire value chain. Climate justice meets gender justice on Nigeria’s coastlines — women face salinity intrusion, fish stock collapse, and unsafe processing conditions first. How should climate adaptation funding be redesigned so women are not just recipients but decision-makers? Climate finance should be inclusive and gender responsive. While Nigeria is progressing through the National Climate Investment Platform, women’s participation in the decision-making processes continues to be minimal. Failure to adequately address the gender dimension on programs is too common as funding committees are often comprised solely of men. Women living and working in the coastal zone have the experience to know best the areas climate impacts hurt most and therefore should be the ones designing, supervising, and allocating climate adaptation funding. Their inclusion in leadership and technical decision-making is crucial to ensure justice is served in the effectiveness of adaptation. Feed cost, disease, and poor logistics keep small-scale aquaculture uncompetitive. Which innovations could enable profitable women-led aquaculture at scale? Feed remains the highest cost in aquaculture, but new innovations are emerging. Research into insect protein, especially in black soldier fly and cricket larvae, combined with aquaponics and circular aquaculture, is lowering costs and reducing environmental impacts related to feed. The University of Ibadan's INCiTiS-Food is leading the way in adopting these innovations. Cluster farming models, like the Eriwe Fish Farmers’ Village in Ogun State and CGE Africa’s Empowered Coastal Fishing Women project, also help women access resources and recover from shocks more quickly. These efforts, along with the training and leadership of Women in Fisheries Fellowship (FUWOLIFF), are not only modernizing aquaculture in Nigeria but also establishing it as a space for women entrepreneurship. Nigeria still imports fish despite being Africa’s top catfish producer. What trade and branding strategies could help women-owned enterprises scale from survival to export? Women-owned enterprises can expand their exports through targeted financing, training, and digital branding. Access to export credit, flexible loans, and mentorship will help women increase their production sustainably. Training in quality standards, certification, and international trade logistics is crucial for meeting global demand. Equally important is that digital literacy, e-commerce platforms, and storytelling help connect women entrepreneurs to regional and international buyers. A gender-sensitive export ecosystem must combine finance, quality assurance, and branding support so that Nigerian women’s aquaculture products can compete globally. Access to capital remains exclusionary — collateral and risk scoring are biased against women. What would a gender-intelligent financing architecture for the blue economy look like? Attention must be given to the fact that a gender-sensitive financing framework must reconfigure financial systems to accommodate the needs of women. This requires crafting products in consideration of women’s needs: adaptive collateral policies, algorithmic risk assessment, and micro-to-meso level lending. This also necessitates including women as leaders in financial institutions, allowing women to influence the creation of products designed for them. Such change requires collaboration between the public and private sectors; women may take the lead, but both must support it. In the end, gender-sensitive finance promotes blue economy growth by harnessing women’s productivity and ingenuity. Data invisibility distorts policymaking — women’s contribution to fisheries GDP remains undervalued. How can Nigeria institutionalize gender-disaggregated data? For Nigeria to integrate gender responsive policies, effective policy, subsidy reforms and investment rely on accurate, reliable and gender disaggregated data. There is a need to involve the National Bureau of Statistics, the ministries of finance and the sector agencies in Nigeria to mainstream integrating gender data within all the economic statistics. There is a need to incorporate gender-responsive reporting within all sector institutions to help identify where women are present, underfunded, and experiencing exclusion. Such data is useful for making subsidy reforms, developing equitable investment incentives, and establishing skill programs to address gender inequalities in fisheries and aquaculture. Once we accurately quantify women's contributions, we will be better able to recognize and scale their impact. When you imagine Nigeria’s blue economy in 2040, what must change now so women become owners and innovators, not passengers? By 2040, Nigerian women must shift from participation to ownership and leadership. This involves creating and managing businesses in emerging areas, such as seaweed farming, fish waste recycling, aquaculture technology, and blue finance. Women should pursue new economic opportunities through innovation, investment, and mentoring others. The bold change begins now with policies that remove barriers, funding that trusts women, and a mindset that sees women not just as beneficiaries but as drivers of Nigeria’s blue prosperity. ---- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3393/bayer-launches-alivio-focusing-on-innovation-in-the-agri-insurance-space.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3393/bayer-launches-alivio-focusing-on-innovation-in-the-agri-insurance-space.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:27:47 +0530 Turning weather uncertainty into farmer resilience, Bayer launches Alivio, focusing on innovation in the agri-insurance space Indian smallholder farmers are increasingly exposed to erratic weather patterns, long dry spells, rising temperatures, shifting seasons, and high-intensity rains. Findings from Bayer’s Farmer Voice Survey – India 2024 reveal that nearly 9 in 10 farmers already feel the negative impact of climate change on their farms, with 72% expecting reduced yields, 62% anticipating increased crop failures, and more than half reporting frequent droughts, heat waves, or excessive rainfall in recent years. In response, farmers are proactively seeking ways to safeguard their livelihoods. While support to manage financial risk, such as insurance, ranks among the top future needs, an even larger share sees promise in digital and weather-based solutions. In fact, 51% identify access to better digital technologies as most beneficial for their farms, underscoring the growing demand for integrated offerings that combine risk protection with timely, actionable insights. However, despite valuing insurance, many farmers remain dissatisfied with existing systems. Common concerns include uncertainty around claim timelines, lack of clarity on payout amounts, and widespread frustration that compensation rarely reflects the actual scale of losses. Farmer-First Design Meets Digital Intelligence for Resilient Agriculture In response, Bayer has launched Alivio - meaning “relief” in Spanish - a pioneering digital solution that reimagines risk mitigation while equipping growers with actionable plot insights, delivered as an integrated, value-adding service via Alivio’s mobile application. Unlike traditional insurance products, Alivio - launched in collaboration with the insurance ecosystem and public sector undertaking United India Insurance - uses high-resolution satellite data and advanced crop modelling to offer growth stage-aligned, plot-based, and geo-contextualized protection. When plot-based agronomic parameters trigger assurance benefits, farmers can redeem them instantly at nearby Bayer channel partners, ensuring immediate access to quality seeds and crop protection products and avoiding disruptions during the crop cycle. In practice, this means Alivio identifies and aligns protection with the exact risks farmers perceive as most threatening in their local context—such as prolonged dry spells during flowering or extreme heat during grain filling etc. By tailoring coverage to these location- and stage-specific vulnerabilities, Alivio ensures that support is meaningful, relevant, and directly connected to the challenges farmers face. By embedding retailers into its operating model, Alivio taps into the informal trust networks that farmers rely on for buying inputs and advice. This trusted channel makes farmers more open to adopting a new digital product and ensures benefits are accessible where they already make farm decisions. It also bridges the transparency gap between payout eligibility and farmer awareness in traditional insurance. With instant, data-driven triggers and clear, season-long communication, farmers know exactly when they are protected and when benefits are activated - reducing anxiety during the season. From Data to Insights and Relief: Farmers Seeing Value Early The first rollout is targeted at rainfed corn growers in Davanagere, Karnataka and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra - areas where repeated dry spells have historically reduced yields. By monitoring plot-based conditions, Alivio will trigger assurance benefits if insufficient soil moisture conditions are experienced by the maize crop during critical growth stages. These benefits will be delivered to growers on their Alivio mobile application and can be redeemed at their nearest channel partner store. In addition, farmers will receive soil moisture forecasts, spray planning support, and crop scouting recommendations tailored to their plots, to name a few data-driven insights. Uptake has been strong, with farmers purchasing Alivio within two weeks of launch. “In the past, when the rains failed, we had no hope during the season. With Alivio, I can see the soil moisture for my own plot, and when it drops too low, the benefit comes quickly. This helps me buy what I need for the crop without delay,” said Nagaraja Huchapla, a corn grower from Davanagere Taluka. Speaking on the launch, Simon Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head, Crop Science Division, Bayer in India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka said, “Alivio reflects Bayer’s commitment to putting digital innovation in the hands of those who need it most. By blending agronomic intelligence with intuitive design and trusted local networks, we’re helping smallholder farmers turn uncertainty into informed action, making resilience not just possible, but practical.” “For too long, crop insurance has left farmers navigating uncertainty alone. With this launch, we are putting farmers at the center of innovation. By combining satellite intelligence, plot-level insights, growth stage-aligned coverage, and strong ecosystem collaboration, we are delivering solutions that truly respond to farmers’ needs. Together with Bayer and United India Insurance, we are proud to drive the transformation the agri-insurance sector urgently requires,” said Mr. Sanjay Radhakrishnan, CEO, Edme Insurance Brokers Ltd. Expanding Reach Across Crops and Regions In the coming months, Alivio will expand to onions, chillis, potatoes, grapes, tomatoes and select fruit crops, reaching more regions across India. This is part of Bayer’s global ambition to reach 100 million smallholders by 2030, with digital innovations at the heart of efforts to increase productivity, resilience, and sustainability. Alivio exemplifies this commitment - combining data intelligence, ecosystem partnerships, and farmer-first design to deliver measurable impact.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3386/building-agility-and-resilience-in-asias-food-system-singapore-international-agri-food-week-siaw.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3386/building-agility-and-resilience-in-asias-food-system-singapore-international-agri-food-week-siaw.html Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:21:12 +0530 As the anchor event of Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW), the summit transformed Marina Bay Sands into a hub for technology discovery, strategic deal-making, and C-Suite networking. A 200-strong speaking faculty explored the technologies, policies, finance models, and partnerships that catalyzed innovation in farming, food manufacturing, and retail across Asia-Pacific. Deep dives into biotechnology explored the latest innovations and adoption milestones in biologicals and sustainable inputs. Focused sessions examined crop-specific supply chains to accelerate upstream innovation in rice, oil palm, and fresh produce for positive downstream impact. Regional agribusinesses, food brands, and technology giants shared business-critical insights into the role of fintech, regenerative practices, robotics, and precision agriculture in creating resilient production systems, and how these translated to smallholder farming. As health, longevity, and gut health continued to rise in prominence, the reformulation of mainstream food and beverages and tailored functionality were at the forefront of last year’s discussions. From AI-powered peptide discovery and precision fermentation to waste valorization, food-tech leaders highlighted novel, high-value, and specialty ingredients at the heart of food system transformation. Some of the key areas under focus were Global Market Access: Unlocking New Economic Opportunities and Partnerships Climate-Smart Food: Scaling Regenerative and Precision Farming Systems Breeding Better Ingredients: Turning Upstream R&D into Downstream Function Next-Gen Proteins: Achieving Economies of Scale in Precision Fermentation High-Impact Crops: Future-Proofing Rice, Oil Palm & Fresh Produce from Soil to Shelf Carbon, Methane, Nitrous Oxide: Measuring, Quantifying & Reducing Emissions Agricultural Finance: Improving Access to Credit and Insurance through FinTech Innovative Investment: Blending VC, CVC and Philanthropy for Regional Prosperity Functional Nutrition: Reformulating F&B for Healthy Longevity and Gut Health Biotech Innovation: Driving R&D and Adoption in Biologicals Measurable Impact: Powering Ahead with ESG Programmes in Volatile Markets Upcycling Biomass: Transforming Waste and Biproducts into High-Value Ingredients Alongside insightful plenaries and start-up pitching, the summit brought back the popular breakout sessions, live tastings, and regional product showcases. A full program of 1-1 meetings and AI-driven business matching made this an unmissable event for business intelligence, collaboration, and investment. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3385/singapore-is-bolstering-its-food-security-resilience-by-adopting-effective-innovation-and-funding-strategies-ms-grace-fu-minister-for-sustainability-and-the-environment-singapore.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3385/singapore-is-bolstering-its-food-security-resilience-by-adopting-effective-innovation-and-funding-strategies-ms-grace-fu-minister-for-sustainability-and-the-environment-singapore.html Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:10:07 +0530 Singapore International Agri-Food Week: Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit Singapore has always prioritized food security, and since 2019, we have made significant strides in strengthening our local production. Locally produced hen shell eggs and beansprouts now account for over 30% and 50% of our consumption, respectively. Singapore's farms have become more productive, with vegetable, seafood, and egg production increasing by 10%, 17%, and 50%, respectively, from 2019 to 2024. However, our agri-food sector has faced challenges such as supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and a tougher financing environment. Despite these hurdles, some farms have thrived by embracing innovation and technology. Singapore has also explored alternative proteins, but scaling up has been difficult due to high production costs and limited consumer acceptance globally. Reflecting on these experiences, we have refined our local production strategy to focus on what is feasible and efficient for land-scarce Singapore. "While we initially aimed to produce 30% of our nutritional needs under the 30-by-30 strategy, we now target more realistic goals: by 2035, our farms will supply 20% of our fibre needs, including fresh vegetables, beansprouts, and mushrooms, and 30% of our protein needs, such as eggs and seafood. These targets align with the strengths of our farming ecosystem and its growth potential. To support our farms, we are taking steps to reduce their production costs. For instance, we are exploring a government-owned, multi-tenanted facility that provides plug-and-play spaces, shared utilities, and controlled environments to lower start-up costs and enhance climate resilience. Additionally, through the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund, we have allocated over $40 million to 135 projects, enabling farms to adopt technologies like automated irrigation and climate-resilient systems. Our research efforts, backed by over $300 million under the Singapore Food Story R&D Programme, have led to innovations such as improved fish feeds, disease-resistant vaccines, and higher-yield crops" says Ms Grace Fu. Strengthening the supply of farming inputs is another priority. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) launched the National Broodstock Centre and the Hatchery Development and Recognition Programme, which have already recognized four local hatcheries. We plan to expand this programme to include red snapper and collaborate with the industry to enhance the supply of quality eggs and post-larvae for grouper and shrimp. These efforts will improve production yields and disease resistance. To ensure the commercial viability of our growers, we are enhancing demand offtake. The Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF) has successfully aggregated local produce, with brands like “SG Farmers’ Market” and “The Straits Fish” now available in major supermarkets. Sales of Xiao Bai Cai under the “SG Farmers’ Market” brand have increased sevenfold since its launch in May 2024. SAFEF is also expanding its offerings to include seafood like Asian seabass and shrimp and working with restaurants such as Joy of Fish and Coriander Leaf to feature local produce on their menus. Diversifying our import sources remains a critical pillar of our food security strategy. Over the years, we have built strong trade networks, enabling us to import food from over 180 countries and regions. We facilitate connections between local importers and overseas suppliers through sourcing trips and accreditation of new sources. To ensure supply resilience, we streamline accreditation processes and explore regional arrangements to mitigate disruptions. For example, during Brazil’s bird flu outbreak in May 2024, we continued importing poultry from unaffected areas, avoiding supply disruptions and price fluctuations. These efforts reflect our commitment to ensuring food security through local production, import diversification, and collaboration with industry and consumers. Together, we will continue to strengthen Singapore’s food resilience for the future. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3380/europe-leads-asia-accelerates-suzanne-mckenzie-on-global-push-for-recycled-jet-fuel.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3380/europe-leads-asia-accelerates-suzanne-mckenzie-on-global-push-for-recycled-jet-fuel.html Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:16:11 +0530 In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Suzanne McKenzie, Sales Director, Lifecycle Oils Ltd, UK, explains how Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) produced from used cooking oil goes through advanced filtration, hydrotreating, and hydrocracking before being blended to meet strict jet specifications—distinctly different from fossil fuels derived via crude oil distillation. She notes that second-generation SAF from waste streams can slash lifecycle emissions by up to 80 per cent versus fossil fuel, without competing with food crops or land. Mandates in the UK, EU and Asia are accelerating adoption, though scaling production and infrastructure remains a major challenge. Suzanne highlights constraints around finite UCO supply, price gaps, and rapidly growing SAF demand—forecast to reach 15 million Mt by 2030 versus ~1 million Mt today. Looking ahead, she sees diversification into algae oils, tall oil, cover crops and Power-to-Liquid e-fuels as essential to achieving aviation’s Net Zero ambitions. I. SAF Production & Environmental Impact From Fryer to Fuel: Could you walk us through the lifecycle of SAF made from used cooking oil, highlighting the key technological and operational steps that differentiate it from conventional jet fuel? First, we collect the used cooking oil (UCO) from across the food industry, including food manufacturers, quick service restaurants and food service providers, as well as from household waste sites around the UK. This is then transported to our processing plant in Wednesbury.We then filter the UCO to remove all contaminants and process it using a unique multi-stage filtration and settling process to turn it into a specification suitable for use as a feedstock for producing SAF, HVO, Biofuels and our patented LF100 biofuel. The pre-treated UCO is then hydrotreated – a process where hydrogen is used to remove the oxygen from the free fatty acids, converting the carbon bonds into long-chain hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons are then hydrocracked to break them down into shorter molecules through isomerisation, which is critical for creating a fuel with the right freezing point and combustion properties for use in jet engines. The resulting fuel is then blended with conventional jet fuel to the required level to meet to required specification for SAF. Conventional jet fuel is created by fractional distillation and cracking, where the oil is heated and separated into different fractions, including one that can be used as jet fuel.Sustainability Metrics: How does SAF made from waste streams like used cooking oil perform in terms of carbon intensity, lifecycle emissions reductions, and broader environmental benefits compared to traditional fossil jet fuels? The sustainability credentials of SAF depend heavily on the feedstock used to create it. First-generation SAF – made from virgin crops like palm oil or rapeseed oil – come with inherent trade-offs from a sustainability perspective. Growing feedstock crops for SAF can be carbon-intensive and are associated with deforestation, land conversion, biodiversity loss, and high water consumption. They require agricultural land, which means directly competing with the food chain for resources. Second-generation SAF, like UCO processed by Lifecycle Oils, offers substantial environmental advantages by avoiding these issues entirely. There’s no extra land required, and no additional resources required to grow new crops. It’s repurposing a waste stream, and one we have great access to as we’re partnered with 96% of household recycling centres across the UK. As a result of using previously waste materials, UCO-derived biofuels can slash lifecycle carbon footprints by an estimated 80 per cent when compared to conventional fuels, and 40 per cent when compared to first-generation biofuels.II. Industry Adoption & Market DynamicsAdoption Trends: How quickly are airlines and airports embracing SAF, and what patterns are you seeing in Europe versus other regions? Are current mandates and voluntary targets driving meaningful uptake? There is a clear trend – countries worldwide see SAF as the best way to cut aviation emissions in the mid-term.As a result, airlines and airports worldwide are steadily increasing their SAF use, with the SAF mandates driving much of the uptake – especially in Europe and the UK, where we already have a 2 per cent SAF mandate in place for 2025, which will rise to 6 per cent and 10 per cent respectively by 2030.Across the Asia-Pacific region, we’re also seeing new policies, targets and emerging targets on SAF. Japan is exploring a 10 per cent SAF mandate by 2030 for departing flights, and Singapore is introducing a 1 per cent SAF target for 2026, which could rise to 3-5 per cent by 2030. South Korea and India are both considering a 1 per cent target for 2027. In terms of voluntary uptake, we’re seeing commitments tied to net-zero pledges from airlines, but it’s the mandates that are likely to drive real change.Feasibility & Scalability: SAF adoption faces technical and logistical challenges. From your perspective, what are the main bottlenecks in scaling production, blending, and distribution for commercial aviation? One key challenge is bringing production capacity on board to meet demand! Current forecasts predict that by 2030, global demand for SAF will be around 15 million Mt, and by 2035, this looks set to reach 40 million Mt. In 2024, global SAF production was around 1 million Mt, with current predictions suggesting global capacity will only grow to around 18 million Mt by 2035. There’s a big gap!There are also challenges in developing the blending and depot infrastructure at major airports, so that the SAF can be integrated into existing supply chains.From a UCO perspective, the challenge is supply – UCO is a finite and increasingly in-demand resource for all kinds of biofuels. While there is room to scale, it’s not infinite, and will only ever form part of the SAF mix. The final challenge is price. SAF is currently more expensive than jet fuel – and significantly so! In a fuel-hungry industry where profit margins are tight, and are currently focused on securing the cheapest fuel possible, the market is naturally resistant to more expensive solutions, however much better for the planet. III. Policy & Regulatory LeversGovernment Role: How critical are policy incentives, mandates, and regulatory frameworks in accelerating SAF adoption? What works best: carbon pricing, blending obligations, or subsidies for feedstock collection? Blending mandates are already creating a guaranteed market for SAF and accelerating adoption worldwide. It seems likely these mandates will be the main drivers over the coming decade.Carbon pricing is an interesting prospect that could have a meaningful impact on the price difference between SAF (and especially UCO-derived SAF) and conventional jet fuel, which could make it more appealing to airlines.Tax subsidies definitely make a big difference – the US Sustainable Aviation Fuel tax credit directly reduces the final cost of SAF, making it more competitive and attractive to airlines. In the UK, there is talk of a revenue certainty mechanism, which could also stabilise costs and attract future investment into the SAF market.Lifecycle Oils collects UCO from takeaways, high-end restaurants, high street chains, industrial facilities and food manufacturers of all shapes and sizes, so naturally we’d love subsidies on collection – but given the rising demand and limits on supply for UCO globally, it seems unlikely that this would be introduced.Cross-Border Policy Alignment: Given aviation’s global nature, how do differing regulatory regimes in the EU, UK, and Asia impact the economics and deployment of SAF produced from recycled oils? The fuel markets are all connected, and there are so many different factors in play (tax credits, mandates, tariffs, lifecycle emissions criteria, etc.) across the globe that the picture becomes very complex regarding market demands and incentives to supply.In terms of the global UCO market, we’re already seeing some impact in terms of reduced overseas supply, as Asian countries increase biofuel blends and consider SAF mandates.Asia is a key source of UCO, but as Asian countries (e.g., Japan, India, Singapore) introduce their own SAF mandates, they will increasingly seek to utilise their domestic UCO supply. This will have a knock-on effect in Europe and potentially drive up prices as supply constraints come into play.IV. Economics & Supply Chain Cost and Competitiveness: SAF is often more expensive than conventional jet fuel. How do supply chain constraints—such as feedstock availability, collection logistics, and refinery scale—affect long-term pricing and commercial viability ?With oil prices depressed, and aviation fuel exempt from tax in many cases, gaining parity with jet fuel prices is a real challenge – especially if the projections are right, and future demand for SAF significantly outstrips supply. There is a chance that future carbon pricing, or the introduction of a jet fuel tax, could close this gap – but the commercial viability of SAF is primarily supported by mandates, and a global desire to decarbonise aviation and achieve ‘Jet Zero.’Investment & Industry Partnerships: What role do corporate offtake agreements, private investment, and airline collaborations play in scaling SAF production sustainably and profitably?Long-term corporate agreements help guarantee demand, which is essential for gaining finance for production projects and for sustainable profitability.Aligning with corporate sustainability objectives, like reducing Scope 3 emissions, can also support scaling SAF production. If decarbonising aviation is a real priority, then SAF is the most realistic and implementable solution we have. ‘Book and claim’ credits or premiums systems can be effective ways of subsidising SAF production, while helping corporates to fulfil sustainability ambitions. Global Potential: Used cooking oil is a finite resource. Beyond this feedstock, what other waste or renewable sources hold the most promise for SAF at scale, and how can Lifecycle Oils help lead that diversification ? At Lifecycle Oils, our focus is on UCO – it’s about utilising a waste product to create sustainable fuels as part of a more circular economy, and our mission is to continue to scale this model by engaging with companies across the food industry and beyond.Ultimately though, the supply is finite – and if we’re going to deliver SAF at scale, it will only be part of the solution, and to meet the mandate, we will need to increase the feedstocks used. In terms of more sustainable solutions, using oilseed cover crops is an option, and there is real potential in oils derived from algae – though this is still in the very early stages of development. Tall Oil is another good source of feedstock to produce fossil-free biofuel. It is crude tall oil (CTO) and a byproduct of the wood pulping process. This demonstrates a pathway for producing SAF from a renewable, forestry-based feedstock, which can reduce lifecycle emissions compared to traditional jet fuel.  Alternative fuel options and SAF alternatives like synthetic Power-to-Liquid (PtL) synthetic e-fuels, or even the introduction of hydrogen flight, could also be part of the long-term solution to decarbonisation. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3377/2030-vision-arya-ag-aims-for-worlds-most-climate-resilient-grain-network.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3377/2030-vision-arya-ag-aims-for-worlds-most-climate-resilient-grain-network.html Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:58:40 +0530 In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Shenoy Mathew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Arya.ag, highlights how its SmartAG Award 2025 is more than recognition—it is validation of a climate-resilient grain commerce model already operating at national scale. By embedding sustainability into everyday storage, finance, and trading systems, the company is delivering measurable climate gains and income stability to over 800,000 smallholder farmers across 425+ districts. Women-led Smart Farm Centres and technologies like the AryaQ AI grain quality device are transforming trust, transparency, and decision-making in rural markets. With patient, impact-aligned capital and global adaptation potential, Arya.ag is positioning itself at the nexus of profitability and planetary resilience. Looking ahead to 2030, the company envisions climate risk management and data-backed empowerment as built-in features of every grain transaction—setting a new benchmark for post-harvest systems globally. From Recognition to Scale: Arya.ag has been recognised with the SmartAG Award 2025 for embedding climate resilience into India’s grain commerce. Awards are accolades—but how does this recognition translate into real-world acceleration for farmers, investors, and the broader agri-value chain? The recognition affirms that climate resilience can be built into agricultural systems that already function at scale, without requiring parallel structures or new layers of complexity. What it brings is not just visibility, but validation of a model that integrates profitability, inclusion, and environmental responsibility into the everyday mechanics of post-harvest grain management. Arya.ag has focused on embedding sustainability into existing systems, ensuring that storage, finance, and market access deliver environmental returns as naturally as they deliver economic ones. Over the past year alone, our decentralised network helped avoid post-harvest loss of more than 210,320 metric tonnes of foodgrain. Preserving this grain prevented an estimated 233,603 tonnes of carbon emissions, conserved 91.4 billion litres of water, and eliminated the need for 16,826 tonnes of fertiliser. These outcomes are not incidental, they are a direct result of improving storage and market access for farmers across more than 425 districts. For farmers, this translates into fewer distress sales and greater flexibility in timing their transactions. For investors, it signals a scalable, data-driven model that aligns impact and return. And for the broader agri-value chain, it shows that climate responsiveness does not have to rely on specialised interventions, it can emerge through operational efficiency and deeper participation from the smallest actors in the system. The Smallholder Lens: India’s agricultural backbone remains smallholder farmers, many of them climate-vulnerable. How do Smart Farm Centres bridge the gap between hyperlocal realities—erratic rainfall, fragmented landholdings—and advanced technologies like AI, drones, and real-time weather advisories? Smallholder farming operates within constraints that are both structural and climatic. The Smart Farm Centres were designed to respond to these conditions by creating access to technology and information where they are needed most. Each centre serves as a rural hub that connects farmers to services such as soil testing, drone spraying, and hyperlocal weather forecasting. These services are not standalone activities; they function together to improve decision-making at every stage of the cropping cycle. For Instance In Bundelkhand, farmers have used weather data from these centres to plan their harvest windows and reduce exposure to untimely rainfall. In Sitapur, drone spraying has improved the precision of pesticide application, lowering costs and minimising environmental exposure. In districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, soil testing has helped farmers calibrate their fertiliser use more efficiently. The centres are operated by women from the same communities who are trained to deliver these services, which ensures trust, reliability, and continuity. This model allows climate-relevant tools to become part of everyday practice rather than occasional interventions. Tech as a Trust Builder: AryaQ’s AI-powered grain quality device brings radical transparency to procurement and pricing. In a market often plagued by mistrust and middlemen, how is technology reshaping the farmer–buyer relationship, and do you see this model becoming a new standard across emerging markets? Trust in agricultural markets has historically depended on physical inspection and subjective assessment. AryaQ introduces a data-driven approach to measuring grain quality that makes the process faster, more reliable, and easier to replicate across locations. The device uses computer vision to assess factors such as grain size, breakage, and the presence of fungal elements. The results are available instantly, even in areas without continuous connectivity, which makes it suitable for remote markets. As both sides have access to identical data, there is greater transparency in pricing and fewer disputes. This change strengthens relationships and encourages repeat transactions. Given its adaptability, AryaQ can be calibrated for a range of commodities and geographies, which makes it relevant beyond India’s borders. The Women-led Edge: The Smart Farm Centres are run by women Community Value Chain Resource Persons. Beyond inclusion, what structural advantages does a women-led model bring to grain commerce, and can this approach be scaled without diluting impact? The presence of women as operational leaders within Smart Farm Centres has added a layer of trust and continuity that is essential in rural systems. These women are drawn from the same localities they serve, which gives them a strong understanding of the agricultural calendar, the challenges of smallholder farming, and the patterns of local trade. Their involvement has led to greater participation from farmers and has improved the adoption of services related to quality assessment, sorting, and storage. In Maharashtra, women-led sourcing units have reduced produce rejection rates by almost 30 percent at the collection stage. This improvement directly affects farmer incomes and reduces post-harvest losses. To ensure that the model grows responsibly, Arya.ag invests in training and performance monitoring, with a focus on building long-term professional capacity. As the network expands, the objective is not only to increase numbers but also to preserve the quality and reliability that make this structure effective. Climate and Capital: You’ve positioned Arya.ag at the intersection of climate resilience and economic resilience. What kind of capital—impact, venture, institutional—is best aligned with scaling this model, and how do you balance profitability with sustainability when most agri-tech startups struggle to break even? Capital that understands the cycles and risks of agriculture is most suitable for models such as ours. Arya.ag’s operations are built on commercially viable services that reduce inefficiencies rather than depend on temporary funding. We manage close to seven million tonnes of agricultural produce through our decentralised network across more than 425 districts, which provides both reach and depth in understanding rural markets. The capital that aligns with this vision is patient and impact-oriented but also disciplined about financial performance. Investors such as responsAbility and the US International Development Finance Corporation have supported Arya.ag because they recognise that environmental benefits and economic efficiency emerge together when systems are designed well. The balance between sustainability and profitability is achieved by ensuring that each intervention, whether in storage, finance, or quality assessment creates measurable value for every participant in the value chain. Global Relevance: With 11,000 digitised warehouses and a network spanning 800,000 farmers, Arya.ag is already India’s largest integrated grain commerce platform. How transferable is your Smart Farm Centre model to Africa, Southeast Asia, or Latin America, where climate shocks and smallholder fragmentation mirror India’s challenges? The fundamental issues faced by smallholders in India are similar to those observed in several other parts of the world. Limited storage near farms, inconsistent quality standards, and poor access to working capital are common constraints. The Smart Farm Centre model is structured to be modular so that it can adapt to different agricultural and climatic contexts. Each component such as soil testing, digital quality assessment, or credit linkage can be introduced independently and scaled based on demand and infrastructure. In collaboration with partners in East Africa, we are exploring ways to adapt this model to local crops and climatic conditions. The ability to train community-based facilitators and the flexibility of tools like AryaQ make replication feasible. However, success depends on tailoring delivery mechanisms to local institutions and farmer networks, rather than exporting the Indian experience directly. The aim is to share knowledge and process design while allowing each geography to build its own form of resilience. The Long View: If we fast-forward to 2030, what does success look like for Arya.ag? Is it about doubling farmer incomes, embedding climate risk management into every transaction, or becoming a blueprint for grain systems transformation globally? By 2030, success for Arya.ag would be defined by the strength and stability of the systems that smallholders rely on after harvest. It would mean that every farmer using our platform can store their produce safely, understand its quality, access credit based on that stored value, and sell it when conditions are favourable. These capabilities lead to income stability and reduced exposure to climate and market shocks. At present, Arya.ag serves more than 800,000 farmers through a network of 11,000 digitised warehouses and over 1,600 Farmer Producer Organisations. Over the next five years, our focus is on deepening these relationships and embedding data-backed transparency across every transaction. The goal is not to create a blueprint for others to copy but to demonstrate that a balanced system, one that values both livelihoods and resources can endure and grow in the face of climate uncertainty. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3367/mda-launches-new-agri-works-grant-program.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3367/mda-launches-new-agri-works-grant-program.html Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:31:50 +0530 The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Works Grant Program. This new grant opportunity supports organizations and institutions that help strengthen Minnesota agriculture, horticulture, and rural communities through development, education, research, or marketing. The MDA expects to award between five and 15 grants totaling about $485,625 through a competitive review process. Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $75,000 and require a 50% match from the grantee. Grantees must be in good standing with the State of Minnesota and may choose to apply in collaboration with other organizations. This grant program will prioritize legislatively created entities and organizations and projects that are not eligible for other MDA grant opportunities. “The AGRI Works Grant will help fund innovative projects that advance Minnesota agriculture through a thoughtful and transparent review process,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We’re excited to see how partners across the state use this funding to support farmers and rural communities. I want to thank the state legislature for funding this program and for their continued commitment to investing in our state’s agricultural economy.” Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, employee salaries and fringe benefits, contracted services, and equipment and supplies necessary to complete project objectives. Full grant eligibility requirements and application details are available on the AGRI Works Grant webpage. Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. CT on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by mid-February 2026. Funding for the AGRI Works Grant is made available through the MDA’s AGRI Program, which administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout Minnesota to advance the state’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3355/mandala-capital-secures-green-climate-fund-to-scale-climate-adaptation-and-transform-food-systems-in-south-and-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3355/mandala-capital-secures-green-climate-fund-to-scale-climate-adaptation-and-transform-food-systems-in-south-and-southeast-asia.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:20:24 +0530 Bridging the Investment Gap in Agriculture Mandala Capital, a private equity fund investing in the agriculture and food sectors across South and Southeast Asia, announced that the Green Climate Fund ("GCF") has officially approved the Mandala Capital SSEA Food Fund. GCF committed USD 36 million as an anchor investor in the USD 250 million blended finance fund aimed at accelerating climate adaptation across the region's agrifood systems. Agriculture and food systems across South and Southeast Asia face a significant financing gap, despite their vital role in regional livelihoods and global food security. Agriculture contributes to 13% of regional GDP and employs over one-third of the population, yet investment in climate-resilient agriculture remains insufficient. At the same time, climate change is expected to reduce crop yields by 10–20% in the coming decades, threatening the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. "For years, we've heard that private finance is hard to mobilize for climate adaptation, today, Mandala Capital and the GCF are proving otherwise. Through the SSEA Food Fund, concessional capital from GCF is unlocking, through Mandala, millions in private investment that will strengthen the resilience of thousands rural households across three Southeast Asian countries." said Demetrio Innocenti, Climate and Gender Specialist at Mandala Capital. Driving Climate Resilience in Agriculture and Food Systems Through GCF's commitment, Mandala Capital will mobilize additional private investment to scale climate adaptation solutions and strengthen value chains that support over 12 million people across South and Southeast Asia. "This partnership demonstrates how blended finance can bring the private sector to the forefront of climate action, mobilizing investments that strengthen food security and build climate resilience across the Philippines and the region. The Philippines' NDA welcomes Mandala Capital's commitment to channel a portion of the fund's investment into local initiatives, supporting innovative SMEs that can deliver real, scalable impact. This initiative underscores how private capital can be effectively leveraged to accelerate resilience and transformation in the agrifood sector." Said Mr. Joven Balbosa Undersecretary, International Finance Group, Philippines NDA. Mandala Capital SSEA Food Programme will invest in profitable, scalable companies that are driving the shift toward more affordable, accessible, and climate-resilient food system. Its primary climate rationale addresses the region-specific challenges like food wastage, price surges, malnutrition, low agricultural productivity and escalating protein demands. "With 15 years of experience, a team based in South and Southeast Asia, strong strategic partnerships, and a deal pipeline built through long-standing relationships, Mandala Capital is well positioned to deliver strong financial return while driving climate resilience.  The GCF investment reinforces the climate ambition and provides the blended finance structure needed to bring in additional private capital and scale transformative adaptation solutions across the region in the agriculture and food sector." said Uday Garg, Founder and Managing Partner at Mandala Capital Mandala brings a proven track record, having successfully exited 80% of its investments across its first two funds, demonstrating the team's ability to execute and deliver value for investors. Partnering for Scalable Impact "The Mandala Capital SSEA Food Programme is strongly aligned with GCF's strategy. It will strengthen food and income security by investing in small and medium enterprises that support climate-resilient agriculture across Southeast Asia. The blended finance structure will mobilize private capital into adaptation-focused investments via a sustainable financing model which will build long-term resilience", said Kavita Sinha, Director of the Green Climate Fund's Department of the Private Sector Facility. With GCF's anchor commitment, Mandala Capital is now raising its $250 million blended finance fund to scale climate adaptation solutions and build more resilient food systems. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3335/americas-next-frontier-unlocking-africas-3-4t-agribusiness-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3335/americas-next-frontier-unlocking-africas-3-4t-agribusiness-market.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:31:04 +0530 In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Brent Boydston, Founder, Ag Center Solutions outlined how U.S. agribusiness can seize Africa’s $3.4 trillion AfCFTA opportunity. Feed grains, soy, and DDGS are prime entry points, but success hinges on relationship-driven partnerships, not just transactions. He stressed the need for investments in smallholder modernization, mechanization, and digital agtech to boost productivity and resilience. Boydston also called for next-generation trade frameworks that combine IP protection, technology transfer, and carbon-credit access. Africa’s low-input, biodiversity-aligned farming models, he noted, offer critical lessons for sustainable growth. Strategic collaboration, he concluded, can transform Africa into a hub for high-value food production and U.S.–Africa agricultural synergy. I. Market Potential & Geopolitics Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a $3.4 trillion market. From your perspective, what segments of agribusiness—inputs, processing, logistics, retail—are most attractive for U.S. companies to enter first? From my perspective, feed grains such as corn, sorghum, DDGS from ethanol production, soybeans, and soybean meal represent the most attractive first entry points into African markets. Feed demand for the continent’s expanding poultry and livestock industries continues to rise, and population growth will only intensify the need for affordable protein. Market entry will not be without challenges, differing regulatory requirements across the continent will need to be navigated, but these can be addressed through engagement and partnership. The U.S. is late to Africa compared to China, Brazil, and increasingly India. What does America need to do differently to avoid being boxed out of Africa’s agricultural future ? U.S. businesses need to recognize and seize the opportunities emerging in Africa. Companies must understand that African nations and their people want to partner with American firms, but success requires relationship building rather than transactional thinking. Business in Africa is fundamentally relationship-based. U.S. firms must invest in learning the cultures of the countries where they operate, which is entirely achievable with the right guidance. They should also collaborate with established U.S. government entities active in Africa such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) and with cooperators like the U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council and the United Soybean Export Council. Both have strong local networks across the continent and can play a key role in facilitating market entry and building lasting partnerships. II. Investment & Capital Flows African agriculture still receives less than 5 per cent of total FDI inflows. Where can U.S. venture capital and private equity make the most immediate impact—financing smallholder resilience, scaling agtech, or building midstream infrastructure? Smallholder resilience, agtech scale-up, and midstream infrastructure are all vital investment avenues, but one area often overlooked is agricultural education paired with modernization. Farming practices in many African regions lag for several reasons, limited access to capital, weak risk-management tools, insufficient training in modern methods, and regulatory systems that are sometimes influenced by outside pressures rather than science. Take genetically modified organisms (GMOs), for example. Since their adoption in the U.S. in the mid-1990s, GMO crops have helped drive a transition from heavy tillage to minimum- or no-till systems, conserving soil and reducing input use. Yet in several African nations, bans on GMO seed cultivation or import prevent farmers from accessing these technologies and the benefits they bring in pest resistance, yield improvement, and soil protection. Investment that supports education, modernization, and science-based regulation would have immediate and lasting impact. III. Supply Chains & Infrastructure Africa faces a paradox: it holds 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land but imports $75 billion in food annually. Where can U.S. companies intervene most effectively—fertiliser supply, mechanisation, grain storage, cold chain? U.S. companies can make an immediate difference by strengthening fertilizer supply chains, investing in farm mechanization services, and developing modern grain-storage and cold-chain infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses. These interventions not only increase productivity but also improve food security and the profitability of local producers. With the U.S. pushing for “friend-shoring” and resilient supply chains, can Africa realistically become a hub for U.S. agri-commodity processing and re-export into global markets? Africa is uniquely positioned to become an exporter of food and processed agricultural products. Large-scale production for the EU already makes Europe one of Africa’s top export destinations, while trade ties with India and other Asian markets continue to deepen. With a growing egg and broiler industry, African nations have the opportunity to expand value-added food production while importing feed grains from the United States. When paired with education and technology transfer, currently uncultivated lands could be brought into sustainable production allowing Africa to export higher-value commodities to its key markets. IV. Technology & Innovation Digital platforms in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa are redefining input distribution and farmer credit. Where can U.S. tech giants and agri-startups collaborate to leapfrog Africa into next-generation farming ecosystems? Technology and innovation go hand in hand, and Africa is poised to lead in digital agriculture. Internet access has expanded rapidly, a 115 per cent increase in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2016 and 2022, and this connectivity creates opportunities for improved efficiency and integration with global market. U.S. agri-tech startups should look to Africa not only as a market but as a collaborative partner for developing scalable digital solutions. Whether in AI-driven crop consulting, digital finance platforms, or precision-farming applications, the continent’s young, tech-savvy population offers fertile ground for next-generation agricultural innovation. V. Policy & Trade Architecture AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) is set to expire in 2025. What kind of next-generation U.S.–Africa trade framework would best unlock agribusiness potential? While it remains uncertain whether the U.S. Congress or Administration will renew or replace AGOA, that uncertainty will likely drive some African nations to pursue bilateral trade agreements with the United States or to pivot toward other markets. Fortunately, a foundation already exists: the U.S. has a full free-trade agreement (FTA) with Morocco; a Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the East African Community (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan); and multiple other TIFAs and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) across the continent. These frameworks provide blueprints for deeper engagement between African nations and the United States. They can also help offset the loss of AGOA by encouraging commercial linkages between countries that already have agreements with the U.S. and those that do not. Are tariff concessions and export incentives enough—or do we need more holistic agreements covering knowledge transfer, IP, and carbon credits for regenerative farming? More comprehensive agreements are needed beyond tariff concessions or export incentives. Global integration requires frameworks that protect intellectual property and facilitate technology exchange while ensuring fair access to emerging markets like carbon credits. For example, to receive carbon credits, farmers must conduct soil sampling and meet strict verification requirements, activities that generate valuable data. That data should remain the property of the farmers who create it, reflecting their knowledge and stewardship. At the same time, they need access to improved tools, such as corn seed varieties designed for maximum carbon sequestration. Protecting the intellectual property behind those seeds and precision-agriculture systems is vital. Formal trade agreements can safeguard both farmers’ rights and corporate innovation, maximizing benefits for all parties. VI. Sustainability & Climate Diplomacy What lessons can Africa teach the U.S. about low-input, biodiversity-aligned farming models—and how can that shape bilateral partnerships? Though the U.S. and African farm sectors differ in scale and technology, they share a common goal: producing food sustainably for a growing population. Increasingly, African nations are turning to the United States for guidance on boosting production while conserving natural resources. A good example is the U.S.-based consulting company Sustainable Agricultural Solutions for Africa, which has worked in Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya to transfer U.S. know-how on sustainable practices. These collaborations demonstrate a strong mutual interest in sharing best practices and are critical to shaping future bilateral partnerships. They provide tangible proof that sustainability can be achieved through cooperation and knowledge exchange on both sides of the Atlantic. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3329/malaysia-allocates-rm6-87b-to-boost-food-supply-farm-productivity.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3329/malaysia-allocates-rm6-87b-to-boost-food-supply-farm-productivity.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:24:11 +0530 KPKM reinforces goals of the National Agro-Food Policy 2021-2030 The allocation of RM6.87 billion to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) reflects the MADANI Government’s commitment to ensure the adequacy and security of the country’s food supply as well as to increase the productivity of the agro-food sector for the well-being of the people. Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the seven per cent increase compared to RM6.42 billion in 2025, will continue to strengthen the country’s food security in line with the goals of the National Agro-Food Policy 2021-2030 (DAN 2.0). “KPKM will continue to drive the agro-food sector in line with DAN 2.0 which focuses on the modernisation and development of the agro-food sector to increase the country’s food security. “This also involves the sustainability of agricultural activities and strengthening agricultural infrastructure as well as safeguarding the welfare of target groups,” he said in a statement today. Mohamad said KPKM is committed to implementing the 2026 Budget initiatives efficiently and based on good governance, to ensure that all target groups under the ministry can benefit from the announcement. Among the main food security initiatives announced in Budget 2026 include an allocation of RM300 million to establish agricultural project collaborations with state governments to benefit from land use, as well as RM55 million to support local fruit entrepreneurs through crop incentives and farm infrastructure. For the rice farmers, Mohamad said overall, each rice farmer is estimated to receive an incentive of RM4,300 per hectare per season in 2026 compared to RM3,790 per hectare per season previously. He said RM2.62 billion has been provided for various subsidies and incentives for farmers such as padi price subsidies, padi crop subsidies, fertilizer subsidies, seed subsidies and padi production incentives. Mohamad said the government also provided catch incentives of RM160 million, fishermen’s living allowance of up to RM300 per month, subsidised diesel maintained at RM1.65 per litre specifically for fishermen and 380 fishermen’s houses will be renovated or newly built with an allocation of RM10 million. In addition, he said RM20 million has been provided to upgrade vessels to reduce dependence on foreign captains and crews and replace Zone B trawlers and two-boat kenka trawlers to reduce unsustainable vessels ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3324/swiss-based-ecorobotix-secures-150m-to-accelerate-ai-powered-plant-by-plant-care.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3324/swiss-based-ecorobotix-secures-150m-to-accelerate-ai-powered-plant-by-plant-care.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:47:51 +0530  The funding aims to accelerate innovation, expand into new crop types, broaden company’s product range, and bring advanced crop algorithms to market faster.  Ecorobotix, the global leader in AI-powered Ultra-High Precision (UHP) spraying, is shaping the future of sustainable agriculture with innovations that enhance crop health and efficiency. Building on rapid growth, proven field results, and a strong financial foundation—with $150 million raised in Series C ($45m, 2024) and Series D ($105m, 2025)—the company will showcase its latest advancements at Agritechnica this November in Hanover. Ecorobotix is a Swiss B Corporation® certified company whose mission is to transform agriculture through artificial intelligence and its exclusive Plant-by-Plant™ technology.At the core of Ecorobotix’s momentum is its Plant-by-Plant™ AI technology, capable of distinguishing and treating each individual plant with unmatched precision, using a spray footprint of just a few centimetres. This approach reduces the use of pesticides and other crop protection products by up to 95 per cent while maintaining treatment effectiveness. For growers, the benefits include safe use of non-selective products, lower input costs, compliance with stricter regulations, and higher yields. These advances are made possible thanks to the company’s strong backing from global investors. The Series D round was led by Highland Europe, one of the continent’s top venture capital funds, with ECBF and McWin Capital Partners (via McWin Food Tech Fund) joining as new investors. "These latest investment rounds have allowed us to accelerate innovation, expand into new crop types, broaden our product range, and bring advanced crop algorithms to market faster,” said Ecorobotix CEO Dominique Mégret. “Thanks to the trust of our investors, we are scaling a proven solution to help deliver better-quality food for the world." Highland Europe invests in exceptional growth-stage technology and consumer companies. Formally launched in 2012, Highland Europe has raised over €2.75 billion. Highland’s collective history of investments across the US, Europe and China includes 45+ IPOs, 150+ M&A exits and 40 billion-dollar-plus companies. The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is the leading venture capital fund dedicated to accelerating Europe’s transition to a sustainable, circular bioeconomy. With €300 million under management, ECBF invests in growth-stage companies. As an Article 9 SFDR fund, ECBF combines rigorous ESG standards with deep industry expertise to scale impactful innovations. McWin Capital Partners (“McWin”) is a specialist private equity and venture capital firm, dedicated to the food ecosystem. With deep industry expertise across three business segments; Food Tech, Foodservice and Restaurants, McWin’s purpose is to lead the food industry through positive change and create value on behalf of investors and portfolio companies of the McWin Funds by leveraging its scale, network and experience to deliver outstanding returns. Ecorobotix also acknowledges the vital support of long-term partners such as 4FOX Ventures, AQTON, BASF Venture Capital, Capagro, Cibus Capital, Flexstone Partners, Fondation Domaine de Villette, Meritech, Stellar Impact, Swisscanto, Swisscom Ventures and Yara Growth Ventures. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3317/philippine-invest-p13-million-on-a-flagship-program-to-boost-agricultural-and-fishery-sectors.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3317/philippine-invest-p13-million-on-a-flagship-program-to-boost-agricultural-and-fishery-sectors.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:05:18 +0530 Flagship food program–“P20 Benteng Bigas , Meron Na!” Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. led the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) visit to Batanes, one of the northernmost provinces of the Philippines, to roll out critical support for the local farming and fishing communities. The visit marked the official launch of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship food program–“P20 Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”–in the province, along with the distribution of over P13 million worth of agricultural and fisheries interventions aimed at boosting production and strengthening local livelihoods. “The P20 Rice Project is proof of the President’s compassion for every Filipino family. This is not just about rice. It is about dignity, equality, and hope for every Filipino family—no matter how far they are." said Secretary Tiu Laurel. Under the program, senior citizens, solo parents, PWDs, 4Ps households, minimum wage earners, farmers, fisherfolk, and transport workers can purchase high-quality rice at ₱20 per kilo. Batanes joins over 350 rollout sites nationwide. In addition to the rice initiative, the DA provided motorized fishing boats, chest freezers, chilling tanks, and various farming tools and inputs to 374 beneficiaries. The DA also turned over the inaugural Soil Fertility Map of Batanes—a key tool for science-based planning that identifies nutrient gaps like phosphorus and potassium, helping guide appropriate fertilizer and land-use strategies to improve yield and soil health. Secretary Tiu Laurel recognized the province’s unique agricultural challenges, such as limited irrigation and climate-related constraints. “We know Batanes faces unique challenges. But we also know that the Ivatans are resilient, hardworking, and have hearts willing to give their all for their province. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3312/spotify-for-kitchens-daniel-baven-on-future-of-digital-food-hubs.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3312/spotify-for-kitchens-daniel-baven-on-future-of-digital-food-hubs.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:08:23 +0530 In an exclusive AgroSpectrum and NUFFOODS Spectrum Asia interview, Daniel Baven, CEO and Co-founder of Noahs, unveils how his company is turning everyday convenience stores into digital food hubs — the new crossroads of food, tech, and community. With its plug-and-play platform, Noahs lets retailers “stream” culinary brands like Spotify streams music, giving chefs global reach and consumers fresh, data-driven dining experiences on demand. The results speak volumes — Q8 stations powered by Noahs saw food sales surge 374 per cent and basket sizes climb 228 per cent. Unlike ghost kitchens or delivery aggregators, Noahs taps into existing retail kitchens, transforming them into profitable, AI-ready food networks overnight. Baven predicts that by 2030, food will replace fuel as the heartbeat of convenience retail — Noahs will be the invisible engine powering that revolution. Section I: Vision & Market Disruption Reimagining C-Stores: What inspired you to launch Noahs, and why is now the inflection point for reinventing convenience retail? The spark for Noahs came from watching how every major content industry—music, film, travel—has gone through its streaming revolution. Food hasn’t. Yet we have millions of kitchens sitting in prime retail locations, underutilized and disconnected from the digital economy. We saw an opportunity to turn those kitchens into digital food hubs. The real inflection point is convergence: consumers expect convenience, platforms demand supply, and retailers need new revenue streams to replace declining categories like tobacco and fuel. Convenience stores are sitting on the infrastructure of the future—they just need the operating system. That’s what Noahs provides. Digital-First Food Revolution: With the C-store market set to surpass $1T by 2029, how do you see technology reshaping the future of food retail? We’re standing on the edge of a complete reset. In five years, most people won’t cook at home the way they do today. It will simply make more sense to tap into a network of nearby retailers streaming great food, made fresh, faster, and cheaper than a home kitchen could ever compete with. Convenience stores and supermarkets are sitting on the most valuable real estate of the future — the crossroads of local communities. When those spaces go digital, they’ll stop being “shops” and start becoming marketplace hubs for food, experiences, and daily life. Technology is the enabler, but the change is cultural. It’s about food creators having a new stage, communities having new choices, and retailers becoming the backbone of the next food economy. Noahs was built exactly for that — to power this transformation and give retailers the tools to move from analogue to intelligent, from transactional to experiential. What’s coming is bigger than food tech. It’s a reinvention of how food exists in society. Section II: The Noahs Model – Technology + Brand + Kitchen Plug-and-Play Platform: Your tech platform can digitize a store with just a Wi-Fi connection. What makes this solution scalable across global chains with different IT maturity levels? The secret is simplicity. Most retailers are trapped in heavy legacy systems that make every new integration a nightmare. We flipped that logic. Noahs runs as a layer on top of existing infrastructure, connecting to what’s already there instead of trying to replace it. That means a store can go live in hours — not months — with zero capex and no new labor. The system plugs into delivery aggregators, POS systems, kitchen screens, and loyalty tools. The moment it connects to Wi-Fi, the store becomes part of a digital network that can sell, operate, and analyze in real time. It’s built for diversity. Whether it’s a gas station in Denmark, a supermarket in Belgium, or a convenience store in the Philippines, the platform automatically adapts to local tech setups and market conditions. That’s why it scales — because it doesn’t force uniformity, it enables it. Noahs is not just a tool; it’s a translator between the analogue world and the digital food economy. It’s what the retailers has been looking for, but it didn’t exist until now. Spotify for Kitchens: You’ve called Noahs’ Brand Platform a “Spotify for Kitchens,” letting retailers stream proven brands and menus directly into their stores. How do you curate the catalogue, and what data drives menu updates? We’re building a world where food moves like music. In the same way streaming opened a global stage for artists, we believe culinary creators will soon reach audiences anywhere — not through physical expansion, but through digital distribution. A chef in Copenhagen could see their tacos sold in Dubai the same week. That’s the future we’re shaping with Noahs. Our brand platform is the foundation for that future. It lets retailers activate proven food concepts directly into their stores, adapting to local tastes and neighborhoods instead of being locked into a single global brand deal. That flexibility is what the industry has been missing — agility, creativity, and cultural relevance. This shift also enables a complete rework of the food supply chain — simplifying how ingredients, inventory, and production flow through the system. It creates a feedback loop between real-time demand and supply, throttling production, reducing waste, and preparing the industry to fully harness AI. We’re still early in this journey, but the vision is clear: menus that evolve like playlists, brands that scale without borders, and a supply chain that finally moves as intelligently as the data behind it. For culinary entrepreneurs, it’s a new way to monetize creativity. For retailers, it’s the chance to become curators of food culture — not just sellers of products. That’s what “Spotify for Kitchens” really means: a living, breathing ecosystem where food, data, and creativity stream together. Modular Smart Kitchens: Your kitchens range from 1 to 20 m². How do you ensure operational efficiency, quality control, and food safety across distributed sites? The next decade will blur the line between retail and hospitality. We believe the world’s biggest food operators won’t be restaurant chains — they’ll be retailers. To make that leap, retailers will recruit from the culinary world, bringing in chefs, kitchen managers, and operational talent who can run hospitality at scale. What used to be a store will evolve into a network of kitchens, each designed for efficiency, consistency, and speed — powered by technology, not tradition. Noahs is the platform that enables this transformation. We don’t operate the kitchens — we power them. Our system acts as the operating layer that keeps every recipe, process, and temperature consistent across hundreds of locations. Retailers become the operators; Noahs becomes their digital backbone. On the hardware side, we’ve developed a full suite of modular kitchens — from compact 1 m² single-brand setups to 20 m² multi-brand environments for service stations, food courts, and supermarket delis. These units are engineered for throughput, safety, and profitability, with built-in monitoring and data loops that ensure every kitchen runs to the same standard. We also anticipate a wave of cross-company innovation in this space — robotics, automated production, drone delivery, and robotaxis changing the future states of the hardware component. Restaurant kitchens, as we know them today, simply can’t compete with that model. A Noahs-powered multi-brand kitchen can serve multiple food concepts with a fraction of the space, labor, and cost — while maintaining higher quality and consistency. That’s the future we see unfolding. Section III: Business Impact & Results Q8 Case Study: The Q8 transformation saw food sales jump 374 per cent and basket size rise 228 per cent. Which parts of the Noahs model (tech, brands, kitchens) drove the biggest lift? Those numbers from Q8 aren’t isolated results — they’re a preview of what happens when retail locations evolve through Noahs’ three-layer model. Every site that connects our technology platform, brand platform, and modular kitchens can experience a similar transformation. The tech layer creates instant digital access and operational visibility. The brand layer adds proven food concepts that attract new customers and expand sales channels. And the kitchen layer converts that demand into consistent, scalable output with an engine fit for the purpose. In the quoted Q8 case, all three layers came together at once — which is why the impact was so dramatic. But in most rollouts, we see a natural progression: first digitalize existing shop catalogues, then layer in easy-to-operate brands suited to the current store format, and finally scale through modular smart-kitchens and more advanced brand concepts. Each layer amplifies the next. What Q8 showed is that this isn’t theory — it’s the future playbook for every retailer. Service stations, supermarkets, and convenience stores can all become high-performing food hubs simply by activating the system step by step. The model works anywhere, because it’s built for the way people live now — connected, on-demand, and expecting quality food wherever they are. ROI & Adoption Curve: How quickly can retailers expect payback when adopting Noahs, and how do you help de-risk the investment decision? The short answer: fast. Because Noahs requires no upfront investment in new labor or capex, most retailers see positive returns within the first few months of activation. The payback curve depends on the depth of adoption — tech alone delivers immediate efficiency and access to new revenue channels, while layering in brands and kitchens compounds the effect. But beyond ROI, what really de-risks adoption is our model itself. We don’t ask retailers to change who they are — we enhance what’s already there. Noahs plugs into existing infrastructure and workflows, building value on top of current systems instead of replacing them. We also start small. A single pilot location can validate the impact before scaling to dozens or hundreds. The data from those first sites creates a clear business case — not projections, but proof. Retailers everywhere are under pressure to reinvent fast, but the risk tolerance is low. Our approach makes innovation incremental, measurable, and cash-positive from day one. That’s why Noahs scales — it rewards courage without demanding blind faith. Section IV: Competitive Landscape & Future of Food-Tech Standing Out in a Crowded Space: How does Noahs differentiate from ghost kitchens, Q-commerce players, and aggregator-led solutions? Ghost kitchens and Q-commerce were great experiments — but they’re built on isolated infrastructure. Each new location means new costs, new staff, and new risk. Aggregators, on the other hand, built digital demand but not digital supply — they own the customers, not the kitchens. Noahs connects the dots. We’re not building more kitchens; we’re activating the millions that already exist inside retailers. Instead of competing with delivery platforms, we empower retailers to integrate directly with them — turning stores into digital food hubs that can sell across every channel instantly. Where ghost kitchens chase scale through real estate, Noahs achieves it through connectivity. Where Q-commerce promises speed, we deliver sustainability — a model that actually works economically for both retailers and creators. Most importantly, we’re not just solving delivery — we’re reinventing food infrastructure. We give retailers the OS, brands, and hardware they need to own their role in the digital food economy. The future of food won’t belong to aggregators or ghost kitchens — it’ll belong to the platforms that make everyone else scalable. That’s where Noahs sits. 2025 Trends: What’s next for food-tech—robotic kitchens, AI menu personalization, functional food boom? Which of these will most affect the C-store ecosystem? The short answer? Noahs. Beyond that, it’s too early to expect any real leapfrogs in robotics. The robotics we see today are impressive, but they’re trapped between eras — built for a world that’s already shifting beneath them. The real step change will come when humanoid robots, like the ones Tesla and Figure are developing, can integrate naturally into existing operations. That’s a 2030 story, not 2025. The real 2025 trend in food will be the convergence of retailers into food — moving away from being simple convenience hubs to becoming food operators in their own right. That shift will ignite the most dramatic transformation the industry has seen in decades. AI will play a major role, but not yet in the way most imagine. Everyone’s talking about AI, but its real power depends on something far more fundamental: digitization. That’s what Noahs is building — the digital foundation that makes the intelligent food economy possible. Section V: Scaling & Strategy Geographic Expansion: Which regions outside Denmark and Thailand are next on your radar—and what makes a market “Noahs-ready”? Officially, we’re now expanding in 4 countries - Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Ireland. Within 2026, we expect to announce at least ten more countries across three continents joining the Noahs platform. We are currently preparing the best we can to meet the increasing demand for our solution. A market becomes “Noahs-ready” when retailers recognize that the old model no longer works — when rising costs, labor shortages, and changing customer behavior force a rethink of what retail really is. Europe is leading that shift. High operational costs and rapid transformation are pushing retailers to act faster than ever, and we’re positioned to help them do it in a scalable, low-risk way. Being Noahs-ready isn’t only about geography and necessity — it’s also about mindset. The retailers who will win this decade are the ones willing to reimagine themselves as food operators. That’s where our platform fits in: as the bridge between today’s analogue retail world and tomorrow’s fast paced food economy. Capital & Investors: Are you seeking growth capital, and if so, what kind of investors (VC, strategic, corporate) best align with your vision? We are currently finalizing our latest seed round and are well-capitalized for the current growth phase. Our next major raise — a Series A — is planned for 2026, and preparations are already underway. Right now, our focus is execution and scale. That said, we’re always open to conversations with investors who see what we see — those who understand that the future of food isn’t about building more restaurants, but about enabling the platforms that connect them. The best fit for us are partners who bring more than capital — those who share the vision of redefining food infrastructure globally and can accelerate that journey through strategic reach, technology, or market access. Vision 2030: Paint us a picture: what does a Noahs-enabled convenience store look like in 2030, and what share of its revenue will come from food vs. fuel? By 2030, the traditional service station will be unrecognizable. The era of fuel as the defining anchor is ending — what comes next will be built around food, experiences, and premium retail. We’re already seeing early signs of that leapfrog. Elon Musk’s new Tesla Diner is a perfect example — a glimpse of how technology, design, and hospitality can fuse into something people actually want to visit. That’s what excites me: not a finished blueprint, but the open canvas ahead. I prefer not to lock in a final vision. The real innovation will come from collaboration — from working with retailers, chefs, designers, and local communities to build places that fit their rhythm. Some will focus on food and digital ordering, others on community spaces or hybrid retail experiences. The beauty is that the platform allows for all of it. What I do know is that the transformation is imminent, and food will be the catalyst that starts it. Once retailers take that step, everything else follows — design, operations, social experiences, even how we define “convenience.” Over time, Noahs will simply become part of that ecosystem — the invisible layer powering whatever comes next. The real story won’t be about us. It’ll be about how retailers use this opportunity to reinvent what it means to serve their communities. ---- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3302/australia-supports-vnd35-billion-to-implement-vietgap-value-chain-monitoring-project-for-northwestern-fruit-trees.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3302/australia-supports-vnd35-billion-to-implement-vietgap-value-chain-monitoring-project-for-northwestern-fruit-trees.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 11:22:10 +0530 The project supports the Crop Development Strategy to 2030, Vision 2050, the Project on Developing Key Fruit Trees to 2025 and 2030, and directly supports Son La Provincial Planning from 2021-2030 Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Environment coordinated with the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has launched the Project “Digital monitoring of VietGAP compliance in the fruit value chain of smallholder farmers in the Northwest for high-quality domestic markets and potential export markets.” (Project AGB/2022/114) The project is funded by the Australian Government, with a total value of 2.1 million Australian dollars (about 35 billion VND), the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute (FAVRI), the Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute and the Vietnam National Academy of Agriculture and the Australian Institute for Applied Crop Research (AHR) jointly implement the project. The project is implemented to implement the Crop Development Strategy to 2030, vision 2050, the Project on developing key fruit trees to 2025 and 2030, and directly support the Son La Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030. Monica Finlayson - Agricultural Counselor, Australian Embassy said that through the project, the Australian Government will support Vietnamese farmers to have more access to digital tools, promote production according to VietGAP standards and expand export markets. This is also an opportunity for both sides to share experiences in the agricultural sector. Pham Ngoc Mau - Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), emphasized that the project is the result of concretizing the direction of science and technology cooperation between Vietnam and Australia. He said that the project idea was formed from bilateral policy dialogues in Sydney, and at the same time reflects a new development in the cooperative relationship when the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding, agreeing to change the approach and implementation method. Project AGB/2022/114 is expected to create a pioneering VietGAP digital monitoring model. The project will focus on integrating digital systems with management agencies and production units, providing technical training to farmers, and encouraging the application of GPS and other digital tools to monitor the entire value chain. In particular, promoting the digital transformation process in the value chain through the RAT (Real-time Audit and Traceability) digital monitoring system. This system allows for strict control from farmers, cooperatives, businesses to the market, helping consumers check the origin of products via smartphones and QR codes. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3282/turning-climate-risk-into-opportunity-dr-godefroy-grosjean-and-ena-derenoncourt-on-ethiopias-green-finance-revolution.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3282/turning-climate-risk-into-opportunity-dr-godefroy-grosjean-and-ena-derenoncourt-on-ethiopias-green-finance-revolution.html Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:48:27 +0530 In this exclusive Agrospectrum interview, Dr. Godefroy Grosjean, Co-lead of CGIAR’s Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF), and Ena Derenoncourt, Senior Officer at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and ACT-H Project Lead, share how climate-aligned finance is reshaping Ethiopia’s agricultural landscape. They highlight  how the ACT-H initiative, backed by the Gates Foundation, is piloting bundled green loans that combine credit with irrigation, insurance, and training to de-risk horticulture value chains and empower smallholder farmers. Dr. Grosjean and Ena highlight the ImpactSF Analyzer, an AI-enabled tool translating climate data into actionable credit and portfolio metrics for banks, allowing them to move from single-loan transactions to systemic portfolio design. They have discussed the alignment of these efforts with Ethiopia’s ESG regulations, NAFIR 2025–2030, and ACC models, positioning horticulture as a catalytic entry point for climate-smart investment. Ultimately, they envision a financial ecosystem where capital flows to resilient, inclusive, and nature-positive food systems—turning climate risk into a driver of opportunity. Section I: Setting the Context – Vision and Urgency Ethiopia’s agriculture is both the backbone of the economy and deeply vulnerable to climate volatility. What motivated CGIAR’s ImpactSF to engage directly with the country’s financial institutions through ACT-H? Agriculture is vital to Ethiopia’s economy but highly climate-vulnerable. By embedding science-based KPIs and blended finance tools, ImpactSF helps banks design inclusive, climate-smart loans for small-scale producers and agri-SMEs—strengthening resilience and driving systemic change toward inclusive, nature-positive food, land, and water systems. The Government of Ethiopia has built a strong agricultural extension system, complemented by the Agricultural Transformation Institute’s (ATI) flagship initiative—the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC). The ACC model organizes priority commodities and value chain actors into clusters, creating a platform for targeted support and systemic change. Through the ACT-H initiative, supported by the Gates Foundation and in collaboration with ATI and Precise, ImpactSF is introducing green finance products to scale solar-powered irrigation for horticulture. Financing these crops through climate-informed financing, de-risking approaches, and market partnerships strengthen farmer resilience and fosters sustainable growth. In addition, building the capacity of financial institutions to design and deliver climate-linked and gender-sensitive financial products is critical. Tailored solutions ensure that women, youth, and vulnerable households are meaningfully included, reinforcing Ethiopia’s efforts toward inclusive and resilient agricultural transformation. The ACT-H initiative is framed around climate-smart horticulture. Why horticulture, and why now? What makes it a catalytic entry point for climate-aligned finance in Ethiopia? Horticulture is high-value, labor-intensive, and central to many farmer’s livelihoods. Yet it is highly exposed to drought and rainfall shifts, making deployment of climate finance urgent. The ACT-H initiative focuses on solar-powered irrigation and other climate-smart inputs, equipping farmers while catalyzing broader agri-food transformation. Horticulture—particularly banana and avocado within ACCs—offers a catalytic entry point for climate-aligned finance: Horticulture offers significant economic and livelihood benefits, contributing to household incomes, nutrition, and exports, with target crops that are bankable and enjoy strong market demand. However, these crops are highly vulnerable to climate shocks, and without appropriate risk instruments, households often face distress sales and defaults. By combining loans with insurance, climate-smart inputs, and digital repayment options, smallholder farmers—many of whom are too large for microfinance but perceived as too risky by commercial banks—become ideal candidates for innovative climate-aligned investment. Strategically, this approach aligns with national priorities such as NAFIR 2025–2030, the National Agricultural Insurance Strategy, and Digital Ethiopia 2025, while Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACCs) provide a scalable platform for implementation. By targeting horticulture now, ACT-H can demonstrate how climate-aligned finance can de-risk agriculture, attract private capital, and deliver measurable adaptation and livelihood outcomes—setting the stage for replication across other value chains. What unique role does CGIAR—through ImpactSF—play in bridging scientific insights with financial decision-making in such high-stakes, low-margin sectors like smallholder farming? ImpactSF leverages decades of CGIAR science and expertise into practical tools for lenders, with an emphasis on local relevance. Through the AI-informed ImpactSF Analyzer and robust KPI frameworks, we make climate risk visible and financeable. This bridges research with day-to-day lending realities, which is especially important for smallholders and women farmers, who often face significant barriers and challenges to accessing finance. At ImpactSF and within the CGIAR, our work with farmers and farmer organizations gives us key insights into what is needed to create change from the bottom up. Through this role, ImpactSF ensures that financial products are not only bankable but also aligned with climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience priorities, while advancing gender equity, youth inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Its ability to translate rigorous scientific evidence into actionable financial structures makes it uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between global climate finance standards (e.g., GCF, IFC, TCFD/IFRS S2) and the practical realities of Ethiopia’s smallholder systems. Section II: Climate Risk, Lending Challenges & Opportunity Framing Many Ethiopian banks reportedly have the liquidity but not the risk frameworks for agriculture. How is the ImpactSF Analyzer helping change that equation? This is a common challenge, banks across regions have liquidity but lack climate risk frameworks, limiting agri-lending. The ImpactSF Analyzer helps bridge this gap by identifying climate-smart investment opportunities, ensuring funding goes where it is needed. By integrating  scientific, financial and climate data, the Analyzer gives banks the confidence to design viable products that align with farmers’ realities and climate risk. By integrating scientific, financial, and climate data, the ImpactSF Analyzer enables comprehensive climate-smart lending. It supports risk-adjusted product design by aligning loans with seasonal cash flows, climate hazards, and insurance needs. It facilitates capital mobilization by producing risk metrics that attract concessional guarantees or additional liquidity. At the same time, it builds market confidence by tracking loan repayments, insurance uptake, and adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices, making agricultural finance more investable and resilient. The Analyzer ensures systematic, scalable expansion of climate-smart lending across Ethiopia. Could you explain how the tool translates climate data—like rainfall variability or drought hazards—into actionable metrics for credit scoring or portfolio design? The Analyzer takes climate data such as rainfall variability, drought frequency, or heat stress and links it directly to agricultural productivity risk at the crop and location level. Using CGIAR science, AI models and remote sensing, it projects yield impacts over the next 2–3 seasons, while also factoring in farmers’ adaptive capacity (e.g. irrigation, crop diversification). This produces forward-looking risk scores that can be integrated into credit scoring models or portfolio stress tests. For a lender, this means being able to differentiate between clients exposed to high vs. moderate climate risk, adjust loan conditions accordingly, and support anticipating default probabilities. At the portfolio level, the metrics allow banks to design more resilient sector exposures, set concentration limits, and steer capital toward climate-smart practices. Section III: Product Innovation, Tools & Bundled Finance The concept of bundled green finance—credit paired with irrigation, insurance, and training—was a major workshop highlight. What makes this model so promising for both lenders and farmers? Bundled finance reduces risk for both farmers and lenders. Pairing credit with irrigation, insurance, and training ensures farmers can repay loans while banks protect their portfolios. It’s a win-win model for resilience and growth. How are tools like the ImpactSF Analyzer enabling Ethiopian banks to go from a single-loan mindset to systems thinking—where value chains, repayment behavior, and environmental triggers are all interconnected? The Analyzer helps banks see farming systems, not just single loans. It links climate triggers, and value chain dynamics. This shifts lenders toward systemic, climate-smart portfolio design. Section IV: Systems Change, Policy & Inclusion Ethiopia’s regulators are rolling out new ESG reporting requirements. How is ImpactSF helping financial institutions align with this regulatory shift while strengthening climate-smart investment pipelines? The ESG rules present both challenges and opportunities. ImpactSF helps banks comply while building climate-smart pipelines through: ImpactSF supports financial institutions through a combination of capacity building, tools, and pipeline strengthening. It trains banks, MFIs, and insurers to design green finance products, including bundled credit, insurance, and solar-powered irrigation solutions. The ImpactSF Analyzer provides the data and insights needed to meet new ESG reporting requirements while designing stronger, more credible green finance products. Additionally, by applying a value chain lens, ImpactSF helps target priority sectors such as horticulture and livestock, scaling climate-smart products while ensuring measurable outcomes in gender inclusion, resilience, and productivity. ImpactSF turns new reporting requirements into an opportunity: building bankable, climate-smart products that attract concessional capital, reduce risk, and deliver real impact for farmers. What’s CGIAR’s broader vision for inclusive agri-finance in Ethiopia? Are you working to influence national policy, support rural banks, or scale models across other value chains? We work with banks, policymakers, and partners to shape national models. The aim is scalable finance across value chains and regions. This aligns with the CGIAR’s broader work in the region with the Ministry of Agriculture, National and Regional Agricultural Research Institutes, Ethiopian universities and both international and national development partners. There are the greatest number of CGIAR projects, initiatives, and funding in the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region, so it is a key area of our work. Section V: Scaling Impact & the Path Forward What’s next for ImpactSF and ACT-H in Ethiopia? Are there plans to pilot bundled loan products with partner institutions or integrate Analyzer insights into real-time lending decisions? Next, Act-H will co-develop bundled green loan products with partner banks and pilot innovative financing solutions in high-priority value chains. Insights from the ImpactSF Analyzer will feed into real-time lending, helping institutions actively manage climate risks. These pilots will lay the foundation for scale. How will success be measured—by hectares transformed, emissions reduced, capital deployed, or increased farmer incomes? Or is it something more systemic? Success means systemic change: capital flowing, risks reduced, and farmers empowered. It will be measured in farmer incomes, women’s access to finance, hectares under irrigation, and resilient lending portfolios. Above all, success means driving transformation toward a climate-smart financial ecosystem—one that helps turn Ethiopia’s climate challenges into investment opportunities. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3277/raiven-capital-dubai-invests-in-vertical-harvest-to-advance-global-food-resilience.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3277/raiven-capital-dubai-invests-in-vertical-harvest-to-advance-global-food-resilience.html Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:02:25 +0530 Vertical Harvest farms represent scalable infrastructure for the future Raiven Capital (Dubai) announces a strategic investment in Vertical Harvest, Inc., a vertical farming company recently profiled by The Washington Post as leading Vertical Farming 2.0. Vertical Harvest's new flagship farm in Westbrook, Maine, demonstrates scale and efficiency: producing the equivalent of 250 acres of traditional farmland on just half an acre, using 95% less water, with the lowest energy consumption per pound of food. With partners Elevated Signals and Siemens advanced digital systems, Vertical Harvest built a replicable, scalable platform for sustainable food production in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) space. farm floor (CNW Group/Raiven Capital) "Traditional agriculture is at a breaking point," said Supreet Manchanda, Founding Partner at Raiven Capital. "Vertical Harvest is reinventing not only how we grow food, but where and by whom. Their farms represent scalable infrastructure for the future, and we see powerful applications of such Climatech solutions across the Middle East and beyond." Without AI, CEA is labor and energy heavy making unit economics very shaky. AI shifts CEA closer to viable Climatech where resource use becomes highly efficient, margins improve radically, and scalability rises. Raiven treats AI + CEA as a bundle, as inseparable as in autonomous vehicles or drug discovery. More than a technology story, Vertical Harvest embeds inclusive employment into their operating model. By creating tailored careers for underrepresented workers, including people with disabilities, the company turns high-tech farming into an engine of social mobility. "Our farms don't just grow food. They grow futures," said Nona Yehia, CEO and Co-Founder of Vertical Harvest. "We are proving agriculture can be cutting-edge and fundamentally human-centered." "In much of the world, food security is national security," added Paul Dugsin, Founding Partner at Raiven Capital. "Vertical Harvest is not just transforming agriculture; it is driving cultural and financial change by strengthening economies while building resilience." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3247/world-bank-supports-philippine-agriculture-with-usd70-m-climate-risk-co-insurance-pool.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3247/world-bank-supports-philippine-agriculture-with-usd70-m-climate-risk-co-insurance-pool.html Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:41:18 +0530 World Bank will leverage its loan to mobilize between USD300 million and USD500 million in climate protection for farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Philippine government, with the backing of the World Bank, is set to roll out a five-year, USD70 million initiative in 2026 to protect the country’s agriculture sector from escalating climate-related risks. The project aims to establish a co-insurance pool that will provide financial protection to 750,000 small farmers and fisherfolk by 2030. Under the program, the World Bank will leverage its loan to mobilize between USD300 million and USD500 million in climate protection for farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the initiative as a critical step toward ensuring the resilience of the nation’s agricultural producers. Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized that this initiative will enable producers to recover more quickly from climate shocks, such as droughts and floods, and minimize disruptions to food production. “The World Bank plans to leverage its loan to mobilize between USD300 million and USD500 million in climate protection for farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-based MSMEs. This will allow our producers to bounce back faster after climate shocks and resume production with minimal delay.” said Agriculture Secretary. The co-insurance pool will involve collaboration between public and private insurers, combining the expertise of Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. with the technical and financial resources of private insurers, including the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines. The Department of Finance will act as the borrower for the loan, while the Department of Agriculture (DA) will oversee the implementation of the program. Secretary Tiu Laurel noted that the co-insurance framework will reduce the risks associated with agricultural lending, encouraging banks to extend more credit to farmers. This, in turn, will help producers invest in advanced technologies, adopt climate-smart practices, and enhance productivity. The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of modernizing Philippine agriculture and ensuring food security for the nation. Secretary Tiu Laurel underscored the importance of protecting farmers as a means to stabilize the country’s food supply. The project reflects a broader commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector’s resilience in the face of climate change. By integrating public and private resources, the co-insurance pool aims to create a robust safety net for farmers, enabling them to withstand climate-triggered disasters and continue contributing to the nation’s food security. This initiative is a pivotal step toward achieving a food-secure Philippines while supporting the livelihoods of its agricultural workforce. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3295/corteva-breaks-ground-on-27-5m-rd-lab-in-midland.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3295/corteva-breaks-ground-on-27-5m-rd-lab-in-midland.html Tue, 09 Sep 2025 10:15:00 +0530 New facility will help us better deliver new technology to our customers and is expected to be operational in early 2027 Corteva Agriscience has announced the construction of a new research and development (R&D) lab at its Midland Industrial Park facility, marking a significant step in its commitment to innovation and sustainable agriculture. The Midland Process Research & Development Lab will feature state-of-the-art analytical labs, wet chemistry labs, and continuous processing capabilities. Scheduled for completion in early 2027, the facility will integrate analytical science, chemistry, and engineering disciplines to drive advancements in crop protection and agricultural sustainability. Gerd Dieterich, Midland Site Leader at Corteva, highlighted the lab’s role in delivering cutting-edge technology to customers, stating, “This new facility will help us better deliver new technology to our customers and is expected to be operational in early 2027.” While the project will not create new jobs, it will support the retention of 45 high-quality positions in Midland. Nicole Wilson, Vice President of Economic Development at the Midland Business Alliance, noted, “Corteva’s $27.5 million expansion will retain high-quality jobs and deepen its presence in Midland.” The project has received an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption from the City of Midland and is under consideration for additional state business development incentives. Local leaders view the investment as a reinforcement of Midland’s position as a hub for agricultural research. Corteva’s expansion aligns with other significant industrial developments in Midland, including DuPont’s $20 million expansion at its Specialty Electronic Materials facility, which is expected to create 20 new jobs. These projects underscore Midland’s growing role as a center for science-driven innovation and economic growth. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3211/childfund-barnfonden-and-spowdi-a-first-scalable-rollout-for-regenerative-agriculture-and-entrepreneurship.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3211/childfund-barnfonden-and-spowdi-a-first-scalable-rollout-for-regenerative-agriculture-and-entrepreneurship.html Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:31:59 +0530 Empower 470 Smallholder Farmers In a groundbreaking initiative to combat climate change's severe effects on smallholder farmers, ChildFund International, Barnfonden, and Swedish greentech company Spowdi have joined forces to equip 470 farms in Kenya with solar-powered irrigation systems and training in regenerative agriculture. This scalable rollout marks a significant step toward achieving food security, effective water management, and sustainable entrepreneurship. Chege Ngugi, Africa Regional Director for ChildFund International, highlights the urgency of the initiative: "We're reaching farmers at a tipping point, struggling to feed their families and protect their land. With the right tools, they can shift from surviving to thriving. These 470 farms show how regenerative agriculture can improve food security, restore degraded land, and strengthen adaptation to environmental stressors." Most of the farms are located in drought-affected regions, where water scarcity and declining crop yields have exacerbated income insecurity. This joint investment equips farmers with tools to reduce fossil fuel dependency, increase crop yields with minimal water usage, and build resilience for long-term sustainability. Henrik Johansson, CEO of Spowdi, emphasizes that the initiative is more than a technological deployment. "This implementation in Africa is a turning point. The farmers we work with are pioneers. They show that regenerative agriculture is not a distant future – it starts here and now. This business model is designed to be replicated across East Africa and beyond." The initiative is supported by SHL Medical, a leader in self-injection solutions. Roger Samuelsson, Founder of SHL Medical, draws parallels to the company's mission: "From the very beginning, SHL Medical has been driven by a vision to enable individuals. Contributing to this initiative is a natural extension of our mission of helping people live more empowered lives, and we're proud to be part of it." Ulrich Faessler, Chairman and CEO of SHL Medical, reflects on the company's involvement: "For several years, we've supported initiatives that advance opportunities for people. Our engagement with Spowdi over the past few years has been especially inspiring, as we've witnessed remarkable progress and impact." This new collaboration with ChildFund builds on SHL Medical's legacy and commitment to these types of initiatives – a long-standing source of pride for the organization. The initiative builds on the success of an initial rollout of 50 systems and places farmers at the center of the transformation. These 470 farms are micro-hubs of change, bringing innovation, training, and economic opportunity to regions most in need. The aim is to scale the program to tens of thousands of farms in Kenya and beyond, using these hubs as models for best practices. Martina Hibell, Secretary General of Barnfonden, emphasizes the broader impact on children: "When a family can grow food and secure an income, children can focus on school and learning. This initiative goes beyond farming – it's about building stability in children's lives, while also caring for the environment. With reliable access to food and water, they are more likely to attend school and stay healthy. These 470 farms are just the beginning – a foundation for resilience and learning that can scale across borders." This initiative underscores the critical role of private stakeholders in driving a just agricultural transition. By investing in climate-smart solutions and empowering smallholder farmers, the partnership aims to ensure food security and environmental sustainability for future generations. ChildFund International, Barnfonden, and Spowdi have launched a transformative initiative to equip 470 farms in Kenya with solar-powered irrigation systems and regenerative agriculture training. Supported by SHL Medical, the program aims to combat the effects of climate change by improving food security, water management, and economic resilience. This scalable model, grounded in successful pilot projects, is set to expand across East Africa, empowering smallholder farmers and creating a foundation for long-term sustainability. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3205/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/4/3205/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/4/3116/corteva-catalyst-leads-funding-drive-for-puna-bio-to-advance-climate-resilient-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3116/corteva-catalyst-leads-funding-drive-for-puna-bio-to-advance-climate-resilient-agriculture.html Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:12:42 +0530 Support includes the Gates Foundation's first investment in an Argentine startup to strengthen global food security A month ago, Puna Bio announced its Series A round, led by Corteva Catalyst and backed by other global investors focused on climate and agricultural innovation. Now, the company announces the closing of that investment round with the participation of the Gates Foundation. This investment—the foundation's first in an Argentine startup—reflects a commitment to advancing locally led innovation that can strengthen sustainable food systems and help smallholder farmers access to microbial-based bioinputs in places where there is limited affordability and accessibility. The funding will accelerate the development, production, and distribution of Puna Bio's biofertilizers and biostimulants, which are based on extremophile bacteria. These solutions are designed to enhance crop yields even under stress, by providing crops with nutrients and this collaboration aims to bring these benefits to smallholder farmers in developing regions across Africa. As part of this partnership, Puna Bio will work closely with the Gates Foundation to test and adapt its technologies to local conditions and co-develop new targeted solutions to support food security at a global scale. "We believe this partnership is deeply aligned with Puna Bio's mission of ensuring food security at a global scale. Our science-backed biological inputs, already in use in South America can boost crop yields in a reliable and cost-effective manner, even in challenging weather conditions. By expanding our efforts to Africa, we aim to scale our impact, improve lives, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of global agriculture," explains Franco Martínez Levis, CEO and co-founder of Puna Bio. With this new strategic investor, Puna Bio successfully closes its Series A round, alongside At One Ventures, SP Ventures, Dalus Capital, Glocal LATAM, Builders VC, and Grid Exponential. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3110/pepsico-and-cargill-collaborate-to-empower-farmers-by-advancing-sustainable-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3110/pepsico-and-cargill-collaborate-to-empower-farmers-by-advancing-sustainable-agriculture.html Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:09:20 +0530 Practical Farmers of Iowa will implement this collaboration locally, providing technical guidance and financial incentives to farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices. PepsiCo and Cargill announced a strategic collaboration to advance regenerative agriculture practices across 240,000 acres from 2025 through 2030. The collaboration will focus on the companies' shared corn supply chain in Iowa, where Cargill sources from local farmers to produce ingredients used in some of PepsiCo's most iconic products. Agriculture, and creating a more resilient agricultural system, is critical to PepsiCo's business, as the company sources 35 crops and ingredients from more than 60 countries to make its convenient foods and beverages. As a global supplier to PepsiCo, Cargill plays a key role in aligning the supply chain from farm to shelf. Together, the companies aim to deepen supply chain resilience, support positive outcomes for farming communities by helping them implement regenerative practices, and unlock new opportunities for advancing sustainable agriculture at scale. Iowa is the United States' largest producer of corn, contributing to more than 15% of the nation's supply in 2024. Through trusted local organizations – led by Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), a nonprofit organization with deep roots in the Midwest farming community – this collaboration aims to provide farmers with the knowledge they need to implement regenerative techniques and help them produce crops more sustainably.  PFI will offer farmers tailored advice and recommendations based on their region and planted crops—insights grounded in local realities. This type of collaboration is key to scaling regenerative farming practices that can ultimately support farmers and strengthen the resilience of the global food system. "By working with farmers to understand what's best for their farms and partnering across the supply chain we can accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices that can result in healthier soil, reduced emissions, and improved crop yields and livelihoods for farmers," said Jim Andrew, PepsiCo Chief Sustainability Officer. "This collaboration among PepsiCo, Cargill, and Practical Farmers of Iowa creates shared value and long-term sustainability that we believe will strengthen our business today and in the future."  This initiative also supports both companies' ambitious goals: PepsiCo's recently expanded goal to drive the adoption of regenerative, restorative, or protective practices across 10 million acres globally by 2030, and Cargill's goal to advance regenerative agriculture on 10 million acres of North American farmland by the same year. "This partnership is about delivering practical, measurable results – starting on the farm, where the food system begins," said Pilar Cruz, Chief Sustainability Officer at Cargill. "By coming together across the value chain, we can help create the conditions for regenerative agriculture to take root and grow. The collaboration offers a model for how we can drive meaningful impact at scale." Building on years of successful collaboration among PepsiCo, Cargill, and PFI, this initiative expands into a larger effort to transform today's agricultural practices for the betterment of farmers, communities, and the environment. Benefits to Farmers Participating farmers will receive agronomic guidance, incentive payments to help reduce the risk of adopting new practices, and access to technical resources to support their transition to regenerative practices, allowing them to expand their sustainable footprint with support from experienced organizations. PFI will lead implementation with farmers, managing enrollment and overseeing measurement, reporting, and verification to ensure credible, science-based outcomes. These practices are designed to improve soil health, increase resilience to climate impacts, and enhance long-term farm productivity—while connecting farmers to sustainability-focused supply chains. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3084/korea-stives-to-bolsters-global-expansion-through-national-agricultural-cooperative-federation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3084/korea-stives-to-bolsters-global-expansion-through-national-agricultural-cooperative-federation.html Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:29:34 +0530 NACF France play a pivotal role in advancing Korean agro-food output into the European market Korea’s National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) Chairman Kang Ho-dong shared his global expansion strategy with employees in Europe, the cooperative organization for farmers. He urged that NACF France needs to play a pivotal role in Korean agro-food’s successful advance into the European market. National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) is also known as NongHyup, exists with its three financial subsidiaries — NACF in France, NH NongHyup Bank London branch and NH Investment & Securities in London — reported their latest operations to the chairman during his visit to the bank’s London branch. On the occasion of his visit to NH NongHyup Bank's London office, Kang encouraged the company's employees and discussed its global presence. Opened in 2021, NH NongHyup Bank’s London office was the bank’s first overseas branch in Europe, marking a milestone for a major Korean bank entering the U.K. financial market. “The London offices should serve not only as the core of NongHyup financial services in Europe, but also as a strategic outpost for NongHyup’s overall global expansion. It needs to establish a close relationship with Korean companies seeking to enter into the European market. They need money, and we can support them” explains Chairman Kang Ho-dong. Kang reviewed market trends in the European agri-food sector, local business performance and partnership networks at Nonghyup's France branch. He emphasized the office's role as a control tower for expanding Korean agricultural exports to Europe. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3063/brazil-invests-in-nigerias-agricultural-transformation-with-1b-commitment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3063/brazil-invests-in-nigerias-agricultural-transformation-with-1b-commitment.html Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:30:46 +0530 Nigeria and Brazil have signed a landmark $1 billion agreement aimed at accelerating agricultural development, food security, energy innovation, and defense cooperation in Nigeria. The announcement was made by Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima following high-level bilateral talks in Abuja with visiting Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin. The agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening ties between Latin America’s largest economy and Africa’s most populous nation, focusing primarily on transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector. “We are moving from subsistence to scale in agriculture,” said Vice President Shettima. “This agreement will deliver mechanised farming equipment, training, and service centers across the country—laying the foundation for a more productive and food-secure Nigeria.” The deal includes a framework for deploying over $1 billion toward agricultural mechanization and technical support, with long-term goals of boosting productivity, enhancing rural livelihoods, and modernizing farm operations nationwide. The partnership also extends into energy, where Nigeria aims to deepen investments in gas production, refining, and renewables—sectors long seen as underleveraged despite the country’s natural resource wealth. The agreement was signed during Vice President Alckmin’s official visit to Abuja, symbolizing Brazil’s growing commitment to economic and strategic collaboration with Africa. Shettima emphasized that reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration—across agriculture, energy, education, and public finance—have already begun reshaping the Nigerian economy. As part of this transformation agenda, Nigeria is pursuing a vision of reaching a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Financial sector reforms, including recent calls for bank recapitalization, are also aimed at attracting increased foreign direct investment. “We are building the foundation for long-term prosperity, and this partnership with Brazil shows the growing global confidence in Nigeria’s direction,” Shettima said. The Nigeria–Brazil agreement is expected to have a significant impact on employment, food production, and value chain development, further positioning Nigeria as a regional agricultural powerhouse. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3048/the-great-agri-reset-climate-smart-tech-driven-farmer-first.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/3048/the-great-agri-reset-climate-smart-tech-driven-farmer-first.html Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:05:31 +0530 India’s farmlands are undergoing a quiet revolution—powered by tech, backed by policy, and driven by purpose. With agriculture employing 45 per cent of the workforce and contributing 18 per cent to GDP, the rise of agritech could unlock a $95 billion GDP boost through smarter yields, lower costs, and climate resilience. From drone-powered soil checks to AI-driven advisories, platforms like AgriStack and eNAM are turning farming into a precision, data-led industry. Over $2.6 billion in startup funding since FY22 signals that agritech isn’t just innovation—it’s India’s next growth engine. With the right investments and inclusive digital tools, India can lead the world in climate-smart, tech-forward farming. India’s rich agro-ecological diversity has long established it as a global agricultural leader. Agriculture continues to be a vital pillar of the Indian economy, contributing nearly 18 per cent to GDP and employing about 45 per cent of the country’s workforce, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants. Even during the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture stood out as a pillar of stability and resilience. This was largely enabled by targeted government interventions, including strong support for farmer producer organisations (FPOs), promotion of crop diversification, improvements in agricultural productivity, encouragement of mechanisation, and enhanced financial support mechanisms. A key milestone in this effort was the launch of the Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, designed to strengthen rural infrastructure, improve post-harvest logistics, and build a more resilient agri-economy. Despite its agricultural output, India ranks only eighth globally in agricultural exports, holding a 2.33 per cent share of the global market. However, with the rise of agritech innovations, the sector is on the brink of a major shift.  A recent Ernst & Young report estimates that India’s agritech market holds a $24 billion opportunity, yet current penetration remains low at just 1.5 per cent. If fully developed, the agritech ecosystem could increase farmers’ incomes by 25 per cent to 35 per cent, contributing up to $95 billion to GDP through enhanced productivity, reduced input costs, improved market access, and diversified income streams. In response, the integration of climate-resilient practices with agricultural innovation has emerged as a critical strategy to safeguard both food and energy security. India’s agricultural future hinges on its ability to adapt and innovate. By merging traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technologies and fostering an ecosystem that supports resilience, India can not only protect its farmers but also lead the way in sustainable, climate-smart agriculture. With the right investments and policies, the country can build a farming system that is productive, equitable, and climate-ready, securing food and fuel for generations to come. India’s agritech sector is undergoing a seismic shift. Powered by digital innovation and growing investor interest, it’s reshaping the future of farming—from the ground up. Since FY22, the sector has pulled in over $2.6 billion across 340 deals, with nearly 70 per cent of funding flowing into B2B/B2C market linkages and full-stack platforms. The message from investors is clear: Agritech is no longer a niche—it’s a commercial opportunity with national impact. India is making significant strides in reshaping its agricultural landscape by integrating digital innovation and sustainability into the heart of farming. Initiatives like the Digital Agriculture Mission, with an allocation of Rs 2817 crore, are equipping farmers with real-time data and decision-making tools that improve productivity and resource efficiency. The Centre has allocated Rs 1,261 crore for the Namo Drone Didi scheme for 2023-26, bringing a much-needed gender lens to agriculture by empowering women through self-help groups, turning them into active participants and entrepreneurs in the supply chain. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) further strengthens the ecosystem by promoting environmentally friendly farming practices. To bolster domestic manufacturing of drones and related components, the government is planning the PLI Scheme 2.0 worth Rs 1000 crore. Together, these initiatives are laying the foundation for a more resilient and inclusive agricultural sector—one that is better equipped to tackle both current pressures and future demands. Centralised digital platforms can help streamline stakeholder coordination and enhance service delivery. At the same time, innovative financing models, such as micro-credit schemes and blended finance, are essential to unlock investments in agri-tech solutions. Just as crucial is the need for training and capacity building, ensuring that farmers not only have access to technology but also the confidence and skills to use it effectively. Agri-tech holds the key to revitalising Indian agriculture, offering solutions that increase yields, reduce environmental impact, and improve livelihoods, especially in the face of mounting climate risks. By embracing innovation at scale, India can make meaningful progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its national commitments under global climate agreements. With the right vision and collective effort, India can not only transform its agricultural sector but also emerge as a global leader in climate-smart farming, demonstrating how technology and inclusive growth can shape a sustainable future. Where Technology Meets the TillerA quiet revolution is reshaping India’s farmlands — and technology is leading the charge. Across the country, agritech startups are blooming, tackling age-old farming challenges with modern solutions. Driving this growth is strong government support. Initiatives like Startup India have created a fertile environment for innovation, giving entrepreneurs the tools and confidence to break new ground in the agritech space. Agritech is doing more than just streamlining farm operations — it's reshaping the entire agricultural value chain. By harnessing tools like AI, machine learning, data analytics, and SaaS platforms, farmers are making better decisions faster. These technologies enable smarter resource use, reduce operational costs, and help maximise yields — all while preparing farms to withstand climate challenges. In short, agritech is turning agriculture into a data-driven, climate-smart industry — and the benefits are just beginning to unfold. Private equity and venture capital firms are pouring capital into the sector, providing startups with the resources they need to refine their operations, boost research and development, and expand into new markets. The outcome: A fresh wave of tech-powered agriculture that’s smarter, more sustainable, and perfectly tuned to the needs of today’s farmers. Policy Meets Precision: India’s AgriTech LeapThe fusion of technology and agriculture is opening up powerful new pathways to tackle the growing risks posed by climate change. In India, the government is playing a proactive role in driving this transformation. A cornerstone of this effort is the Agri-Stack — a digital infrastructure designed to unify agricultural services and data on a single platform. This initiative makes it easier for farmers to access everything from advisories and subsidies to credit and insurance, while also streamlining coordination across the entire agricultural value chain. By improving access to cutting-edge technologies and offering financial and policy support, India is steadily building an agri-tech ecosystem that empowers farmers to boost productivity while embracing sustainable practices. Among the most impactful steps taken by the Indian government to modernise agriculture are initiatives like the Agricultural Accelerator Fund and the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture. These forward-looking programmes are designed to energise India’s fast-growing AgriTech ecosystem and promote innovation that can withstand future disruptions and challenges. Among the most groundbreaking initiatives by the Indian government in recent years is AgriStack, formally called the India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA). This bold vision seeks to weave together the country’s vast agricultural data into a single, powerful platform, anchored by each farmer’s land records. In a nation where most farmers cultivate small plots with limited resources and little exposure to cutting-edge technology, AgriStack holds the promise of being a true game-changer. This ecosystem integrates an impressive array of digital innovations, transforming the way decisions are made on the ground:First, Drone-powered soil and crop assessments that provide precise insights to optimise pesticide use and promote eco-friendly farming. Second, tailored recommendations crafted for every unique plot of land—offering advice on the best seeds to sow, optimal farming techniques, and smart soil management practicesThird, Instant, real-time updates on weather, crop insurance options, market trends, and government programs, all designed to reduce risks and improve farmers’ livelihoods. By delivering these actionable insights straight to farmers’ fingertips, AgriStack has the potential to revolutionise agriculture across India, empowering millions to make informed, timely decisions that enhance both productivity and resilience. A key pillar of India’s AgriTech transformation is the National Agriculture Market (eNAM)—a comprehensive electronic trading platform that seamlessly integrates existing Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis across the country. By bridging the information gap between buyers and sellers, eNAM introduces much-needed transparency and efficiency into agricultural markets. This digital marketplace unifies national trade, enabling farmers to access fair prices in real time based on actual supply and demand. The outcome? Farmers gain stronger bargaining power, markets operate more smoothly, and consumers benefit from access to high-quality produce. In the 2022-23 Union Budget, the government launched the Agriculture Accelerator Fund, a visionary initiative aimed at energising rural entrepreneurs and startups driving innovation in agriculture. This fund supports the development of affordable, technology-based solutions tailored to overcome persistent challenges faced by farmers. By empowering young “Agri-preneurs” with funding and resources, the initiative is poised to boost productivity and foster a dynamic AgriTech ecosystem nationwide. Supporting these efforts is the plan to establish a Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture—an open-source, interoperable platform designed around six farmer-focused services. These services include crop planning, health management, easier access to inputs, credit and insurance support, market insights, and the promotion of AgriTech startups. A shining example of this vision is the government’s Digital Soil Health Card initiative. By analysing soil quality and composition, the programme promotes precision farming tailored to local conditions. The revamped Soil Health Card portal, accessible via web and mobile app, provides farmers with easy-to-understand reports—complete with emoticons indicating soil health—in 22 languages and five dialects, ensuring broad accessibility and inclusivity. At the same time, the government is turbocharging India’s AgriTech scene by actively backing agri-incubators and start-ups. Programmes like RKVY-RAFTAR and the Agri-Sure Fund are providing crucial funding, expert guidance, and resources to nurture promising early-stage ventures and build a thriving innovation ecosystem. This support is fuelling breakthroughs in precision farming and cutting-edge technologies that boost both productivity and climate resilience. Initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana are pushing efficient irrigation solutions to conserve water, while the use of drones and other smart tools highlights a bold commitment to sustainable, resource-savvy agriculture. Together, these efforts are reshaping Indian farming—making it smarter, greener, and ready to face the challenges of tomorrow. Invest Integrate Innovate To effectively drive agri-tech integration, several strategic actions are essential. First, modernising agri-incubators is crucial. This involves updating their infrastructure and programmes to align with rapidly evolving technologies and changing market demands. Second, establishing state-level, controlled testing grounds where innovators can pilot their technologies in real-world agricultural environments is necessary. These testing sites enable developers to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness and practicality of their solutions while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Third, the development of an integrated digital platform is key to creating a cohesive agri-tech ecosystem. For farmers, it would offer easy access to timely advisories, best practices for sustainable farming, and direct links to market opportunities, empowering them to make data-driven decisions that improve productivity and income. Fourth, significant investment must be channelled into precision farming and climate-smart technologies. These advanced tools and methods enhance farmers’ ability to respond to environmental challenges such as erratic weather, water scarcity, and soil degradation. Finally, deploying a diverse range of financial instruments is vital to accelerate the growth and adoption of promising agri-tech ventures. This includes fast-track credit facilities to provide startups with quick access to capital, risk-sharing frameworks that encourage investment by mitigating potential losses, and impact investments focused on generating social and environmental benefits alongside financial returns.By implementing these comprehensive measures, the integration of agri-tech can be significantly accelerated, fostering a more sustainable, productive, and resilient agricultural sector that benefits all stakeholders involved. India stands at the threshold of a new agricultural era—one where sustainable growth and climate resilience go hand in hand. By embracing agri-tech innovations, the country can make significant strides toward achieving global environmental goals, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and safeguarding farmers from climate uncertainties. ------- Suchetana Choudhury ( suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com ) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2995/korean-investment-firm-makegroup-aims-major-agricultural-partnership-in-liberia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2995/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/4/2999/japanese-govt-agency-jica-invests-in-brazilian-digital-banking-platform-agrolend.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2999/japanese-govt-agency-jica-invests-in-brazilian-digital-banking-platform-agrolend.html Fri, 06 Jun 2025 08:41:30 +0530 Financing small- and medium-sized farmers in Brazil Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is supporting Brazilian digital bank Agrolend which has raised $3 million in a Series C extension, bringing the round’s total to $56 million. The additional funding comes from JICA, supports economic growth in developing countries with long-term, low-interest loans and access to partnerships with private-sector companies, among other things. Agrolend’s platform offers farmers credit for purchase of agricultural inputs (e.g., seeds, crop protection products), formalizing these loans via the issuance of a Cédula de Produto Rural Financeira (CPR-F), a common financial instrument in Brazilian agribusiness. The idea is to help small- and medium-sized farmers in Brazil bypass many of the bureaucratic barriers that would normally stand in their way when it comes to obtaining much-needed credit. Agrolend says it can speed up the loan process to a matter of days, rather than weeks or months; it currently provides credit to around 3,700 farmers. The company sees itself as a digital bank, rather than simply another agrifintech platform. Last year, Agrolend obtained a BBB+ rating from Moody’s, officially making it investment grade. Alternative source of funding to finance rural producers The Series C round, first announced in October 2024, included participation from Creation Investments and Syngenta Group Ventures, along with Japanese agribusiness bank Norinchukin Bank. The latter was instrumental in bringing access to Japanese capital markets to Agrolend, according to the company. “The arrival of JICA brings us an alternative source of funding to finance rural producers around Brazil, thanks to its ability to offer [credit] to financial institutions at highly competitive costs,” Agrolend noted a LinkedIn post announcing the Series C extension. JICA provides capital to many banks in Brazil, including cooperative financial initiative Sicredi and BTG Pactual, Latin America’s largest investment bank. He notes that over the last several months, Agrolend has entered the wholesale banking space. Cofounder and CEO André Glezer notes that over the last several months, Agrolend has entered the wholesale banking space. “The benefit for us is making a partnership with an investor that is willing to support the company with a lot of capital, both equity and debt, and in the very long term. We are doing structured credit deals with very large industries, cooperatives and other players in the agribusiness space. For example, Agrolend did a ~R$100 million (around $18 million) structured loan to UPL, one of the largest agribusiness companies in the world. All credit loans are supported by our tech and data team, with a lot of usage of AI, which is transforming the whole banking business, including Agrolend, making all processes much more efficient.” Glezer says. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2959/svg-ventures-commits-500000-to-alberta-agtech-startup-brilliant-harvest.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2959/svg-ventures-commits-500000-to-alberta-agtech-startup-brilliant-harvest.html Mon, 26 May 2025 14:13:56 +0530 SVG Ventures, a global agri-food innovation and investment firm, has invested $500,000 in Calgary-based Brilliant Harvest—a participant in the THRIVE IV Accelerator—via its Pioneer Fund SVG Ventures, a global leader in agri-food innovation and investment, has announced a $500,000 investment in Calgary-based Brilliant Harvest through its $50 million Pioneer Fund. The fund, headquartered in Alberta and anchored by Farm Credit Canada (FCC), is focused on supporting high-potential agrifoodtech startups and driving innovation across the agricultural value chain. Brilliant Harvest, a participant in the THRIVE IV Accelerator, stands out for its AI-driven platform that enhances efficiency within agricultural equipment dealerships. The company represents the cutting-edge innovation emerging from Alberta’s growing agtech ecosystem. "Brilliant Harvest represents exactly the kind of bold innovation we seek out at SVG Ventures,” said John Hartnett, CEO and Founder of SVG Ventures. “They’re solving real agricultural challenges with scalable, AI-powered solutions. This investment reflects our confidence in both the team and the broader Canadian agtech sector.” The investment highlights SVG Ventures’ growing footprint in Canada, bolstered by its ongoing partnership with Alberta Innovates. A key part of this collaboration is the Scale-Up GAP program, which identifies and supports Alberta’s most promising growth-stage companies. “Our partnership with Alberta Innovates has been transformative,” said John Cassidy, SVG Ventures' Managing Director for Canada. “Programs like Scale-Up GAP have helped us discover standout companies like Brilliant Harvest, and together we’re cultivating a world-class agtech ecosystem in Alberta.” Dr. Michael Mahon, CEO of Alberta Innovates, added: “Brilliant Harvest’s success is a powerful example of the real-world impact of collaborative investment. Our joint efforts with SVG Ventures are helping build a globally recognized innovation economy in Alberta.” This investment further strengthens SVG Ventures’ commitment to advancing global agri-food innovation while accelerating the growth of high-impact Canadian startups. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2873/icarda-launches-international-coalition-to-protect-date-palms.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2873/icarda-launches-international-coalition-to-protect-date-palms.html Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:23:45 +0530 Strategic UAE-Gates Foundation partnership announced at COP28, which earmarked $200 million to support agricultural innovation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) At the 17th Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, in a bold step towards global pest control and sustainable agriculture, UAE, Gates Foundation and ICARDA have officially launched the International Consortium for Red Palm Weevil Control, a science-led partnership bringing together world-leading institutions, researchers, and policymakers to combat one of the most destructive pests affecting palm cultivation worldwide. The Consortium was inaugurated by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Khalifa Award’s Board of Trustees.  Co-funded by the UAE and the Gates Foundation, the initiative is led by ICARDA, as the regional CGIAR Center, in partnership with the Khalifa Award’s General Secretariat, sister CGIAR Centers, and a global network of national and international collaborators. The Consortium builds on the momentum of the strategic UAE-Gates Foundation partnership announced at COP28, which earmarked $200 million to support agricultural innovation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), to support the implementation of the historic UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems. The UAE became the first donor country in the MENA region to join the CGIAR System Council.  “The Consortium represents an ambitious partnership driven by advancing science and bringing together leading research institutions, governments, and global experts, to confront one of the most devastating threats to palm cultivation,” stated H.E. Sheikh Nahayan. “We express our appreciation for the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, not only for hosting us this evening but for bringing us alongside champions of research, excellence, and innovation in date palm agriculture. We are also incredibly grateful to the Gates Foundation for their partnership and unwavering belief in the power of science to solve real world problems. To our scientific partner and project manager, ICARDA, thank you for your technical leadership and your dedication to transforming agriculture across dryland regions,” added Mr. Khalfan Al Matrooshi on behalf of H.E. Mariam Al-Meheiri, Chair of the International Affairs Office (IAO) at the Presidential Court, UAE. “The Red Palm Weevil is not just a pest — it’s a growing global challenge that demands a coordinated scientific response. Through this Consortium, we combine the best CGIAR science, regional knowledge, and local partnerships to deliver real-world solutions. ICARDA is proud to serve as a scientific and implementation lead in this effort, working closely with the UAE and our international partners to protect livelihoods, preserve ecosystems, and ensure the resilience of one of the world’s most iconic crops.” The Consortium’s five scientific workstreams, each led by a specialized institution, will use the UAE as a testing ground for innovations that can be scaled and transferred to affected LMICs: Bio-based Innovations (icipe, Kenya): Developing nature-based pest control methods using pheromones, fungi, and classical biocontrol agents. Biotechnological Innovations (IITA, Kenya): Applying genome editing, RNA interference, and microbiome disruption tools. Digital Innovations & AI (ICRISAT, India): Creating predictive tools, IoT sensors, and AI platforms for early pest detection. Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) (ICBA, UAE): Promoting scalable field-level practices for prevention and control. Policy, Institutions & Global Access (ICARDA, UAE Regional Hub): Ensuring innovations are embedded in policy frameworks and accessible across borders. Leveraging Science to Drive Global SolutionsThis Consortium cements ICARDA’s position at the forefront of global efforts to combat agricultural pests and diseases, reflecting our commitment to CGIAR’s science-driven partnerships that deliver real-world impact across dryland farming systems. “By mobilizing global expertise through CGIAR, local knowledge through ICARDA, and with the UAE as a testbed and a living laboratory, this program ensures that cutting-edge research translates into practical solutions for rural communities across the region,” said Zahira El Marzouki, Head of Middle East Relations at the Gates Foundation. “As a woman from the region, I cannot say how much inspiration I find in the three incredible women leaders who have been the architects of this partnership, H.E. Mariam Al-Meheiri at the UAE Presidential Court, Dr. Ismahane Elouafi at CGIAR, and Dr. Tarifa Al-Zaabi at ICBA.” Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary General of the Khalifa Award, echoed this commitment: “The Khalifa Award has long championed excellence and innovation in agricultural research, particularly in the cultivation and protection of date palms — a crop that holds deep economic and cultural significance across the region. Through this Consortium, we are proud to bring that legacy forward, scaling scientific solutions that can be shared across borders. This initiative reflects the UAE’s deep commitment to supporting global food security through practical, science-based partnerships.” Through this Consortium, the UAE is reaffirming its position as a science-driven, impact-oriented partner to vulnerable agricultural communities, bringing innovation to where it is needed most. ICARDA is honored and privileged to be the UAE’s chosen scientific lead partner in this effort, working together to ensure that transformative agricultural research reaches all rural communities across the drylands. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2806/sopri-an-integrated-funding-project-provides-financing-and-resources-to-smallholders-to-replant-oil-palm-sustainably-in-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2806/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/4/2786/zespri-invites-innovators-to-accelerate-decarbonisation-and-optimize-productivity-in-orchards.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2786/zespri-invites-innovators-to-accelerate-decarbonisation-and-optimize-productivity-in-orchards.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 07:59:20 +0530 Zespri ZAG Innovation Fund launches second year with sustainable future mission As the world's largest kiwifruit marketer, Zespri, which accounts for one-third of the industry's global volume, reaffirms its commitment to the Zespri Innovation Fund, which accelerates sustainable innovation to meet growing demands in the global market. In the wake of ZAG's launch in November 2023, Zespri is now seeking to rally innovators and pioneers to strengthen climate resilience across every food system and advance productivity and carbon-neutral practices for kiwifruit. As part of the industry’s focus on climate resilience, ZAG is expected to include solutions to help grow better kiwifruit while nurturing soil health by improving water retention, biodiversity and carbon storage to support growers, enhance orchard resilience and safeguard productivity while growing sustainably. ZAG has already received more than 100 submissions from more than 15 countries, with 11 moving into pilot programs with the fund focusing on four areas: (1) Initiatives that are good for kiwifruit by driving superior quality and lifting orchard productivity; (2) Initiatives that are good for people by promoting wellbeing through kiwifruit consumption; (3) Initiatives that are beneficial for the environment by protecting and enhancing nature; (4) And finally, initiatives that foster a thriving kiwifruit industry, benefitting growers and the local communities they are a part of. ZAG pilots have to date explored a variety of sustainability efforts, including the use of biochar on kiwifruit orchards to increase orchard productivity while reducing emissions, technology which analyses the unique chemical signatures emitted by fruit to support planning around kiwifruit harvesting and the use of microwave sensing technology as a non-destructive method for quality assessment of kiwifruit without waste. “We’ve had a really positive first year with ZAG. It’s helped connect us with innovative problem solvers from around the world to address key challenges our industry faces as we meet the growing demand for kiwifruit, but this is just the beginning,” said Jiunn Shih, Chief Marketing, Innovation and Sustainability Officer. “For year two, we are heightening our efforts to focus on strengthening climate resilience and solutions that will help us grow a more sustainable future, one kiwifruit at a time.” “We’ll also be refreshing the focus of ZAG every quarter, initially prioritising climate resilience as part of our pledge to work with partners to be carbon positive by 2035, and then looking at other priorities,” Shih says. Zespri International Limited with international headquarters located in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand is the largest Kiwifruit marketer in the world, selling in over 50 countries. Zespri works with more than 4,000 growers around the world. . It has licensed growers in Australia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, and several other countries are conducting trials. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2711/philippines-establish-collaborative-initiatives-to-promote-farmers-financial-inclusion-digitalization.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2711/philippines-establish-collaborative-initiatives-to-promote-farmers-financial-inclusion-digitalization.html Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:11:57 +0530 Farmers benefit from easy access to financial tools and services, streamlining payouts, and advancing financial inclusion. The Philippines Department of Agriculture, through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (DA-PCIC), and the country’s leading mobile wallet app, GCash, have teamed up to deliver faster, safer, and more efficient indemnity payments to insured farmers. DA-PCIC President, Attorney Jovy C. Bernabe, signed a contract with G-Xchange, Inc.—the company behind GCash—represented by its President and CEO, Oscar Enrico Reyes Jr., at the GCash Headquarters in Taguig City. “Your commitment to this partnership demonstrates our shared goal of empowering the agricultural sector through innovation. Together, we are paving the way for a more resilient and financially inclusive future for our farmers and fisherfolk,” said Atty. Bernabe. The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) formalizes their shared commitment to streamlining the payout system, financially empowering farmers, and advancing financial inclusion in rural areas. The contract includes the introduction of GCash’s Funds Disbursement Service (FDS), enabling indemnity payments to be deposited directly into farmers’ GCash wallet accounts in real-time, thereby eliminating delays and inefficiencies associated with issuing physical checks. A key advantage of this partnership is introducing farmers to GCash’s digital ecosystem, empowering them to save, invest, and access microfinancing tools for resilience and financial growth. In line with the government’s financial inclusion agenda, this initiative provides farmers with easy access to financial tools and services, even in remote areas. It envisions uplifting agricultural communities and ensuring resilience, inclusivity, and innovation for farmers nationwide. Joining them were DA-PCIC officials: Senior Vice President Segundo H. Guerrero Jr., Support Services Group Vice President Allan E. Retamar, and Office of the Corporate Business Affairs Group Vice President Melba P. Manalo. Also present were GCash executives: Business Head Edgardo R. Layug Jr., Public Sector Cluster Head Cleo Celeste C. Santos, and Public Sector-National Government Accounts Manager Alda Lou B. Cabrera. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2694/israels-pluri-secures-6-5m-strategic-investment-enters-cacao-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2694/israels-pluri-secures-6-5m-strategic-investment-enters-cacao-market.html Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:54:09 +0530 According to reports. Global cacao market value was $13.5 billion in 2023, and is expected to grow by 8.2% to $23.5 billion by 2030 Pluri Inc., a leading biotechnology company with its proprietary platform for cell-based solutions, announced a $6.5 million strategic private investment led by global investor Alejandro Weinstein, who will serve on Pluri's board. Pluri is also acquiring 71% of Kokomodo Ltd., a company specializing in cultivated cacao production, for $4.5 million in common shares. With the investment and the Kokomodo Transaction, Pluri is uniquely positioned to extend its leadership in sustainable food technologies and to strengthen its strategic growth and operational capabilities. The Investment consists of the issuance and sale of 1,383,948 Common Shares at a purchase price of $4.61 per Common Share, pursuant to a securities purchase agreement between the Company and the Investor. Pluri received warrants to purchase up to 84,599 Common Shares at an exercise price of $5,568 per share, and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 26,030 Common Shares at a price of $0.0001 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $6.5 million. Working capital and general corporate purposes will be funded by the net proceeds of the Investment. Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants are subject to Pluri shareholder approval prior to exercise. Subject to certain customary closing conditions, the Investment is expected to close on or about January 31, 2025. Through the acquisition of a majority stake in Kokomodo, an Israeli company that crafts climate-resilient cacao using cellular agriculture technology, Pluri's financial position will be strengthened and its expansion into the cultivated cacao market accelerated. Global cacao market value was $13.5 billion in 2023, and is expected to grow by 8.2% to $23.5 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Key Highlights of the Transactions: $6.5 Million Equity Investment: The capital infusion will support Pluri's ongoing innovation and strategic growth across its mobile technology platform. Strategic Acquisition: The acquisition will enable Pluri to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable food technologies by leveraging Kokomodo's innovative cultivated cacao solutions. Board Representation: On closing, the Company will appoint Mr. Weinstein to its Board of Directors, and his right to serve shall continue so long as he holds 10% or more of Common Shares. Regulatory Approvals: The consummation of the Kokomodo Transaction and the exercise of the Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants sold in the Investment are also subject to Pluri shareholders’ approval. Yaky Yanay, Chief Executive Officer and President of Pluri said "We believe that the synergy between Kokomodo’s advancements in cell line development and Pluri’s industrial-scale production creates a strong foundation for innovation, positioning the company to lead the field of cultivated cacao and set new benchmarks in cultivated cacao technologies.” Mr. Weinstein added that, “Pluri has already demonstrated the great potential of cell-based technologies to drive innovation forward in both the regenerative medicine and AgTech space. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to Pluri’s growth as I believe that sustainable and scalable food production is a global priority. I believe that these Transactions mark the beginning of a powerful partnership.” Mr. Weinstein is a seasoned global investor and entrepreneur with over 20 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and sustainable technology sectors. His collaboration with Pluri underscores his commitment to advancing innovative technologies that address critical global challenges, including sustainable food production. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2648/sound-agriculture-secures-25m-to-advance-bioinspired-nutrient-efficiency-solutions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2648/sound-agriculture-secures-25m-to-advance-bioinspired-nutrient-efficiency-solutions.html Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:00:45 +0530 Sound Agriculture, a high growth agtech company, has spun out its leading plant epigenetics platform and completed a $25 million extension of its Series D raise. The new financing, co-led by BMO Impact Investment Fund and S2G Ventures, with significant support from Leaps by Bayer, Syngenta Ventures, and Fall Line Capital amongst others, will propel Sound toward profitability and support the launch of bioinspired nutrient efficiency solutions that empower growers to achieve healthier soils, thriving crops, and climate-friendly farming practices. Sound is redefining crop nutrition with two groundbreaking products: SOURCE®, a patented signaling chemistry, and BLUEPRINT™, a premium solution featuring the highest quality arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). After reaching 2 million acres in the U.S. in just four years and continuing to grow rapidly, Sound is scaling its portfolio across new products and geographies. Marc Khouzami, Managing Director at BMO Impact Investment Fund said ​“The company’s commitment to cutting-edge science, building a world class team, and innovative business models has driven tremendous value for growers. We are pleased to continue supporting a company that has been able to make a significant environmental impact and grow their business.” “Our research has given us a deep understanding of chemical signaling technology,” said Eric Davidson, PhD, Chief Product Officer at Sound Agriculture. ​“This expertise has enabled us to bring together synergistic products that deliver essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to crops, enhancing performance while reducing environmental impact. It began with SOURCE several years ago, continued with BLUEPRINT, and will scale with even more innovations in the coming years.” Davidson leads research, development, and agronomy and is focused on building a robust portfolio of products centered on improving the rootzone ecosystem, with the company’s flagship signaling product, SOURCE®, at the core. The company is dedicated to providing growers with an integrated suite of solutions designed to enhance soil health and boost crop productivity. This year, Sound is accelerating market share growth for its products while driving meaningful change through an innovative grower incentive program, Efficient Acre. SOURCE: By mimicking a natural plant signal, SOURCE activates beneficial soil microbes to unlock nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrients that would otherwise remain inaccessible. It’s one of the easiest ways to optimize in-season nutrient uptake and improve crop performance. BLUEPRINT: The newest addition to the portfolio, BLUEPRINT provides arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), one of the longest-standing crop biological partners. AMF forms a critical partnership with crops, providing essential macronutrients, micronutrients, and water. When used alongside SOURCE, it enables crops to access even more nutrients, helping growers achieve maximum yield potential. Efficient Acre Incentive: Sound’s groundbreaking program eliminates the financial risk for growers interested in using SOURCE to replace synthetic fertilizer. By replacing 25 pounds of nitrogen and/​or phosphorus with SOURCE, growers can earn up to $10 per acre and benefit from a guaranteed yield protection program offering up to $100 per acre cash back. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2636/terradot-to-scale-enhanced-rock-weathering-erw-as-a-cornerstone-of-global-carbon-removal-efforts.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2636/terradot-to-scale-enhanced-rock-weathering-erw-as-a-cornerstone-of-global-carbon-removal-efforts.html Fri, 13 Dec 2024 07:31:13 +0530 Secures $58.2M in Funding & Landmark Carbon Removal Deals to Scale 300,000 tonnes CO2 Removal this Decade Terradot – a climate company uniting global leaders in science, technology, and climate has launched the goal of scaling Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) as a cornerstone of global carbon removal efforts. The company debuts with $58.2 million in funding from some of the biggest names in climate and technology, as well as signed agreements to remove nearly 300,000 tonnes of CO2 from earth’s atmosphere – the largest volume of carbon removal sold by an ERW company. The carbon removal agreements include a 90,000 tonne, $27 million purchase by Frontier buyers for delivery between 2025 and 2029. Google, a Frontier member, has signed an additional deal with Terradot to remove 200,000 tonnes in 2029 and beyond – representing the tech giant’s largest single purchase of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and also its largest single purchase from an enhanced weathering project. Early purchases from Frontier buyers for deployments between 2025 and 2030 will lower the price per ton, allowing Google to benefit from reduced costs for the later deployment. Terradot’s investors include Lead, John Doerr; Individuals, Sheryl Sandberg & Tom Bernthal, George Roberts; Strategics, Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund, Google, Cisco; and Venture Funds, Floodgate, Kleiner Perkins, Acre Venture Partners, Gigascale Capital, Valor Capital, Ponderosa Ventures and others. The $58.2 million in funding includes $4.2 million in seed funding and a $54 million Series A round, which recently closed. The investments from Google and Microsoft represent both companies' first-ever direct investment in an ERW company. Terradot aims to transform the natural process of rock weathering into a global carbon removal solution within the next decade. Terradot has assembled a team of leading scientists, engineers, and operators who are working to solve some of the most important problems in ERW: defining the exact parameters that maximize CO₂ uptake and creating the highest precision measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) tools. Terradot aims to build this research into a suite of tools and a digital platform that will enable ERW to integrate into existing agricultural and industrial systems worldwide – opening a key path to rapid scale within this decade. Terradot is already running scaled pilot operations in Brazil – one of the world’s most optimal locations for ERW on account of its tropical soils, strength in agriculture, and 93 percent clean electricity matrix. In Brazil, Terradot’s pilot is bringing together industry, government, and academic partners to scale ERW projects across the country, leveraging existing farmland in close proximity to quarries to reduce the complexity and cost of project development and deployment. To advance this new model for scalable ERW, Terradot has established a collaboration with EMBRAPA, Brazil’s foremost agricultural research institution. Together, Terradot and EMBRAPA Cerrados are developing pilot projects building towards an ERW framework that can scale throughout the country, tapping into its vast agricultural strength and carbon removal potential. In just over a year of operations in Brazil, Terradot has spread more than 48,000 tons of rock over 1,800 hectares of agricultural land. These trials have generated promising early results, showing that tropical temperature and humidity can improve weathering rates. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2590/ferrero-invests-in-hazelnut-farming-globally-with-research-grants-to-the-u-s-university-programs.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2590/ferrero-invests-in-hazelnut-farming-globally-with-research-grants-to-the-u-s-university-programs.html Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:50:57 +0530 Investments are the latest in an ongoing commitment to help Rutgers University and Oregon State University programs to develop methods for growers increasing hazelnut productivity and sustainability Ferrero Hazelnut Company (Ferrero HCo), a division of global sweet-packaged food company the Ferrero Group, today expanded its investment in U.S.-grown hazelnuts with $340,000 in research grants: $180,000 to Oregon State University and $160,000 to Rutgers University. The grants, a part of Ferrero's commitment to using high-quality, fresh ingredients, will support the universities' collaborative efforts with local farmers, producers, and distributors, to advance sustainability and efficiency in the industry. Hazelnuts are an essential ingredient for Ferrero's well-loved brands like Ferrero Rocher®, the #1 premium chocolate brand in the U.S., and Nutella®, a power-brand that includes the leading spreads snack in the U.S. convenience channel, Nutella & Go®. As a versatile, premium ingredient, hazelnuts are in high demand during seasonal celebrations across North America, such as the upcoming winter holidays.  To ensure year-around availability, the company has diversified its hazelnut sourcing globally to support its rapid growth, especially in North America. "Our mission is to master the hazelnut value chain from end-to-end to create and deliver value in service of customers, brands, and products," said Tommaso de Gregorio, Head of Ferrero's Agri Competence Center. "This is particularly important in North America where we have invested billions of dollars in growth and innovation over the past decade." For years Ferrero has partnered with Oregon State University and the state's growers to foster and strengthen hazelnut cultivation in the Willamette Valley. Recently the company has doubled its hazelnut sourcing from the area and to date has donated over $760,000 to OSU agriculture programs. Ferrero's latest grant of $180,000 will support multiple ongoing projects including biological control of invasive species, diseases, and fungi as well as integrated weed management within orchards, all with the goal of reducing herbicide. "Our team at Rutgers is breeding trees resistant to the fungal disease Eastern Filbert Blight, which severely limits the production of hazelnuts in New Jersey and throughout the East Coast," said Thomas Molnar, Associate Professor in the Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. "With Ferrero's generous support, our program is helping to unlock hazelnut production in eastern North America while providing a means to combat this disease if it spreads to new regions of the world." In addition hazelnut cultivation, Ferrero Group has recently invested heavily in logistics, R&D, and manufacturing capabilities in North America. The company's multiple expansions to its manufacturing campuses in Bloomington, Illinois and Brantford, Ontario have created hundreds of new local jobs, and the company's first ever North American Innovation Center and R&D Labs opened in Chicago in 2023. Ferrero has other facilities across Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey and currently employs over 5,300 across the United States and Canada. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2792/the-3rd-agri-food-tech-asia-expo-aftea-convened-global-leaders-in-the-agri-food-tech-and-agri-food-industries-in-singapore.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2792/the-3rd-agri-food-tech-asia-expo-aftea-convened-global-leaders-in-the-agri-food-tech-and-agri-food-industries-in-singapore.html Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:38:00 +0530 Asia’s leading agri-food tech and agri-food industry event; 4-6 Nov 2024 The 3rd edition of Agri-Food Tech Asia Expo (AFTEA) brought together global leaders, experts, and innovators to explore strategies for sustainable food systems on November 4-6, 2025 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo in Singapore. As Asia's premier sourcing and networking platform for the region’s agrifood and foodtech industry, the event was exclusively crafted for policymakers, decision makers, and innovators in food processing, food service operators, retail, and investment.  Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia was officially inaugurated by Dr. Poh-Koon Koh, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment & Ministry of Manpower on November 4. On the occasion, Dr. Koh spearheaded a collaborative effort to launch the Singapore Aquaculture Plan (SAP) at AFTEA 2024, involving more than 30 stakeholders across the aquaculture value chain. Based on five key pillars, the SAP aims to drive innovation, collaboration, and sustainable progress in aquaculture in Singapore. The AFTEA conference offered a comprehensive perspective on the latest trends and opportunities in the Asian food industry. Among the topics discussed were novel and sustainable foods, alternative proteins, smart and urban farming applications and systems, cutting-edge technologies, cellular agriculture, aquaculture, food safety, and sustainability management. One of the most unique trade events for bringing together cutting-edge technologies, innovative food solutions, and global investment opportunities to elevate the future of food sustainability and security, AFTEA plays a key role in ensuring food sustainability and security. AFTEA served as the cornerstone event of the Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW), providing a platform for agritech companies to showcase innovative products and solutions that can help future-proof the region's agriculture. AFTEA brought together global leaders, including government representatives, business leaders, venture capitalists and investors, facilitating knowledge exchange and exposure to the latest solutions in Asia's agri-food landscape. During the conference, key decision makers, including food manufacturers, processors, policymakers, farmers, and growers, as well as investors, had the opportunity to discover new technologies and preview innovative food products that will sustain and shape the future of food systems. The event was organised by Constellar Exhibitions Pte Ltd and DLG International GmbH. The event was supported by government agencies and industry partners, including the Singapore Food Agency, Temasek, and Enterprise Singapore as part of Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW). “In a rapidly evolving landscape where concerns about sustainability and food security, powered by technological advancements are transforming the agrifood sector in Asia, AFTEA serves as a vital platform for dialogue, collaboration and innovation to shape the future of the agrifood industry. I encourage all agribusiness stakeholders to participate in AFTEA 2024, to share and discover groundbreaking innovations in agri and food technology, sustainable and regenerative farming, alternative proteins, aquaculture, and more,” said Mr Chen Yuyuan, Portfolio Director, Constellar. Keeping collaboration at the forefront of agri-food tech helps drive sustainable solutions for food security and production by connecting startups, researchers, and industry leaders. Over 10,000 key players in the global agribusiness value chain attended the AFTEA gathering, including policymakers, decision makers, retailers, and investment professionals. The AFTEA showcases the latest agri-tech and foodtech solutions from exhibitors globally, offering a comprehensive view on the latest agri-tech and foodtech trends and opportunities.  AFTEA 2024 focused on Innovation, Safety, and Sustainability - three key components of agritech business - to drive regional agrifood growth and development. Innovation: Innovative solutions and technologies can help farmers and food tech companies scale food production, accelerate business transformation, expand distribution channels, and bridge financial support gaps. Safety: In parallel, safety solutions and processes for food processing, production, and distribution can benefit consumers, producers, and the environment. A range of solutions covering aspects of food tracking, traceability, hygienic design, fraud prevention, standards and certification, inspection and detection. Sustainability: In order to create positive impacts on people and the planet, sustainable solutions are necessary to transform food production. Solutions that conserve energy and resources, and optimize water and wastewater management while transforming food production. “AFTEA is an essential and valuable platform that brings together global leaders, experts, and innovators to promote sustainable food systems. Showcasing advanced agri-tech solutions, novel foods, alternative proteins, and smart farming applications, AFTEA spotlights cutting-edge trends and technologies. The event emphasises the importance of Public-Private Partnerships which is very much aligned with the priorities of APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security, and the critical role of the Agri-Food Tech World Championship in addressing food security challenges. Amid rising food prices and supply-demand issues, AFTEA is pivotal in promoting public-private cooperation for food security in APEC economies,” said Professor Matthew Tan, Chair for Sustainable in Agriculture & Fishery Sectors, APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security. Enthralling Pavillions and Panel Discussions: AFTEA provided a premier platform for agri-food tech companies to showcase cutting-edge technologies, products and solutions that will future-proof the region's agri-food industries. An international content partner of Constellar, DLG (the German Agricultural Society), AFTEA is a key participant in Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW), which is organized by the Singapore Food Agency and Temasek in collaboration with the Singapore Economic Development Board, Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and the Singapore Government Agency for Science, Technology, and Research. It is organized by Constellar and Rethink Events. The AFTEA showcases the latest advancements in the agri-food sector through a living lab demo zone, knowledge sharing on content stages, and pitching competitions. Approximately 10,000 attendees will have direct access to 300 exhibitors this year, an increase of 40 percent from last year, including over 100 start-ups and 17 international and industry groups showcasing the latest innovations, practices, and strategies. For emerging and established players in the agrifood industry, Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia (AFTEA) offers a focused exhibition platform featuring live demonstrations, thematic experiential zones, a sandbox, and community-based learning opportunities. Agrifood-tech stakeholders from the public and private sectors as well as knowledge institutions participated in a networking reception on the show floor to engage in constructive dialogue. The Asia-Pacific Society for Cellular Agriculture (APAC-SCA) supported the Cultivated Meat Pavilion, which returns after its successful debut last year to present the latest products in cultivated meat. A number of leading cultivated meat companies were featured in the pavilion, including Avant Meat, Cell Agritech, DPR Construction Asia Pacific, JS Biosciences, among others.  Farmers and growers, manufacturers, technology providers, MNCs, start-ups, investors, wholesalers, and more are gathered at this pavilion, along with manufacturers, technology solution providers, investors, wholesalers, and more. As a dynamic platform for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the agri-business sector, Founder's Hub hosted a pitching stage for start-up competitions and was a featured event at a global start-up competition organised with Innovate 360. A start-up pavilion led by Innovate 360 and Impact Circle, was also hosted where start-ups could network, collaborate, and explore growth and investment opportunities. Bringing together the largest agri-food technology start-up ecosystem in Southeast Asia, the Championship was designed to identify, support, and celebrate trailblazing start-ups in agritech, food sustainability, health and wellness, and deep technology from Seed to Series A. A structured competition at the event also provided start-ups with the opportunity to connect with investors and corporates, gain exposure, raise funds, and pilot projects. The Grand Championship featured more than 60 teams.  A total of 10 awards have been given out, where prizes include investment term sheets worth about S$3.5 million from pledging VCs, such as First Frontier Ventures, Pine Ventures, TLA (Temasek Lifesciences Accelerator), Elev8, etc. Additionally, Founder's Hub featured over 5 hours of content from 35 international speakers across 13 sessions, encouraging knowledge exchange, collaboration, and inspiration among the next generation of agri-food disruptors. A Living Lab Tech Showcase, featuring Sananbio, an expert in vertical farming and horticultural lighting, offering sustainable bio-based solutions; Inong Agriculture Co Ltd, a Big Data-powered soil microbe expert offering cash-crop-specific solutions that use customized probiotics to boost crop yield; Takamiya, a manufacturer of high-performance greenhouses, demonstrated their latest collaborations. Sanobio's intelligent plant cultivation and LED lighting system were highlights. A new-generation automated plant factory in Fujian Province is currently using this system to produce 1.5 tonnes of vegetables each day for supply to Fuzhou, Xiamen, and Quanzhou.  A variety of engaging formats were used by corporations and industry organizations to showcase and discuss agricultural trends and agritech innovations at the Sandbox, including solo presentations, fireside chats, and panel discussions. Attendees at the event discovered practical solutions for improving crop yield, reducing costs, and understanding agritech solutions.    A combined 30 hours of content were offered across two Sandbox stages on Innovation, Sustainability, and Food Safety. During the conference, 110 speakers from 15 countries and regions shared practical solutions for improving crop yields, reducing costs, and deepening attendees' understanding of agri-tech solutions, as well as presenting the latest agricultural advances, which will be demonstrated by exhibitors. On one of the Sandbox stages, the Climate-Smart Practices Forum featured senior executives from the World Bank, Mars, RIZE, Mae Fah Luang Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The executives shared their expertise on topics such as agricultural decarbonisation and digital transformation, as well as the convergence of agriculture and the Blue Economy. The discussion was staged on the background that the integration of ocean resource stewardship and environmental sustainability has gained traction for its potential to promote sustainable development, address climate change, and enhance food security. The Sandbox also hosted The Agri-Food Tech Demo Day, allowing founders to gain visibility, attract investors, and build relationships with industry leaders who can help propel their businesses forward. Teams from RP Trendlines' Agri-Food Tech Incubation Programme - a collaboration between Republic Polytechnic (RP) and Trendlines Agrifood - presented innovation-driven ideas to a judging panel for cash prizes worth more than S$150,000. Agri-Food Tech Demo Day featured finalist teams from Republic Polytechnic's (RP) Agri-Food Tech Incubation Programme and Trendlines Agrifood's Agri-Food Tech Incubation Programme. Over S$150,000 in cash and in-kind prizes were up for grabs for these innovative teams. Founders had the opportunity to gain visibility, attract investors, and build partnerships with industry leaders who can help propel their businesses forward during the event. Start-up Pavillions: AFTEA 2024 brought together a variety of innovative solutions and technologies across eight key profiles, exploring groundbreaking advancements and opportunities in agri-food technology namely, Aquaculture , Food Safety & Security, Novel Food Technology, Novel Food, Alternative Proteins & Sustainable Food, Smart Processing & Packaging, Sustainability & Resource Management, Technological solutions, Urban/Smart Farming. The AFTEA provided an opportunity for agribusiness players to increase their market share, forge partnerships, expand opportunities, and collaborate across sectors in order to meet regional agri-food demands. AFTEA  platform leveraging Singapore as the springboard for access to Asia's high-potential markets for agri-food tech and food-tech sectors, AFTEA's Agri-Food Tech World Championship is an important step toward empowering start-ups. A robust support system is being built to help start-ups overcome barriers to entry, scale sustainably, and address food security needs with more than S$3 million in investment and access to VCs, accelerators, and industry leaders. As part of this initiative, Innovate 360 reaffirms its commitment to nurturing innovative solutions that can transform agriculture and food systems in the future. At the startup pavilion, attendees had the opportunity to learn about groundbreaking, diverse solutions that are shaping the future of agri-food through food accelerators Impact Circle, SPACE-F, HAOSHI Accelerator, and Innovate 360. A few of the projects include a biomimetic underground irrigation system and an artificial sense platform, a protein-based sugar alternative with zero calories utilizing precision fermentation, and drone technology for spraying insecticides.    AFTEA was also an ideal platform for collaborations and alliances of companies with diverse backgrounds which can complement each other for a synergetic growth in the Agri-Food tech industry globally.  For instance, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Direct Carbon and ARIANETECH PTE LTD in collaboration that marks a significant milestone in Direct Carbon's mission to help indoor growers transition to circular farming practices with our sustainable CO2 enrichment solutions. In South East Asia, Arianetech aims to empower local growers to adopt carbon-neutral practices and attain sustainable growth.  International Pavillions: As an international sourcing platform for agri-food and agri-tech solutions, AFTEA displays agri-food technologies and agri-food solutions from exhibitors worldwide. A number of notable global and federal agencies, including the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Singapore, co-exhibited at AFTEA 2024. The Netherlands Pavilion was inaugurated by Ambassador Anneke Adema and followed by a seminar covering high-tech farming and alternative proteins. Dutch and Singaporean agri-tech companies, Light4Food, DanDutcH ApS and SG VEG, participated in a discussion on the successful application of agri-tech in Singapore and the region. As part of their food-tech solutions, Vivici and TNO presented precision-fermented milk proteins and 3D food printing, respectively. The French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (FCCS) organized the French Pavilion, officiated by His Excellency Minh Di Tang, French Ambassador to Singapore, to showcase groundbreaking innovations in sustainable food and agri-technology by leading French companies. Among the notable innovations were those from MYCOPHYTO, POITTEMILL - FORPLEX, and Genopole. In conjunction with the Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW), the BritCham Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia showcased cutting-edge agri-food and food technology, innovative food solutions, and global investment opportunities to forge new partnerships, discover new sales channels, and accelerate your business growth. The Spanish Embassy's pavilion explored the innovation and regulation landscape in foodtech for other Asia-Pacific countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam. An overview of Exhibitors and Visitors: AFTEA 2024 featured over 300 exhibitors showcasing the latest advances and innovations in the key exhibit themes, including pavilions from France, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and The Netherlands, as well as leading industry companies including DPR, Dragino, Eurofins, Grain Arianetech, JS Biosciences, Nexton, Priva, SCIEX, and Shenzhen FY Lighting. Around 100 start-ups were among the exhibitors, contributing to what is considered the largest ecosystem for agrifood and agritechnology start-ups in Southeast Asia. A total of eight profiles were showcased by AFTEA's exhibitors: Novel Food Technology, Smart & Urban Farming, Novel Food, Alternative Proteins & Sustainable Food, Aquaculture, Food Safety & Security, Sustainability & Resource Management, Technological Solutions, Aquaculture. Many new international groups also exhibited, including ones from Japan, South Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan. Gold Partner Nurasa returned to AFTEA this year with its network of collaborators and start-ups dedicated to advancing holistic nutrition and driving sustainable innovation. • Agri-Tech Companies: These are businesses that develop and offer innovative agricultural technologies, products, and services. • Food Manufacturers and Processors: Companies involved in food production, processing, and packaging. • Agribusinesses: Entities engaged in agriculture-related activities, such as farming, distribution, and logistics. Products include seeds, fertilisers, services like crop management and supply chain solutions. • Start-ups: They bring fresh ideas, novel technologies and solutions. • Research Institutions and Universities: Organisations contributing to agri-food research and development. • Farmers and Growers: Farmers, growers, or anyone involved in crop or livestock production. • Food Industry Professionals: Including chefs, food safety experts, brand owners, retail chains, and supply chain managers. • Food Manufacturers and Processors: Sourcing leading-edge technologies, ingredients, and equipment to enhance their own operations. • Government Representatives: Policymakers, regulators, and officials shaping the agri-food sector. • Investors: Those interested in funding agri-food tech startups and projects. • Academics and Students: Interested in learning about the latest advancements in agri-food tech. Further, Singaporean public, private, and academic institutions showcased their innovations at AFTEA 2024.  A*STAR SIFBI (Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation) presented their research, an opportunity to gain insight into how our organization is driving resilience and sustainability. The SIFBI has strengthened its efforts by developing value-added ingredients tailored to Asian palates through sustainable ingredient innovation and ??????? ??? ????????? ????????? through fermentation to enhance food experiences and promote health and wellness. The multidisciplinary approach to supporting a sustainable agri-food ecosystem with food valorization initiatives - bio-converting our agrifood waste into aquafeed and tailoring future food designs to consumer needs.  The 4th edition of Agri-Food Tech Asia Expo 2025 (AFTEA) is returning with all its glory again on 4-6 November 2025, at Singapore’s Sands Expo & Convention Centre  (Halls A & B).  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2576/australias-investment-in-agricultural-rd-has-reached-nearly-3-billion-in-2023-24.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2576/australias-investment-in-agricultural-rd-has-reached-nearly-3-billion-in-2023-24.html Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:42 +0530 Total agricultural R&D funding has continued to increase gradually, from $2.91 billion in 2022-23 to $2.98 billion in 2023-24. Australia’s investment in agricultural research and development has reached almost $3 billion in 2023-24, the latest Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) release has shown. This long-term commitment will lead to improvements in agricultural productivity, sustainability and modernisation. The private sector accounts for the largest growth in investment in the sector, with a nearly 5% annual growth rate from 2005-06. ABARES Executive Director, Dr Jared Greenville, said ABARES’s latest data, Agricultural research and development (R&D) investment in Australia – 2023-24 update, found total agricultural R&D funding was increasing steadily, largely from the private sector. “Agricultural R&D investment is what underpins innovation in the sector, and the flow-on benefits for farmers are considerable. We know that every $1 invested in agricultural R&D, generates an almost $8 return for farmers over 10 years, which is a great incentive for the private sector to make these important investments,” Dr Greenville said. According to ABARES, total agricultural R&D funding has continued to increase gradually, from $2.91 billion in 2022-23 to $2.98 billion in 2023-24. “Overall, investment in agricultural R&D is increasing steadily, but we’ve seen the private sector just overtake the public sector as the main funder of agricultural R&D investment. There is a healthy mix of public and private R&D investment, reflecting a strong and robust innovation system with a good mix of long-term discovery research and practical commercialization of technology. Private sector investment has the advantage of focusing on commercializing new technologies, so it has far-reaching benefits for Australian farmers,” Dr Greenville said. Dr Greenville said the strength of Australia’s agricultural R&D system was underpinned by the rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs). “The RDCs are a unique investment partnership between industry and government, and their funding has grown steadily over the years as productivity has increased. Each RDC delivers tangible, practical improvements for their industries, particularly in terms of productivity and sustainability” added Dr Greenville. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2528/saudi-arabian-fund-for-development-sfd-commits-205-m-to-three-development-projects-in-partnership-with-saudi.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2528/saudi-arabian-fund-for-development-sfd-commits-205-m-to-three-development-projects-in-partnership-with-saudi.html Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:31:40 +0530 Signed agriculture, education and energy sector development financing loan agreements with the Republic of Serbia  The Saudi Arabian Fund for Development (SFD) has signed three development financing loan agreements with the Republic of Serbia to provide $205 million in funding for major projects in the sectors of agriculture, education and energy. The partnership, the first of its kind with Serbia, aims to boost the country's long-term socio-economic growth. The agreements were signed by Sultan Almarshad, CEO of SFD, and Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Sinisa Mali, in a ceremony attended by Saudi Arabia's Deputy Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ali Aldossari. Commenting on the agreements, Mali said: "We are pleased to sign three important agreements with the Saudi Fund for Development, which is a solid first step following the memorandum of understanding we signed last year. We are very grateful for the support. The projects that will be funded with this funding are expected to contribute to the creation of new jobs, strengthen our economy and improve the status of the Republic of Serbia in the global scientific community. The agreements will also strengthen the long-term partnership between the Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as contribute to the introduction and development of important projects in our country." The contract includes three projects: the “Strengthening Irrigation Infrastructure in Various Areas” project worth $75 million, the “Construction of Bio4 Campus in Belgrade” project worth $65 million , and the “Transmission System Development (Phase 1)” project worth $65 million . The first project will strengthen irrigation systems and improve water management in key agricultural areas by constructing new pumping stations, rehabilitating existing canals, and establishing a 230 km modern irrigation network. The project, which covers areas such as Novi Slankamen and Jasenicke Kapi, aims to significantly increase agricultural productivity and ensure efficient water distribution during dry periods. The second project will fund the construction of the Bio4 Campus in Belgrade, a pioneering scientific research center focused on biotechnology. The Bio4 Campus will be located at the University of Belgrade and will include six faculties, nine scientific institutes and state-of-the-art laboratories, including a biosafety level 3 laboratory. The center is designed to bring together researchers, scientists and experts in fields such as biology, medicine and wastewater research to foster interdisciplinary innovation and collaboration. The third project will expand Serbia's energy infrastructure by building new 400 kV transmission lines and upgrading existing substations, improving the reliability of electricity supplies in Serbia and integrating the country into the European electricity market through the Transbalkan Power Corridor. Commenting on the agreement, Sultan Almarshad, CEO of SFD, said: "Supporting sustainable development through strategic financing of infrastructure and education is at the core of our mission. Our partnership with Serbia is part of our commitment to fostering innovation, improving agricultural productivity and strengthening energy security, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The projects we are funding will deliver long-term benefits to the Serbian people and contribute to the country's socio-economic development." SFD is committed to promoting sustainable development around the world. As the official development arm of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SFD has committed a total of $20 billion worth of funding to over 800 projects in over 100 countries. In 2024, SFD will celebrate 50 years of promoting global development and has recently expanded its support to 11 new countries, including Serbia. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2511/usda-invests-9-m-in-10-organizations-nationwide-to-support-urban-agriculture-and-innovative-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2511/usda-invests-9-m-in-10-organizations-nationwide-to-support-urban-agriculture-and-innovative-production.html Thu, 10 Oct 2024 15:35:29 +0530 This partnership with T.I.M..E is part of a $40 million investment made possible by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing nearly $9 million in funding to local organizations to provide outreach, education and technical assistance to urban agricultural producers in ten U.S. cities. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is partnering with To Improve Mississippi Economics (T.I.M.E.) to administer an urban farm outreach program offering subawards to community groups that work with producers in cities where FSA has established Urban County Committees.  “Working with T.I.M.E. to fund organizations providing on-the-ground support to urban producers is an important step in fulfilling our commitment to the health and sustainability of our communities and building resilient local food systems,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux, “Through T.I.M.E.’s expanded outreach efforts, made possible through USDA funding, we can now connect producers to our Urban USDA Service Centers and broaden the impact of our Urban County Committees and the federal farm programs we offer.” The T.I.M.E. partnership is part of a broad USDA investment in urban agriculture and innovative production. Other efforts include: Establishing 17 new Urban Service Centers staffed by FSA and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employees to better serve urban producers. Organizing 27 FSA urban county committees to make important decisions about how FSA farm programs are administered locally. Urban farmers who participate in USDA programs in the areas selected are encouraged to participate by nominating and voting for county committee members. Investing $5.2 million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) competitive grants in fiscal year 2024 Administering the People’s Garden Initiative, which celebrates collaborative gardens across the country and worldwide that benefit their communities by growing fresh, healthy food and supporting resilient, local food systems using sustainable practices and providing greenspace.      Creating and managing a Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production to advise the Secretary on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban agriculture.       Providing cooperative agreements that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans.   Investing in risk management education to broaden the reach of crop insurance among urban and innovative producers.     Partnering with the Vermont Law and Graduate School Center for Agriculture and Food Systems to develop resources that help growers understand and work through local policies.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2497/germanys-saxony-anhalt-presents-current-and-future-investment-opportunities.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2497/germanys-saxony-anhalt-presents-current-and-future-investment-opportunities.html Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:17:12 +0530 Central German federal state offers Europe's largest investment opportunity with 700 hectares of space at the High-Tech Park Germany's Saxony-Anhalt mentioned that there is plenty of space for big plans in Germany as the Central German federal state offers Europe's largest investment opportunity with 700 hectares of space at the High-Tech Park on the outskirts of its capital, Magdeburg. In addition, there are currently 19 more attractive commercial and industrial sites, each offering at least ten hectares of contiguous space, which will be showcased at the joint booth of the European Metropolitan Region of Central Germany at Europe's largest B2B trade fair for real estate and investment, Expo Real in Munich. "Saxony-Anhalt is currently experiencing remarkable investment momentum. Numerous innovative companies from various sectors have deliberately chosen our location – a testament to the attractiveness of our region. In addition to excellent location advantages, such as our central location and well-developed infrastructure, we offer attractive spaces for new projects. We will be highlighting these strengths at Expo Real to attract further investors to Saxony-Anhalt and fully leverage our region's growth potential," emphasized Dr. Robert Franke, Managing Director of IMG. Sven Schulze, Minister for Economic Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, and Forestry of Saxony-Anhalt is convinced: "The economy in the eastern German states has become a driving force for Germany. Saxony-Anhalt plays a special role in this, especially with recent settlements from Daimler Truck, Avnet, Wacker, and others. We want to continue this development and are working to attract more companies to the business location of Saxony-Anhalt." Saxony-Anhalt also offers strategic sites for near-term development in places such as Leuna, Köthen, Sangerhausen, Barleben, Stendal, Quedlinburg-Quarmbeck, and Sandersdorf-Brehna. Making its debut at Expo Real are also tourism-related investment opportunities in the emerging travel destination of Saxony-Anhalt, which impresses its visitors from home and abroad with spectacular attractions like UNESCO World Heritage sites, picturesque small towns, and unspoiled nature, resulting in continuously increasing numbers of guests and overnight stays. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2494/gafsp-launches-75m-financing-window-to-mobilize-private-investment-into-high-potential-agricultural-entrepreneurs.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2494/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/4/2487/fourth-annual-seeding-the-future-global-food-system-challenge-awarding-1m-to-food-innovators-to-open-november-1-2024.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2487/fourth-annual-seeding-the-future-global-food-system-challenge-awarding-1m-to-food-innovators-to-open-november-1-2024.html Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:10:34 +0530 Aims to inspire and reward teams of innovators who are creating impactful ideas that address key issues facing food systems globally The Seeding The Future Foundation and Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) are proud to announce the return of the Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge, which awards $1 million every year to scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams across non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profits, social enterprises, universities, research institutions, and small and emerging for-profit enterprises for their innovations that will help transform food systems globally. Since its inception three years ago, the Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge, hosted by IFT and initiated and funded by the Seeding The Future Foundation, has attracted over 2,400 submissions. Each year the Challenge provides three levels of awards: Up to two Grand Prize winners (each receiving $250,000) Up to three Growth Grant winners (each receiving $100,000) Up to eight Seed Grant winners (each receiving $25,000) Winners are selected based on their food system innovations being doable, having projected economic feasibility at scale and high-impact potential to improve the lives and health of people and the environment. “Science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship are key pillars to transform food systems on a global level and the need for climate-positive and human-centered food solutions becomes more urgent every year,” said Seeding The Future Foundation founder Bernhard van Lengerich. “The purpose of the Challenge is to inspire and reward teams of innovators who are creating impactful ideas that address key issues facing food systems globally. Solutions with the highest likelihood to win are those that focus on the intersection of safe and nutritious food, sustainable practices, and equitable access to food that is affordable, attractive and trusted.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2478/pepsico-apac-greenhouse-accelerator-2024-accolades-the-latest-innovations.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2478/pepsico-apac-greenhouse-accelerator-2024-accolades-the-latest-innovations.html Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:26:10 +0530 Vietnamese startup Alternō’s Thermal Energy Storage Solution Wins PepsiCo APAC Greenhouse Accelerator 2024 PepsiCo, today, unveiled Alternō as the winner of its2024 Greenhouse Accelerator Program - APAC edition, highlighting the company's ongoingdesire to help foster next-generation solutions for a more sustainable future. The GreenhouseAccelerator is an important initiative within PepsiCo’s pep+ strategy, which seeks to promotesustainability across the company’s operations. By supporting entrepreneurs who focus onreducing waste, improving food security, and addressing climate change, PepsiCo is reinforcingits efforts to work towards a sustainable food system that benefits both people and the planet.Selected from a group of 10 finalists across APAC, including Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines,Australia, and China, the 2024 Greenhouse Accelerator Program winner, Alternō, was selectedfor its pioneering approach to reducing carbon emissions across agriculture, industry, andresidential heating through thermal energy.As part of their win, Alternō will receive an additional USD 100,000 grant to further develop itssolution. This grant will be instrumental in helping them to scale their sand-based battery, whichwas recently piloted at PepsiCo’s food plant in Vietnam, completing a pellet drying project with aview to trial heating oil next.“Winning PepsiCo’s APAC Greenhouse Accelerator Program 2024 is a pivotal moment for ourstartup,” said Hai Ho, Co-Founder and COO of Alternō. “PepsiCo’s mentorship and resourceshave helped us sharpen our strategy and accelerate our growth. We look forward to furthercollaborating with PepsiCo to expand the reach of our solution and contribute to a moresustainable future.”The Greenhouse Accelerator Program is designed to be a launchpad for startups that arereimagining the future of business through sustainability. Participants receive personalizedmentorship from PepsiCo executives, a USD 20,000 grant, and access to PepsiCo’s extensiveindustry network, positioning them to bring their innovative solutions to market faster. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2468/philippines-seeks-more-foreign-project-funding-to-fill-investment-gaps-in-agriculture-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2468/philippines-seeks-more-foreign-project-funding-to-fill-investment-gaps-in-agriculture-sector.html Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:51:41 +0530 Plans to strengthen seaports, roads and bridges, and irrigation that are needed to modernize agriculture and improve the income of farmers and fishermen Philippines Department of Agriculture is actively seeking additional funding from international development partners to address critical challenges in the agricultural sector and fill large gaps in farm infrastructure due to the lack of significant investments in the past three decades. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA recognized that the government has limited resources to undertake major projects such as seaports, roads and bridges, and irrigation that are needed to modernize agriculture and improve the income of farmers and fishermen. The DA chief also pointed to efforts to expand the cold chain storage network to address issues of overproduction and post-harvest losses, particularly in high-value crops. “Your department is working at finding other funding sources from official development partners to implement necessary and relevant interventions needed to address critical sectoral and institutional challenges and investment gaps,” the DA chief said. Sec. Tiu Laurel said development of “Build Better More” farm-to-market roads and bridges has been proposed to the French Government to improve the infrastructure linking farm production sites, fisheries, coastal landing points, and post-harvest facilities to markets and major highways. The DA chief said the project will also facilitate trade to ensure smooth and efficient movement of agricultural products to reduce trade barriers and develop a more effective value chain for food and agricultural commodities to ensure they reach their destinations more efficiently. Program is expected to address significant infrastructure gaps that currently hinder the efficient distribution of agricultural goods. Sec. Tiu Laurel said the DA is also proposing a project under the World Bank’s Program for Results, or P4R, provide incremental funding to accelerate DA’s initiatives and enhance the impact of its programs, and emphasize achieving sustainable outcomes and building institutional capacity. Sec. Tiu Laurel also underscored the DA’s collaboration with the National Irrigation Administration, which has been recently transferred to the Office of the President to fastback irrigation projects, in pushing forward with the Philippine Solar-Powered Irrigation Project that will initially install 8,000 units across the country to provide farms with rapid access to irrigation, boost harvest and increase farm yields. “In addition, we will be building food terminals along with cold storage facilities that will also be strategically established regionally. These facilities are very crucial to address the food logistical cold chain issues,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2460/farmland-lp-announces-investment-from-microsofts-climate-innovation-fund-to-support-regenerative-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2460/farmland-lp-announces-investment-from-microsofts-climate-innovation-fund-to-support-regenerative-agriculture.html Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:16:49 +0530 Farmland LP will develop Soil Carbon Credits on its 18,500-acre farm portfolio and expand the market for regenerative soil carbon credits. Farmland LP, the largest fund manager in the U.S. focused on organic regenerative farmland, announced an investment from Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund in Farmland LP’s third value-add fund, Vital Farmland III LLC. Farmland LP will develop Soil Carbon Credits on its 18,500-acre farm portfolio and expand the market for regenerative soil carbon credits. This work will also include preparing the necessary protocols, a critical step towards increasing regenerative agriculture practices globally to sequester vast amounts of atmospheric CO2 as mineralized soil carbon. ″Farmland LP’s use of regenerative agriculture practices to ensure healthy soils, and therefore high-quality soil carbon credits, is a critical element of advancing nature-based carbon removal solutions,″ said Erika Basham, director of Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund. ″We’re excited to invest in their fund and work with them to create a more sustainable agriculture sector. ″This investment from Microsoft is a significant milestone for Farmland LP and the broader regenerative agriculture sector,″ said Craig Wichner, Founder and Managing Partner of Farmland LP. ″Microsoft’s investment in our Fund III is a powerful validation of our approach to regenerative agriculture, and this capital will allow us to acquire additional properties and increase our fund’s economic and environmental returns.″ Microsoft's investment aligns with its commitment to sustainability and innovation. Farmland LP will package carbon credits from diverse regenerative agriculture practices, which it expects to generate using Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard, the foremost carbon program in the world. This work is instrumental in demonstrating that regenerative practices provide economic benefits to farmers and thus accelerating the sequestration of carbon in soils on agricultural lands worldwide, driving the necessary work to prioritize the carbon credit market’s focus on regenerative agriculture, establish and standardize carbon credit protocols, and promote sustainable farming practices. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2445/horticulture-new-zealand-calls-for-sector-to-be-included-in-emissions-reduction-plan.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2445/horticulture-new-zealand-calls-for-sector-to-be-included-in-emissions-reduction-plan.html Fri, 13 Sep 2024 01:10:41 +0530 HortNZ urges the Government to commit to doubling the horticulture sector’s value by 2035 Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) is urging the Government to incorporate the horticulture sector into its second Emissions Reduction Plan. The current plan, outlining actions to reduce emissions between 2026 and 2030, makes no mention of horticulture, fruits, or vegetables.  “It is concerning that the Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP2) overlooks horticulture entirely. The sector is crucial for meeting emissions reduction targets and supporting land-use change to horticulture is one of the many solutions New Zealand should be leveraging. Horticulture is already a low-emissions land use that provides food for New Zealanders and the global market, contributing $7.48 billion in value across domestic and export markets. This is achieved on less than 0.1% of New Zealand's land area while accounting for only 1.1% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. To ensure a low-risk pathway to net-zero, the Government should develop a diverse portfolio of emissions reduction policies, rather than relying heavily on a few uncertain technological advances" explains Michelle Sands, acting chief executive of HortNZ. The Climate Change Commission has included 14,000 hectares of land use to horticulture in its demonstration path to meet the second emissions budget. HortNZ wants ERP2 to include clear policy direction supporting this transition. This should involve recognising diversification into horticulture as a key policy and elevating 'enabling the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables' to a matter of national importance under the Resource Management Act (RMA) and its replacement legislation. Additionally, ERP2 include the policy aim to establish a national framework for commercial vegetable production to address the challenges posed by unworkable regional regulations. With the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) Fund officially disestablished under ERP2, HortNZ is also calling for the creation of a new fund to reinvest Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) proceeds into greenhouse decarbonisation. “There is an urgent need for policy mechanisms that facilitate horticultural expansion as a strategy for low-emissions food production, and that provide resources for the sector to further decarbonise. HortNZ urges the Government to commit to doubling the horticulture sector’s value by 2035 as part of its emissions reduction strategy, aligning with the goals of the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan, a strategy co-owned by government, industry, science, and Māori” adds Sands. Horticulture New Zealand represents the interests of approximately 4,500+ commercial fruit and vegetable growers across the country, who produce around 100 different fruit and vegetables. The horticultural sector supports over 40,000 jobs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2073/philippines-evaluates-rice-tariffication-law-to-optimize-farming-and-agribusiness-potential.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2073/philippines-evaluates-rice-tariffication-law-to-optimize-farming-and-agribusiness-potential.html Thu, 22 Aug 2024 09:16:11 +0530 Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. proposes allocation of funds exceeding P10 billion for the initiative Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. supports the proposed extension of the Rice Tariffication Law subject to modifications that will ensure optimum impact on modernizing agriculture, enhancing farm productivity and improving rice farmers’ competitiveness and income. The agri chief said one of the adjustments he wants is the allocation of funds exceeding P10 billion to be set aside for farm and other inputs. Last year, total tariff collection reached P29 billion, he noted. The DA chief said the allocation for improving farmers’ competitiveness should be increased. Projects to be funded should include postharvest facilities that could significantly increase rice recovery for every kilo of palay by as much as 15 percent. This is also envisioned to lower import volumes, he added.  Republic Act 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Act, effectively deregulated the rice industry by removing the power of the National Food Authority to trade in the national food staple. It also limited its function to ensure buffer stocks for calamities and disasters.  The law, however, appropriated tariffs paid by private rice importers to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, or Rice Fund, with P10 billion set aside for mechanization and farm input support. The balance is distributed to small rice farmers as financial assistance that expires next year. The US Department of Agriculture has lowered the estimated rice import of the Philippines this year to 3.9 million metric tons, down from the initial 4.1 million project, after the Philippine Statistics Authority forecasted higher rice output in the first quarter. Aside from a higher Rice Fund budget for mechanization and postharvest facilities,  the agri chief said the new law should allow for annual review on fund allocation to maximize farm productivity. In earlier discussions with DA officials, Sec. Tiu Laurel also noted the need to allow DA or NFA to regain its ability to influence rice prices in the market and not be limited to buying rice from local farmers for buffer stocking. Until the passage of the law in 2019, the NFA is allowed to import rice and sells them through authorized dealers to influence the market price of rice—a commodity that weighs heavily in the consumer basket that determines inflation.  High prices of rice has kept inflation elevated and officials expect the situation to linger until July, keeping the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas from lowering interest rates ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2345/abd-upgrades-economic-growth-forecast-2024-for-apac.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2345/abd-upgrades-economic-growth-forecast-2024-for-apac.html Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:25:45 +0530  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has slightly raised its economic growth forecast for developing Asia and the Pacific this year to 5.0% from 4.9% previously projected, as regional exports continue to grow, complementing robust domestic demand. It maintained its growth forecast for next year at 4.9%. While inflation in the region as a whole is slowing to pre-pandemic levels, price pressures remain elevated in a number of countries. Food inflation remains elevated in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, partly due to adverse weather conditions and food export restrictions in some countries. The growth forecast for the People's Republic of China (PRC), the region's largest economy, is unchanged at 4.8% this year. The ongoing recovery in services consumption and better-than-expected exports and industrial activity are supporting growth, even though China's struggling property sector has yet to stabilize. The government took additional measures in May to support the property market. The forecast for India, the region’s fastest-growing economy, also remains unchanged at 7% for fiscal 2024. India’s industrial sector is projected to grow rapidly, driven by manufacturing and strong demand in the construction sector. Agriculture is expected to rebound on the back of forecasts for above-normal monsoons, while investment demand remains strong, driven mainly by public investment. For Southeast Asia, the current-year growth forecast is maintained at 4.6%, supported by significant improvements in both domestic and external demand. The current-year forecast for the Caucasus and Central Asia is raised to 4.5% from the previous forecast of 4.3%, partly reflecting stronger-than-expected growth in Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic. In the Pacific, the 2024 forecast remains at 3.3%, reflecting stronger tourism and infrastructure spending, as well as a pickup in mining activity in Papua New Guinea. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2306/indonesia-emphasizes-the-significance-of-smallholders-in-the-palm-oil-industry-supply-chain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2306/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/4/2260/korea-advances-government-sponsored-fund-management-system-to-upscale-agriculture-startups.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2260/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/4/2211/zespri-announce-first-three-pilots-from-its-new-innovation-fund-zag.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2211/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/4/2202/australias-extends-519-1-m-support-to-farmers-through-future-drought-fund-fdf.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2202/australias-extends-519-1-m-support-to-farmers-through-future-drought-fund-fdf.html Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:19:37 +0530 A major investment in 2024-25 budget to help farmers and producers protect and adapt against the impacts of climate change, build more resilience Australia is ensuring the agriculture and land sectors can meaningfully contribute to the whole-of-economy transition to net zero. Hence Government is investing $63.8 million over ten years to support initial emissions reduction efforts. In addition, helping regional and rural communities prepare for the next drought and manage climate risk is a key feature of the Albanese Government’s $519.1 million spend from the Future Drought Fund (FDF). Support for farmers and regional communities in this Budget includes: $235 million over eight years to work with regions and communities to help them manage their own drought and climate risks, through collaborative and locally led action. The funding will continue the Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub model, provide for the next phase of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program and deliver a revised FDF Communities program.  $15 million over four years to work with First Nations peoples and communities to support connection to country through management of drought and climate risks. The funding will establish a First Nations Advisory Group to advise on issues relating to drought and climate resilience, a pilot program to facilitate place-based, First Nations-led activities, and dedicated funding to support activities that seek to improve opportunities for First Nations participation in FDF drought and climate resilience activities.  $137.4 million over five years to support farmers and regional communities to make informed decisions and better manage drought and climate risks. The funding will extend and improve the existing Farm Business Resilience and Climate Services for Agriculture programs, and deliver the new Scaling Success Program.  $120.3 million over six years for programs that trial innovative solutions with the potential to build the agriculture sector, landscapes and communities’ long-term resilience to drought and climate risks, through transformational change. The funding will continue and expand the FDF Long Term Trials Program, a revised FDF Resilient Landscapes Program, and will implement a new FDF Innovation Challenges Pilot. These activities will lead to increased uptake of evidence-based, innovative practices, approaches and technologies.  $11.4 million over four years to support critical enabling activities to effectively deliver drought and climate resilience outcomes. This will support monitoring, evaluation and learning to measure outcomes and share knowledge generated by FDF programs about how to address drought and climate risks.  A further $13.9 million over the next four years will be spent to ensure the Government maintains a state of readiness for drought. The funding supports a nationally consistent approach to drought policy and programs, which will informed by the 2024-2029 National Drought Agreement and the Australian Government’s Drought Plan. These key activities will be supported by inclusive and timely stakeholder engagement and communications to ensure drought policy is informed by the people it impacts. Consultation on the Australian Government’s Drought Plan will commence shortly.  From 2028-29, a further $3.4 million per year ongoing has also been allocated to ensure the Government has an ongoing focus on drought as we know the best time to prepare for drought is before drought occurs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2167/indonesia-concludes-10th-world-water-forum-achieving-new-milestone-for-global-water-initiatives.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2167/indonesia-concludes-10th-world-water-forum-achieving-new-milestone-for-global-water-initiatives.html Tue, 28 May 2024 09:11:00 +0530 Ministerial declaration including, adaptation "World Lakes Day", "establishment of Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience", and the "inclusion of integrated management of water resources on small islands" were some major highlights of the forum Indonesian Minister of Public Works and Housing and Vice Chairman of the 10th World Water Forum, Basuki Hadimuljono, and World Water Council President, Loïc Fauchon, officially closed the 10th World Water Forum at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC) Nusa Dua, Bali on Friday (5/24/2024).  Both were present when they handed the World Water Council flag to Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister of Water, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulaziz Al Shaiban. The 10th World Water Forum produced a ministerial declaration that set a clear direction amidst global challenges. Indonesia's proposal for World Lakes Day was adopted, as was the establishment of Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience, and the inclusion of integrated management of water resources on small islands. Various other initiatives also complement the United Nations Water Action Agenda. Loïc Fauchon saluted the ratification of a Ministerial Declaration with a compendium of concrete results and actions, comprising 113 clean water and sanitation projects worth $9.4 billion, and supported by 33 countries and 53 international organisations. Minister Basuki emphasized the importance of strengthening synergies among stakeholders and that the synthesis initiated at the ministerial meeting must be implemented for the benefit of society. On this occasion, the Minister also congratulated Iffah Rachmi, the coordinator of Youth Sanitation Concern, which was awarded the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize 2024. The 10th World Water Forum was attended by 64 thousand participants and visitors from 160 countries with 278 discussion sessions and 254 booths at the fair and exhibition. In addition, 200 members of parliament from 49 countries and a total of 150 representatives of local and regional authorities from 23 countries and 847 representatives of sub-regions were present. The 11th World Water Forum will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2149/natureworks-ingeo-pla-manufacturing-expansion-attracts-funding-from-krungthai-bank-pcl-of-thailand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2149/natureworks-ingeo-pla-manufacturing-expansion-attracts-funding-from-krungthai-bank-pcl-of-thailand.html Mon, 20 May 2024 11:14:07 +0530 One of the singular largest loans in the bank’s decades-long history supports Thailand's ambitious Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) strategy NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, today announced the historic financial support from Krungthai Bank PCL to optimize the capital structure for the new fully-integrated Ingeo™️ PLA manufacturing facility in Thailand. The financing from Krungthai Bank, Thailand’s third largest bank, amounting to $350M USD (12,600M Baht Equivalent), is one of the singular largest loans in the bank’s decades-long history and shows confidence in NatureWorks’ market leadership and global economic impact. Today, the companies participated in a signing ceremony to celebrate this milestone. In alignment with its ESG values and sustainable finance solutions, Krungthai Bank funded NatureWorks’ newest manufacturing facility for Ingeo PLA biopolymer, a biobased material used in plastic and fiber applications. The funding will support the construction of the plant and its ongoing operations. NatureWorks was chosen because of its market leadership in defining bioplastic technologies and how those solutions will move Thailand's Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy forward. BCG leverages technology and Thailand's biological diversity to enable a more sustainable, innovation-driven, and values-based economy. “This backing from Krungthai Bank not only validates our strategic global positioning within Thailand and the Asia Pacific region but propels us toward continued expansion to support the worldwide bioeconomy,” said Erik Ripple, President and CEO of NatureWorks. “The funding will enable us to expand our international customer access to fully biobased, low-carbon biomaterials that feature unique performance attributes valued by global downstream packaging and fiber markets.” NatureWorks’ second facility will be located at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex, the first bio-complex in Thailand established in accordance with the BCG Economic Model. The area has a strong agricultural base that can provide an abundant, locally available feedstock in the form of sugarcane. NatureWorks chose the site for its proximity to where sugarcane is grown, with established infrastructure for processing sugarcane into a sugar feedstock for the fermentation process, and the availability of desired utilities for the plant’s operation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2100/southeast-asia-prepares-to-implement-asean-guidelines-for-sustainable-investment-in-food-agriculture-and-forestry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2100/southeast-asia-prepares-to-implement-asean-guidelines-for-sustainable-investment-in-food-agriculture-and-forestry.html Fri, 03 May 2024 11:12:07 +0530 Southeast Asia's agriculture sector plays a pivotal role in the region's economy The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) is preparing for the implementation of ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food Agriculture and Forestry Sector (RAI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners announced today. Delegates marked a significant step towards promoting sustainable development and responsible investment in the agriculture sector across the ASEAN region in a recent meeting in Vientiane. FAO and the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD), with technical support from the National Assembly of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, were among the major participents which currently holds the AIPA Presidency (2023-2024). Southeast Asia's agriculture sector plays a pivotal role in the region's economy, contributing 12 percent to the region’s GDP and employing more than 100 million people. With increasing urbanization and rising incomes, the demand for food, fisheries, and forestry products is on the rise. To ensure food security, safety, and nutrition for future generations, amid rapid industrialization and population growth, sustainable investment in these sectors is paramount. Collaboration for responsible investment in food security In 2018, ASEAN Member States adopted the ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (ASEAN RAI), highlighting their commitment to responsible and sustainable investments. Recognizing the significance of parliamentary support, the 44th AIPA General Assembly in 2023 adopted a Resolution encouraging AIPA Member Parliaments to implement the ASEAN RAI. Given this context, the workshop aimed to deepen the understanding of parliamentarians and stakeholders and facilitate the implementation of the ASEAN RAI through the development of a Parliamentary Implementation Framework. The Resolution on Encouraging the Application of the ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry Sectors adopted at the 44th AIPA General Assembly last year, not only reaffirms AIPA's dedication to the sustainability of our region's food, agriculture, and forestry sectors but also underscores our collective resolve to foster economic growth, enhance regional integration, and advance the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. As we convene for this joint event, it is crucial to emphasize parliamentarians' pivotal role in complementing the ASEAN RAI through targeted actions. Through these events, we aim to empower parliamentarians, foster expertise exchange, and enhance oversight,” said H.E. Ar. Siti Rozaimeriyanty Dato Haji Abdul Rahman, Secretary General of AIPA. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2099/philippines-joins-forces-with-world-bank-to-boost-agriculture-finance-disbursement-and-procurement.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2099/philippines-joins-forces-with-world-bank-to-boost-agriculture-finance-disbursement-and-procurement.html Fri, 03 May 2024 10:53:25 +0530 Holding 17th PRDP, 2nd PRDP Scale-Up Implementation Support Missions from April 22 to May 9, 2024 The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the World Bank (WB) will conduct the 17th WB Implementation Support Mission (ISM) to the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) and the 2nd WB ISM to the PRDP Scale-Up from April 22 to May 9, 2024, to assess the overall implementation performance and progress of the two projects. For this mission, the Bank will focus on reviewing the projects’ compliance with the agreed actions from the previous mission and evaluate their financial management, disbursement, and procurement. It also aims to oversee the remaining investments under the Second Additional Financing with European Union Grant and assess the implementation of the Institutional Strengthening Action Plan. Led by DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. and WB Country Manager Ndiame Diope, the three-week-long mission will commence on April 22 with a kick-off meeting and opening of the DA-PRDP Exhibit at the DA Central Office in Quezon City. The exhibit will showcase the PRDP’s 10-year evolution, major accomplishments, success stories, and the products of its supported rural enterprises. A series of technical discussions between the WB and the components and units of the PRDP will also take place from April 23 to 26. The discussions will focus on key thematic areas, such as financial management, knowledge management and communication, monitoring and evaluation of subprojects, and mainstreaming of PRDP innovations. On the second week of the mission, the DA-PRDP and WB will visit I-REAP and I-BUILD subprojects (SPs) in Visayas and Mindanao to inspect their implementation and progress and to engage with the implementing local government units and proponent groups. The team will visit a total of seven subprojects, four in Bohol and three from the Davao Region. In line with the DA chief’s digitization plans for the Department, a two-day agriculture digital solutions roundtable discussion with agri-tech and fintech companies will also be held on May 7-8. The activity aims to advance the digitization of the PRDP’s enterprise investments and build a robust partnership with the private sector. The 17th PRDP and 2nd PRDP Scale-Up WB ISM will conclude on May 9 with a wrap-up meeting where the World Bank will present its findings, recommendations, and overall performance rating of the projects. The WB ISM is conducted semiannually to ensure that all Bank-assisted projects are efficiently implemented and on track to achieving their project development objectives ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2091/australia-announces-new-grants-to-tackle-sustainable-agriculture-at-the-grassroots-level.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2091/australia-announces-new-grants-to-tackle-sustainable-agriculture-at-the-grassroots-level.html Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:08:29 +0530 Farmers to receive funding for climate-smart agriculture techniques Australian Government has announced a new grant funding for farmers to tackle sustainable agriculture at the grassroots level. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt, said the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program Small Grants are designed for individuals as well as farming, community and Indigenous groups to lead on-ground projects. “Government is committed to supporting farmers as they respond to climate change and become more sustainable into the future. We are helping ensure that climate-smart agriculture techniques become a normal part of the industry. This will take effort from every part of the sector, with farmers and community groups working hand in hand. Sustainable, climate-smart agriculture is not a one-size-fits-all situation. What works in one part of the country might not be effective in another. And sustainability can mean many things – anything from better natural resource management, to reducing chemical use, or even improving soil health" Minister Watt said. He further added, "This is the beauty of these grants – they will target what works at the local level, accounting for differences in soil composition, rainfall, and business models. They can be used to try something new or to scale-up something that is already working. They are open to individual farmers and community groups of all stripes, and I want to encourage any Indigenous community organisations to get involved, given their long-standing dedication to caring for country". “These grants are part of wider sustainable agriculture measures from the Albanese Government, including next month’s Sustainable Ag Summit where 150 groups from the sector will come together to work on a path forward to reduce emissions, while improving productivity and profitability. I’ve seen the drive from the agriculture sector to respond and adapt to climate change. Many farmers are already implementing measures that are designed to drought-proof a property or save a farmer money, that can end up improving on-farm sustainability. I’m looking forward to seeing the results of these grants.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2078/philippines-commits-more-investments-to-agri-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2078/philippines-commits-more-investments-to-agri-sector.html Tue, 23 Apr 2024 08:34:46 +0530 Government to boost Agri-Trade and fishery sector Philippines Department of Agriculture is evaluating and planning for added investments to agriculture sector as part of the national support to local farmers and fishermen. During a visit to the Agricultural Products Market Center in Sariaya, Quezon, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. stressed the importance of extending support to farmers from production to marketing and enhancing the capabilities of the country’s trading posts. The agri chief said farming will be more sustainable if there are enough facilities that allow farmers to directly market their produce. The Sentrong Pamilihan, established in 2007, has served as the main trading area for vegetables and other agricultural products, not only in Sariaya but nearby production sites as well. The opening of the trading post - a market place for local farmers to sell their harvest - has improved their incomes. The trading center has motivated Quezon farmers to expand production areas, contributing to the food security agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.  Sariaya farmers said. According to Sec. Tiu Laurel, the DA is preparing a national logistics plan that will connect vegetable farms and other food growing areas to food hubs like the Food Terminal, Inc. in Taguig City. “We will link vegetable farmers with the Taguig mega cold storage and continue to provide support and assistance in terms of transport so they can sell their produce at the right  price,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2071/australia-to-fosters-agritech-ecosystem-with-new-grants-to-elevate-enterprises-and-investment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2071/australia-to-fosters-agritech-ecosystem-with-new-grants-to-elevate-enterprises-and-investment.html Fri, 19 Apr 2024 08:46:35 +0530 Round 2 of the AgriFutures Agritech Event Sponsorship Program will fund 22 agricultural innovation and agritech events The Australian government is strengthening its agriculture sector by supporting Agritech events across the country to enhance Australian innovation. This $1.5 million program is funded through the Albanese Government’s $12.3 million investment in regional trade events. Round 2 of the AgriFutures Agritech Event Sponsorship Program will fund 22 agricultural innovation and agritech events, aiming to foster commercialisation opportunities, attract investment, and elevate Australian agritech enterprises. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt, said agritech events showcase Australia’s leadership in innovation, sustainability, and research. “This program spotlights the cutting-edge innovations of regional Australian communities. Agritech events create major opportunities. They bring new products to new markets, elevate value add and sustainability, and foster deeper collaboration between industry players. The events are held on agriculture’s home turf – regional Australia – ensuring the growth they generate develops regional economies” Minister Watt said. The first round of funding saw $275,000 distributed to seven events in regional locations including Gatton, Gippsland, Orange and Tamworth. The successful recipients under Round 2 will share in $625,000 with events being held between 1 April 2024 and 31 October 2024. The events include:  Grower Group Agtech Engagement (Ballandean, Kalbar, Gatton, St George, Kingaroy and Childers – QLD) FoodTech Tasmania 2024 (Launceston, Burnie and Longford – Tasmania) Precision Ag Expo (McLaren Vale – SA) SparkLabs Cultiv8 WeekZero & Regional Showcase (Orange – NSW) South West Vic Agri-Tech Innovation Summit 2024 (Warrnambool – VIC)  Primex Field Days AgTech Alley (Casino – NSW)  The Science & Art of Trading Cattle (Coonamble – NSW) From Here On – Innovation Seminar (Hunter Valley Equine Research Centre – NSW) Dumbleyung AgTechXPO (Dumbleyung – WA) GroWQ Innovation Expo (Longreach – QLD) Regional Ag-Tech Innovation and Careers Showcase (Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton and Wodonga – VIC) Agribusiness Today Forum (Orange and Borenore – NSW) Automating Australian Agriculture Roadshow (WA, SA, VIC, NSW and QLD) Empowering Australian Agriculture: A Roadshow on Technological Resilience, Safety, and Productivity (Wagga Wagga – NSW, Bundaberg – QLD and Mildura – VIC) Fruit Growers Victoria Conference 2024 (Shepparton – VIC) Henty Machinery Field Days (Henty – NSW)  Cyber Security in Agriculture and Agribusiness (Wangaratta – VIC) Spring Vine Health Day AgriTech Innovation Demonstration (Murrumbateman – NSW) Robotic Weeding Demo Day (Gatton – QLD) Agtech Showcase (Bundaberg – QLD) Digital Agrifood Summit 2024 (Wagga Wagga – NSW) GrownIn NQ 2024 (Bowen – QLD) Round 3 of the program will offer $600,000 to support events held between 1 November 2024 and 30 June 2025 with applications opening in August 2024 ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2024/bioconsortia-secures-15-million-in-latest-funding-round.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2024/bioconsortia-secures-15-million-in-latest-funding-round.html Thu, 04 Apr 2024 11:58:24 +0530 BioConsortia, Inc., a leading agricultural technology company that discovers, designs and licenses advanced microbial products to reduce the ecological impacts of agriculture while ensuring crop productivity, has announced that the company has closed an internal financing round that will fund expanded development of microbial products designed to increase crop yields by fixing nitrogen or controlling nematode, fungal and soil insect pests. Existing investor Otter Capital led the round, excited by progress shown in recent field trial results, as well as new discoveries that further enhance BioConsortia’s microbial gene-editing leadership position. According to Marcus Meadows-Smith, BioConsortia CEO, “We have validated the consistency and impact of our nitrogen-fixing seed treatments through hundreds of field trials across a wide array of crops in recent years. This announced investment underlines our confidence that these technologies, with their extended shelf- and on-seed life, set a new standard for nitrogen-fixation products.” The raise will fund broadened field trial programs in key agricultural regions around the world. With recent discoveries that further BioConsortia’s leadership in microbial gene-editing, the company will also invest in expanding its intellectual property estate. BioConsortia will also use the proceeds to enlarge their Davis, CA, lab to accommodate their growing microbial gene-editing team, as well as to upgrade fermentation and formulation capabilities at the Davis headquarters, as the company’s biofungicide, bionematicide, postharvest decay control and nitrogen-fixing products approach commercialization beginning in 2024. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2012/british-international-investment-commits-65m-to-singapores-indorama-to-support-global-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2012/british-international-investment-commits-65m-to-singapores-indorama-to-support-global-food-security.html Wed, 03 Apr 2024 10:58:44 +0530 BII’s commitment will fund Indorama’s plan to develop a third fertilizer production line and a new port terminal in Nigeria British International Investment (BII), the UK’s Development Finance Institution (DFI) and impact investor, has committed $65 million to support Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals’ expansion plans in Nigeria. The investment forms part of a $1.25 billion financing package which will allow Indorama, the largest fertilizer producer in Sub-Saharan Africa, to increase its fertilizer production and build a new port terminal for exports, bolstering global food production and food security. The new production facility will be complemented by a shipping terminal currently under construction at Indorama’s operations in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Both will help meet the growing global demand for fertilizer and are expected to create up to 8,000 direct and indirect jobs. BII’s investment forms part of a consortium led by IFC and includes commercial banks, impact investors and other DFIs. This is BII’s fourth investment in Indorama since 2013 and signifies the DFI’s longstanding commitment to strengthening value chains in Nigeria’s agricultural sector and increasing the country’s export potential. Indorama’s two operational urea fertilizer lines currently serve Nigeria’s domestic market, supporting the country’s agricultural sector, which accounts for a quarter of its GDP and employs approximately a third of its labour force. This investment will finance the development of Indorama’s third nitrogenous urea fertilizer production line, which is expected to increase its annual capacity to 1.4 million metric tons of urea, one of the most widely used fertilizers worldwide. Nigeria’s economy has historically relied heavily on revenue from the oil and gas sector, making it vulnerable to external shocks and the price volatility of commodities. By supporting Indorama’s expansion, BII aims to accelerate Nigeria’s economic diversification and progress its delivery of the National Development Plan, which outlines ambitions to boost Nigeria’s global competitiveness and build on its strong foundations for industrialisation. Manish Mundra, Group Director for Africa, Indorama Corporation said: “The establishment of this fertilizer plant underscores Indorama’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s industrial growth, economic diversification, and leveraging its strategic geographic location. This landmark financing represents a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey towards becoming a major player in the global fertilizer market. With the addition of Line 3, Nigeria is prepared to significantly ramp up its export capacity, thereby enhancing its position as a key exporter of fertilizers to Africa and the world.” Sérgio Pimenta, IFC’s Regional Vice President for Africa said: “Reliable access to high quality fertilizer is essential for food production and food security around the world. IFC’s investment in Indorama, along with African, Asian, European, and American partners, signals our joint commitment to support the agriculture sector, Nigeria’s economy, and the expansion of Indorama, an important supplier in the global food chain.” As part of the project, Indorama will implement a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions strategy to reduce emissions at its petrochemical complex by 32% by 2026, including by significantly reducing gas flaring and other improvements. This strategy aligns with Nigeria’s pledge to eliminate routine gas flaring by 2030 under the World Bank-led Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2013/african-development-bank-to-boost-indoramas-fertilizer-production-and-export-capacity-with-75m-investment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2013/african-development-bank-to-boost-indoramas-fertilizer-production-and-export-capacity-with-75m-investment.html Mon, 01 Apr 2024 11:23:20 +0530 The loan will enable Singapore's Indorama to increase its fertilizer production and develop a port terminal for exports, supporting food production and food security The African Development Bank has signed a $75 million loan agreement with Nigeria’s Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited. The loan will enable Indorama to increase its fertilizer production and develop a port terminal for exports, supporting food production and food security across regional and international markets, while fostering job creation in Nigeria. The expansion will include the development of a third urea fertilizer production line and a new shipping terminal at Indorama’s facilities in Port Harcourt. The new production line is expected to have an annual capacity of 1.4 million metric tons of urea, one of the most widely used fertilizers worldwide. Indorama’s two operational urea fertilizer lines serve Nigeria’s domestic market, supporting the country’s agricultural sector, which accounts for a quarter of its GDP and employs about a third of its labor force. The new production line and terminal, which will help meet growing global demand for fertilizer, are expected to create up to 8,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria. “The African Development Bank is proud of its continued partnership with Indorama, the IFC and other lenders on this critical project as it is aligned with our strategic priorities to Feed Africa and Industrialize Africa while generating significant development outcomes in Nigeria” said Ousmane Fall, Acting Director of Industrial and Trade Development Department at the African Development Bank. Speaking on the development, Manish Mundra, Group Director for Africa, Indorama Corporation said, “The establishment of this fertilizer plant underscores Indorama’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s industrial growth, economic diversification, and leveraging its strategic geographic location. This landmark financing represents a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey towards becoming a major player in the global fertilizer market. With the addition of this third line, Nigeria is prepared to significantly ramp up its export capacity, thereby enhancing its position as a key exporter of fertilizers to Africa and the world. Furthermore, the establishment of this fertilizer plant will not only address critical issues such as broader food security but will also stimulate agricultural growth and create employment opportunities in Nigeria.” The African Development Bank’s loan follows a strategy to support investment in private sector development to promote the growth of the real sector. The $75 million senior loan is part of a $ 1.25 billion facility arranged by IFC. The financing package includes a $215.5 million loan from IFC’s own account, a $94.5 million loan through the Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program (MCPP), and $940 million in parallel loans mobilized from other development finance institutions and commercial banks, such as the African Development Bank, Bangkok Bank, British International Investment, Citibank, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), DZ Bank, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), Rand Merchant Bank, Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (FMO), Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank), Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), the Standard Bank Group, Standard Chartered Bank, and the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2007/oman-investment-authority-launches-5-2b-future-fund-oman-to-fund-national-investment-projects.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/2007/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/4/1952/dubai-farms-programme-launched-to-support-emirati-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1952/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/4/1949/new-zealand-allots-6-2m-for-passionfruit-project-in-vietnam.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1949/new-zealand-allots-6-2m-for-passionfruit-project-in-vietnam.html Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:24:33 +0530 A five-year New Zealand government-funded project 'VietFruit' in horticulture sector to boost Vietnam's passion-fruit supply chain New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the NZ$6.24 million ($3.85 million) investment in Vietnam’s horticulture sector, called the ‘Vietnam Climate-Smart Fruit Value Chain project’, known as VietFruit. A five-year New Zealand government-funded project to help Vietnam build a more lucrative passion-fruit export industry was formally launched by the prime ministers of Vietnam and New Zealand in Wellington on March 11, 2024. The project is a key element within New Zealand’s international development cooperation framework with Vietnam. It aims to support the Southeast Asian country’s agricultural sector, build its resilience to climate change and disasters, and help it develop a more highly skilled and educated workforce. As a member, along with New Zealand, of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) free trade agreement, Vietnam is becoming increasingly important as a trade partner. For instance, in the year ending June 2023, Vietnam was the second leading export destination for New Zealand apples, after China. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research will deliver the VietFruit project, drawing on its decade-long track record of problem-solving and achieving impact through the application of scientific knowledge with Vietnamese partners. Suzie Newman, head of International Development at Plant and Food Research said “We have worked with smallholder farmers, agronomists, scientists, food companies, exporters and officials at Vietnamese government ministries like Agriculture and Rural Development and Science and Technology." The VietFruit project has research with two Vietnamese institutes: the Southern Horticulture Research Institute and the Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute. Vietnamese firm Nafoods Group is also a commercial partner. This project aims to deliver three key outcomes, including increasing the productivity and resilience of the passion fruit production system; improving post-harvest and processing technologies and conducting sector-wide training that benefits smallholder farmers and businesses. Project scoping followed by early implementation began last year. To date, the project’s scientists have assessed disease and climate change impact challenges, begun field trials and conducted initial post-harvest loss assessments along the value chain. The benefits of success will include increased incomes for smallholder farmers, distributors and exporters, improved fruit quality and more efficient growing and post-harvest practices. Overall, the project will achieve a real lift in environmental and economic sustainability for Vietnam’s passion fruit sector. It’s a high-value export and a valuable addition to the economy of Vietnam. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1943/philippines-launches-several-agri-projects-in-bataan-with-p5-million-investment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1943/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/4/1926/singapores-venture-capital-fund-protege-ventures-pv-invests-in-zolo-to-transfer-south-east-asias-food-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1926/singapores-venture-capital-fund-protege-ventures-pv-invests-in-zolo-to-transfer-south-east-asias-food-sector.html Tue, 05 Mar 2024 11:49:58 +0530 Protégé Ventures (PV), Singapore-based student venture capital fund, has announced an undisclosed pre-seed investment in ZOLO, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered business to business (B2B) software company founded by two alumni from two Singapore universities. Investment is considered to be the 11th student-founded startup Protégé Ventures has funded since 2017. The decision to invest in ZOLO underlines PV’s commitment to backing high-growth student startups that drive positive change and innovation in their industries. Together with ZOLO’s prior investors such as Antler, GHARAGE and NTUitive (via an equity-free grant), PV is embarking on a collaborative journey to foster innovation in the B2B food marketplace. PV was established in 2017 by the Singapore Management University (SMU)’s Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IIE) with an earlier partnership with Kairos ASEAN and funding partners – Wavemakers Partners and Dr Jeffrey Chi of Vickers Venture Partners. To nurture the next generation of tech and entrepreneurial leaders, PV extends an opportunity for students to gain practical work experience in venture investment landscape. PV students also get to collaborate with their peers from across different tertiary institutions in Singapore. In the seven years since its inception, PV has trained a total of 320 students as VC professionals, evaluated over 1,300 deals and invested SGD 298,000 ($221,413) in 11 student start-ups. These start-ups have collectively raised over SGD 35 million ($26 million) from notable institutional investors to date. PV launched its second fund, the PV Fund II valued at SGD 500,000 ($371,499) in September 2023 – contributed by founding managing partner David Su of venture capital firm Matrix Partners China. This is to empower more investments in early-stage technology start-ups founded by students or recent graduates of Singapore’s polytechnics and universities which are seeking their pre-seed to seed funding. ZOLO joins PV’s portfolio companies – which include Lumitics, an internet of things (IoT) food waste management solution, Hypotenuse AI, an AI-content writer startup, Intellect, Asia’s largest mental health care app, and Angie’s Tempeh, a plant-based protein products manufacturer – to name a few. ZOLO strives to enhance the sustainability and profitability of Southeast Asia’s B2B food industry. The duo met through an Executive Program organized by Antler in late 2021. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1907/syngenta-group-expands-collaborations-for-more-innovative-scientific-and-technological-solutions-in-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1907/syngenta-group-expands-collaborations-for-more-innovative-scientific-and-technological-solutions-in-agriculture.html Fri, 01 Mar 2024 08:28:01 +0530 Maxygen, a US biotech specializing in the directed evolution of proteins, is collaborating with Syngenta Seeds to optimize its molecular enabling technologies Syngenta Group, announced important collaborations following the launch of its innovation accelerator platform Shoots by Syngenta in 2023. These collaborations, which connect expertise across industries and sectors, are aimed at making possible novel solutions to agricultural challenges more quickly and efficiently. Two collaborations – with IBM Research and with US biotech Maxygen – brought their respective pioneering approaches in data-based predictions modelling, and in the directed evolution of proteins more commonly leveraged in the pharmaceutical industry, together with Syngenta’s world-leading agricultural research and proprietary data sets. IBM Research and Syngenta accelerate optimization of chemical compound synthesis with language models. Syngenta Group, in collaboration with IBM Research, has enhanced productivity in chemical synthesis using IBM-RXN – a software developed to enable the use of language models for the synthesis of new molecules and materials. IBM-RXN encodes, models, and predicts chemical reactivity. By combining Syngenta’s world-leading chemistry research and proprietary data sets with IBM’s world-class reactivity modelling capabilities and leveraging Natural Language Processing (NLP), IBM’s pioneering modelling approach, enables the partners to deliver scalable, accurate, and data-based predictions modelling. This enables Syngenta to investigate multiple related compounds simultaneously and prioritize routes that offer compounds with the most desirable commercial attributes. Syngenta is closing the data loop by connecting the IBM-RXN platform to the synthesis platform. Reactivity predictions are now an integral part of the design of synthetic procedures. The models’ outcomes are fully integrated with synthesis planning and execution, establishing a virtual loop where high-quality data generate more relevant models that, in turn, inspire better synthetic procedures. The digitalization of synthetic workflows and the adoption of predictive reactivity modelling are increasing the efficiency and the effectiveness of the synthetic process. Both teams worked on extending reactivity modelling to include bio-catalyzed reactions and metabolic transformations, to support the design of more sustainable synthetic procedures that have a better safety and environmental footprint. As the predictive power of reactivity models increases, scientists may become increasingly confident in delegating part of their work to AI-enabled automation. This should allow shifting the focus to the synthesis strategy and overall chemical design. Syngenta collaborates with Maxygen to optimize molecular enabling technology. US biotech, Maxygen, which specializes in the directed evolution of proteins, is collaborating with Syngenta Seeds to optimize its enabling technologies. Since the collaboration launched, one of the success factors has been the consistent and robust level of scientific engagement on both sides. Both Maxygen and Syngenta adopted an open collegiate approach from the start, with Syngenta giving the collaboration a high-priority status as part of its core portfolio, enabling the project to progress swiftly. The teams from Syngenta and Maxygen met frequently to review results, manage decision-making, adjust plans, and mark progress milestones. This approach has delivered success resulting in protein variants with highly improved attributes and the subject of novel intellectual property. New collaborators to six challenges Shoots by Syngenta spotlights specific innovation needs from across the Syngenta Crop Protection and Seeds businesses. Science-based innovation challenges are posted on its website ShootsBySyngenta.com, inviting anyone with a scientific interest to submit proposals in response. Proposals are quickly evaluated, and if there is a mutual fit, progressed to a collaboration partnership to take forward the research or technology that might eventually be licensed. Currently, Shoots by Syngenta lists six challenges, ranging from identifying new chemical building blocks derived from biomass waste streams, to developing diagnostic tools for detecting non-visible indicators of poor crop growth. “We’re looking forward to connecting with new partners from academia, research institutes, start-ups, and cross-industry sectors, to work with our extensive global network of scientists and to push the boundaries of what is known today in science,” said Camilla Corsi, Syngenta’s Global Head of Crop Protection Research. “We’re proud of our strong reputation as a collaborator of choice and are excited about the potential of the Shoots by Syngenta platform to generate new possibilities to benefit farmers and agriculture ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1889/breakthrough-innovation-achieves-bioplastics-from-seaweed.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1889/breakthrough-innovation-achieves-bioplastics-from-seaweed.html Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:13:01 +0530 California-based bioplastics manufacturer Sway has unveiled a groundbreaking new technology that it hopes will facilitate the commercial-scale production of bioplastics from seaweed. Representing an entirely new class of biopolymer plastics,  Sway 's Thermoplastic Marine Algae (TPSea) plastic  is a completely bio-based, home compostable, microplastic-free component made from a Ocean trees have the ability to regenerate, contribute to ecosystem structure and function, and support coastal communities. Sway's new technology is designed to connect seamlessly with most existing large-scale plastics manufacturing systems, enabling growth and impact. The packaging sector is the world's largest generator of single-use plastic waste. Sway's growing product portfolio made with TPSea includes flexible packaging applications such as poly bags, retail bags and food wraps for consumer brands, representing approximately 30% of total packaging Single-use plastic. This launch comes alongside Sway's successful $5 million seed round led by Third Nature Investments and included investments from The Helm, Alante Capital, BAM Ventures, Superorganism and aligned investors with other industries. The fund will be used to support the scaling of Sway's product portfolio, in addition to driving the adoption of biomaterials by fashion, food and home goods brands such as J.Crew, Burton and other brands involved in the Tom Ford Plastics Innovation Award. Sway's seaweed materials have a variety of applications in the packaging industry, and aim to add ecological and social value along the way – opening up new, affordable pathways to reducing plastic pollution and expanding access to biodegradable materials. TPSea resin, film rolls and finished packaging are now available for adoption by packaging manufacturers and consumer brands. . ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1885/rabobank-renews-partnership-with-seed-valley-for-three-more-years.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1885/rabobank-renews-partnership-with-seed-valley-for-three-more-years.html Tue, 27 Feb 2024 09:49:07 +0530 Rabobank and Seed Valley extend their fruitful partnership. The bank will continue as a partner of Seed Valley for the next three years. Last week, Bob van der Hout, Director Food & Agri, and Erik Jan Bartels, Chairman of Seed Valley, reaffirmed their collaboration. The seed sector holds significant economic importance, and both Rabobank and Seed Valley aim to inspire new generations to join the seeds and young plants industry. They seek to enhance education-to-employment alignment and promote innovation. Making an impact together Erik Jan Bartels emphasizes the significance of this agreement, stating, ″The partnership with Rabobank strengthens our network. Its sector knowledge and networking opportunities contribute to our ambition to raise even more awareness about the seed sector.″ Bob van der Hout, Director Food & Agri at Rabobank, confirms this: ″Seed Valley is a global leader in plant breeding and seed technology. With its origins in North Holland North, our backyard, they ensure food security for our future. They have a forward-thinking ambition that aligns with ours.″ In the coming years, Seed Valley will continue to inspire potential employees to join this thriving sector. Alongside close collaborations with education, the focus lies on stimulating innovation within the network. Rabobank embraces Seed Valley’s focus and provides added value with its expertise and network. Together, they are building a fruitful future. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1876/ifad-highlights-the-transformative-power-of-innovation-for-small-scale-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1876/ifad-highlights-the-transformative-power-of-innovation-for-small-scale-farmers.html Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:14:34 +0530 Member States, global leaders and development and innovation experts gather in Rome to participate in IFAD’s 47th Governing Council IFAD and the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) announced that they are exploring a collaboration to develop universal digital walletstailored to the needs of small-scale farmers. The aim is to roll-out the initiative globally, accelerating the inclusion and resilience of rural people and vulnerable groups. Alvaro Lario, President of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) spoke at the opening of IFAD’s 47th Governing Council in Rome, with the theme Innovation for a Food Secure Future and the needs of small-scale producers in developing countries, Lario stressed. "In the face of rising hunger, economic volatility, growing inequality and the ravages of climate change, a quiet revolution is underway fueled by innovation and determination. For small-scale farmers in some of the most remote corners of the world, innovation isn't just a buzzword it's a lifeline with the potential to reshape the future of agriculture by generating and scaling up new ideas, new approaches and new opportunities to sustainably overcome the challenges they face on a daily basis" added Alvaro Lario. Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, emphasized the significance of “small AI,” citing a case study in Tanzania where farmers uploading pictures of pest-infected crops onto a specially developed app that provided locally available treatments, saved $100 million in lost crops. Across the country, the impact amounted to $25 billion in savings. “When one thinks about investment, the amount of investment is relatively low but the return is enormous and the actions that need to be taken are straightforward,” added Chakravorti. Some of the new ideas and approaches discussed during the event were showcased at a Marketplace of Innovation which featured, for example, AI-powered climate information systems that keep farmers abreast of changing weather patterns, and blockchain and Web3 technology for digital wallets that allow rural people to easily receive and make digital payments. Solutions showcased at the marketplace aim to bring about broad systemic change that will ultimately help small-scale farmers increase their production and livelihoods, while building resilience to shocks such as climate change, conflict and economic instability. These changes can have far-reaching impacts since small-scale farmers produce one-third of the world’s food, and up to 70 percent of food in some developing countries. IFAD has often been at the forefront of AI adoption. By using Microsoft AI solutions, the UN specialized agency built Omnidata, a centralized analytics platform that connects data, dashboards, visualizations, and analytics powered by machine learning and AI to address small-scale farmers’ needs through targeted investments. During the Governing Council, IFAD recognized Gender Awards showcasing best practices developed in Bolivia, Cambodia, Ghana, Madagascar and Montenegro and emphasizing IFAD’s commitment to driving positive change in rural communities and economies. IFAD's Gender Awards are closing the gender gap in farm productivity and the wage gap in agricultural employment could potentially reduce global food insecurity by about 2% points and improve nutrition, livelihoods and sustainable food systems. Serbia becomes a Member State of IFAD; Lithuania is endorsed During the business items, the Governing Council members welcomed Serbia as a Member State. Lithuania was also endorsed today as a new Member State to join IFAD however its membership comes into effect upon the deposit of their instrument of accession with the UN Secretary General. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1871/australia-grants-two-rounds-funding-worth-54-m-for-climate-smart-agriculture-program.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1871/australia-grants-two-rounds-funding-worth-54-m-for-climate-smart-agriculture-program.html Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:20:53 +0530 Partnerships, Innovations and Capacity Building grants are open-competitive opportunities over 4 years from 2024–25 to 2027–28 Australia is embarking into sustainable agriculture with two new grant rounds worth $54 million under the Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.  The first rounds of the Partnerships and Innovations grants and the Capacity Building grants are open-competitive grant opportunities, with grants up to $5 million and $1 million being available, respectively, over 4 years from 2024–25 to 2027–28. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said “climate-smart practices are central to the Government’s agenda for a profitable, productive and sustainable agriculture sector in the long term. We are working closely with farmers, land managers, industry and rural communities to support the continued transition to a sustainable agriculture sector”. “Improving sustainability will help our sector to respond to the impacts of climate change as well as grow market opportunities by reaffirming our position as a high quality, safe and sustainable producer of food and fibre products in the global trade market.  These grant opportunities also bring an increased focus on First Nations engagement, participation and leadership and will provide opportunities for First Nations agricultural enterprise, embedding traditional knowledge and land management practices in the farming sector” added Minister Watt. The Partnerships and Innovation grants encourage the development of new and innovative tools and on-ground sustainable agriculture practices that are delivered by effective partnerships. This funding will target larger, long-term projects that encourage multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches. The Capacity Building grants will support farmers, community and First Nations groups and the broader agriculture sector to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills about best practice climate-smart, sustainable agriculture practices to drive their on-farm adoption. This funding will build on the success of existing sustainable agriculture initiatives, enable farmers to access the latest climate-smart and sustainable agriculture approaches, and inform decisions to strengthen the sustainability of their farming operations. The $302.1 million Climate-Smart Agriculture Program is funded through the Natural Heritage Trust, the Australian Government’s key investment platform for achieving its sustainable agriculture, natural resource management and environmental protection outcomes. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1842/australia-2023-24-budget-update-biosecurity-funding-package-of-1-03-b-over-4-yrs.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1842/australia-2023-24-budget-update-biosecurity-funding-package-of-1-03-b-over-4-yrs.html Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:37:32 +0530 Australia strengthens its biosecurity against pests and diseases in agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries with added funding package of $267 M per year Australia is designing the new Biosecurity Protection Levy model that will commence from 1 July 2024. Strong and sustainably funded biosecurity is essential to protect Australia against potentially devastingpests and diseases, and to safeguard our economy and agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. The new model recognises that primary producers, whether growing for the domestic market or exporting into premium overseas markets, benefit considerably from Australia’s biosecurity status. The Australian Government’s 2023-24 Budget announced a biosecurity sustainable funding package of$1.03 billion over 4 years and $267 million per year ongoing from 2027-28. This package introduces a new model for funding biosecurity based on shared responsibility - between those who create risk and those who receive significant benefits from the Australian Government’s efforts at the border. The Biosecurity Protection Levy will be introduced to contribute to the cost of Australia’s biosecurity activities. This levy will see producers join taxpayers and risk creators, such as importers, in delivering a fairer system of funding for the biosecurity system. The cost will be shared between taxpayers, importers, international travellers and producers. It is expected from 2024-25: 44% of the biosecurity system cost will be covered by ongoing taxpayer funding Importers will be paying 48% Producers will contribute 6% Australia Post 2% The Biosecurity Protection Levy will apply to domestic agricultural, fisheries and forestry producers. It isintended to collect around $50 million per year, equivalent to 6 per cent (on an annual basis) of the totalAustralian Government biosecurity funding in 2024-25. This levy will collect an amount equivalent to 10 per cent of 2020-21 levy rates or another comparable metric where such levies are not in place. The Biosecurity Protection Levy is separate to, and does not change, existing industry-led agricultural levies supporting R&D, marketing, residue testing, and Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia membership levies. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1838/australia-allies-with-ag-industry-to-reduce-emissions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1838/australia-allies-with-ag-industry-to-reduce-emissions.html Thu, 15 Feb 2024 12:39:05 +0530 Australia's transition to net zero emissions with Net Zero 2050 Plan Australia is setting its polices to assist agriculture industry to reduce its emissions and lift its sustainability. The Agriculture and Land Sectoral Plan is one of six sectoral decarbonisation plans under the Government’s Net Zero 2050 Plan announced by Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Murray Watt said the public consultation process is the first step in developing the sector plan, which will map out the role for the agricultural sector in Australia's transition to net zero emissions. “A wide range of stakeholders have participated in the consultation process, including farmers, peak industry bodies, private organisations, environment groups, the finance sector, universities and researchers. We received over 230 submissions and this strong level of interest showed just how important issues of sustainability, productivity and profitability are for the agriculture industry" explained Minister Watt. “Climate change is clearly having an impact on the profitability of producers across the country, with ABARES data showing that changes in seasonal conditions have already reduced farm profits by an $29,000 over the past 20 years. And as a proud exporting nation, it’s also becoming more and more important from trade perspective that our industry becomes more sustainable" Minister continued. Minister Watt said Australian agriculture has made great strides in lifting its sustainability. He further said "Stakeholders have raised several options for the government to consider around issues like investment in research and development, incentives to adopt new technologies and land management practices, building landholder capacity, and establishing standardised approaches to calculating and reporting emissions”. Australia has embarked into several initiatives such as the National Statement on Climate Change, the Natural Heritage Trust rollout including Climate-Smart Agriculture programs, and our ongoing work on the Future Drought Fund. This consultation process was just one part of a significant and ongoing conversation with the sector building on already established climate and sustainability goals and activities. The initiative aims to secure the future of Australian agriculture. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1831/uaes-atrc-launches-global-tech-rd-platform-at-wgs-2024.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1831/uaes-atrc-launches-global-tech-rd-platform-at-wgs-2024.html Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:46:00 +0530 Funds to accelerate innovation in the sectors of Food and Agriculture; Sustainability, Environment, and Energy; Healthcare; Aerospace and Space and Transport On 13th Feb at the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024, Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) unveiled a pioneering initiative aimed at facilitating global access to cutting-edge technology solutions. The newly launched ‘ATRC Global Tech R&D Platform’ serves as a channel for countries worldwide to tap into the UAE's technological expertise to address their unique challenges in each sector. As the driving force behind Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE's advanced research and development (R&D) ecosystem, this initiative underscores ATRC's commitment to fostering inclusive growth and global prosperity. In an era of rapid technological transformation, the platform seeks to bridge technology gaps experienced by nations worldwide by offering tailored solutions to their pressing needs. To initiate applications through the platform, ATRC is allocating $200 million in funding to accelerate innovation, particularly for emerging and developing nations. By committing to absorb resource and research costs, the funding facilitates the development of sophisticated technology solutions, empowering these nations to keep pace with the latest advancements. ATRC is calling on nations to collaborate and contribute to the global technological landscape. The ATRC Global Tech R&D Platform invites applications from governments, organizations, and eligible stakeholders all over the world, prioritizing collaboration, and inclusivity. Through a rigorous evaluation process, initiatives aligned with the platform's mission will receive support in six priority sectors: Aerospace and Space; Food and Agriculture; Healthcare; Safety and Security; Sustainability, Environment, and Energy; and Transport. Over the span of almost four years, ATRC has developed a robust R&D ecosystem, with over 850 researchers from more than 70 countries. It has built an entire ecosystem that systematically supports every critical stage of a technology’s development journey. Its entity ASPIRE crowdsources global talent through grand challenges and global competitions and identifies technology gaps with its clients. The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is focused on applied research with intentional outcomes and houses its leading researchers and scientists, while VentureOne commercializes its solutions, taking R&D products and services from lab to market. From identifying an entity’s tech pain point to developing bespoke R&D solutions, ATRC orchestrates the complete lifecycle of technology advancement for companies and countries that need support. Situated at the global crossroads, it extends its reach to entities worldwide, facilitating innovation on a truly global scale. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1821/cargill-sustainconnect-to-open-new-revenue-streams-for-australian-canola-growers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1821/cargill-sustainconnect-to-open-new-revenue-streams-for-australian-canola-growers.html Mon, 12 Feb 2024 11:04:11 +0530 New sustainable agriculture program to help Australian canola growers connect with emerging markets to meet rising demand for sustainable canola Cargill is introducing a sustainable agriculture program to help Australian canola growers connect with new and emerging markets with the launch of Cargill SustainConnect™. The Cargill SustainConnect™ program will open new revenue streams for growers in Australia and assist Cargill in catering to the rising demand from domestic and international customers for sustainable Australian canola. The launch follows the completion of a successful pilot program in 2023 and helps scale Cargill’s global sustainable agriculture portfolio, tailored to the needs of local farmers and their operations. Cargill SustainConnect™ also builds on Cargill’s global efforts to make sustainable farming programs commonplace across its global supply chains, which includes the award-winning Cargill RegenConnect™ program in North America and Europe. Cargill is committed to partnering with farmers to support an economically viable transition to sustainable agriculture. Cargill has been enrolling Australian canola growers in Cargill SustainConnect™, a new sustainable agriculture program that provides a financial incentive for positive environmental outcomes through the adoption of sustainable practices, while helping to improve soil health and decarbonize the agricultural supply chain. Australian canola growers enrolled in Cargill SustainConnect™ can choose from a variety of sustainable agriculture practices including several nutrient management interventions, reduced or no-tillage and crop residue retention. Cargill has partnered with leading carbon measurement business Regrow to measure, report and verify (MRV) carbon outcomes using in-field data, remote sensing and crop and soil health modeling. The Regrow platform ensures easy enrollment and secure data collection, while providing growers and Cargill’s demand customers with transparent measurement and verification options. "Regrow is excited to grow our global partnership with Cargill in support of Australian canola farmers. Through Cargill SustainConnect™ we will support producers in sustainable farming practice adoption, building greater resilience in their operations, and gaining access to sustainability markets whilst assuring supply for generations to come," said Manal Elarab, Chief Operating Officer, Regrow. “Agriculture has a unique opportunity to utilise sustainable agricultural practices to address the global climate challenge and better the economic prospects for farmers, who are at the forefront of our food system. Changes made at the grassroots of our supply chains can deliver a significant impact in reducing emissions and building the resilience of our soils for the next generation. We are actively working hand-in-hand with canola growers to lead the way, supporting them with tools, resources – and importantly, market access – to make the shift to sustainable agriculture. Growers have told us they are looking for sustainability programs that offer simplicity, transparency, and flexibility to suit their specific operations. We’ve taken this feedback and designed Cargill SustainConnect™ to address these needs, and it has been very well received” said Ben Fargher, Cargill Environmental Market Lead, APAC. Key features of Cargill SustainConnect™ Cargill will help growers implement chosen interventions and share data from their activities. Growers will receive a guaranteed $25/Ha, subject to practices being implemented in compliance with the one-year agreement. Total compensation will be based on the total hectares the grower enrolls in the program. Regrow validates the interventions. Growers receive payment for the interventions and access to opportunities in environmental markets and sustainable supply chains, while opening doors to Cargill’s downstream customers, who are counting on agricultural supply chains to achieve their sustainability goals. The program is currently available to Australian canola farmers in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, and Cargill is looking to extend this program in Western Australian in the future. Cargill is currently evaluating expanding the Cargill SustainConnect™ program to grains in the future. The first barley pilots are underway. Growers who are interested to participate in Cargill SustainConnect™ have until 31 March 2024 to join the program. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1815/regenerative-food-systems-should-work-in-unison-with-healthcare-to-unlock-funding-potentials.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1815/regenerative-food-systems-should-work-in-unison-with-healthcare-to-unlock-funding-potentials.html Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:04:50 +0530 "New business value, research finds $4.5 trillion per year could be unlocked during a regenerative transformation" Kearney Report Global management consultancy Kearney releases a new report revealing how food and healthcare systems can and should work in unison to unlock funding to create a healthy food future. The report, Food for thought: financing the food system transition, highlights the link between how we produce and process our food, and the health of our planet and its eight billion inhabitants. Compounding crises: ecosystem and human sicknessKearney highlights the urgency of our current compounding crises. Unhealthy foods drive chronicillnesses, and ecological degradation (soil, air, and water) drives further malnutrition and hunger. The four leading causes of death are directly linked to diet: stroke, diabetes, cancer, andcardiovascular disease. We produce enough calories to feed everyone on Earth, but 350 million people still experienceacute levels of food insecurity. Transition costs are high, but the cost of inaction is much higher. The report defines regenerative food systems as outcome-focused, healthy, inclusive, and adapted to local community and crop needs. A regenerative food system can help restore degraded ecosystems; reduce greenhouse gases and sequester carbon; and keep soil healthy, water clean, and foster biodiversity. A regenerative approach also encourages good human health, from the chemicals used to the ingredient choices made by food manufacturers. The report finds that while the transition costs toward a regenerative food system are high, the cost of inaction is even higher and includes. $4.3 trillion in health and obesity costs $16.3 trillion in hidden environmental and socioeconomic losses $3 trillion in economic losses from 4.2 billion people affected by climate disasters since 2000 Playing past a stalemateThe report advocates for transformative initiatives at scale, moving beyond the current financing stalemate. According to Kearney’s expert interviewees, most stakeholders are waiting for someone else to take the lead. Often, they are not acting at scale because of limited, short-term incentive structures. Furthermore, investment capital is unequally distributed. The report explores how large food, beverage, and agriculture companies can use their influence across the value chain and their financial wherewithal to encourage transformation. They also have a lot to gain, including capitalizing on Kearney Consumer Institute research showing the value of joint health–sustainability products and brands. Companies can also secure supply chains that are poorly prepared for a climate-changed world. Looking at new business value, research finds $4.5 trillion per year could be unlocked during a regenerative transformation. Meanwhile, healthcare agencies, providers, insurers, and government agencies can scale successful “food as medicine” initiatives while, at the same time, driving market demand and premiums for healthy, regenerative food. Research in the report shows billions in savings if these programs are scaled to national levels. Rhiannon Thomas, global lead, consumer and retail at Kearney, comments, “Food and health systems are inexorably linked. Today, too many of the dynamics between these systems incentivize poor human and ecosystem health, costing the public and private sectors trillions in hidden costs. While a scaled transformation to a healthy, regenerative food system is costly, the costs of inaction are higher. By working across intertwined systems, we can overcome the functional stalemate in funding to deliver on a 21st-century food system mission: feeding the world by regenerating human and ecosystem health.” Angela Hultberg, global sustainability director at Kearney, comments, “Too often, we frame global challenges as technology innovation gaps, and spend huge money, time, and energy investing in technology solutions for short-term symptoms without addressing root causes. Instead, we must innovate incentives, technologies, business models, and policies that embrace our fundamental dependence on natural ecosystems—soil, water, microbes, climate—all of which can be supported by a regenerative food system.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1814/singapores-seviora-capital-launches-the-future-of-food-and-farming-t3f-strategy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1814/singapores-seviora-capital-launches-the-future-of-food-and-farming-t3f-strategy.html Fri, 09 Feb 2024 09:17:18 +0530 Seviora and Temasek Form Partnership to Invest in High Growth and Innovative Agri-Food Companies in APAC Singapore-based Investment Manager, Seviora Holdings has partnered with Temasek to jointly invest in late venture and early growth Agri-Food Companies in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, through Seviora Capital’s The Future of Food and Farming (the “Seviora T3F”) Strategy. Since August 2023, the Seviora T3F Strategy has raised $173 million. The amount comprises seed capital from Seviora and Temasek, which ensures a strong alignment of interest with all investors, an investment by cornerstone investor Norinchukin Bank, as well as investments from other institutional investors. Seviora Capital expects to raise capital from institutional investors to participate in this commitment to drive transformation in the Agri-Food industry. Invests in compelling, innovative, and high-growth Agri-Food companies The Seviora T3F Strategy invests in compelling, innovative, and high-growth Agri-Food companies in the region that provide sustainable solutions and technologies to meet the challenges posed by massive demographic changes and fast-evolving consumer needs. It looks to identify companies that can help the Agri-Food system accelerate to a more sustainable and resilient future, and one which meets evolving consumption trends. An ecosystem of Agri-Food high growth and start-up companies is emerging rapidly across the region and building momentum. These companies are crucial in developing solutions and technologies that are deployable at scale and can address the challenges and opportunities in the Agri-Food systems both in APAC and around the world. “The Seviora T3F Strategy is a unique investment avenue to gain exposure and benefit from the transformation and high-growth in the Agri-Food sector in the APAC region,” said Jimmy Phoon, CEO at Seviora and Seviora Capital. “Seviora is excited to jointly invest with Temasek, a globally recognised leader in the Agri-Food sector, to capture the potential of this industry. We will be able to access a strong pipeline of investment opportunities through leveraging Temasek’s extensive network and ecosystem, as well as their experience and success in this space.” As Investment Manager, Seviora Capital will build a portfolio of investments from opportunities identified by Temasek, leveraging their extensive investment network, deep knowledge, and strong sourcing capability in the Agri-Food sector. Seviora Capital and Temasek will jointly evaluate these opportunities, capitalise on each other’s complementary strengths, and independently make investment decisions. “The transformation of the Agri-Food sector is critical to decarbonisation while ensuring food security, and meeting the evolving needs of consumers. Through this partnership with Seviora Group, we aim to scale capital and create value by investing in late venture and early growth Agri-Food companies across the APAC region that are at the forefront of innovation, leveraging technology to drive positive and sustainable change across the Agri-Food value chain" said Anuj Maheshwari, Head of Agri-Food at Temasek. Seviora and Temasek view the Agri-Food sector as being at a pivotal inflection point and presenting attractive investment opportunities. Through the Seviora T3F Strategy, Seviora and Temasek aim to capitalise on macro trends shaping the APAC Agri-Food sector and make investments that will drive transformation and positive changes across the Agri-Food value chain: Asia is home to 60% of the world’s population but only 35% of global arable land. Asia will need to produce more with less to feed its growing population. The region is projected to add another 250 million new citizens, equivalent to Indonesia’s population, by 2030 Asia needs more solutions to improve agriculture efficiency, market access and financing for farmers as the agriculture sector in emerging economies is severely fragmented. Over 80% of the region’s food consumption is produced by 450 million smallholder farmers who each work on land plots of less than 2 hectares Asia is currently experiencing a massive shift in food trends as its consumers are becoming more affluent, sophisticated, and demanding. These trends are slated to drive $2.4 trillion of incremental food spend in Asia by 2030. However, it will require $1.5 trillion in upstream investments to meet this forecast Agri-Food is a significant contributor to global emissions, accounting for about 34% of all emissions This dynamic is even more pronounced in some regions in Asia, such as South and Southeast Asia, where it contributes up to 50% of total emissions. Agri-Food is therefore a key consideration when looking to decarbonise Asia In January 2024, under the Seviora T3F Strategy, an investment of $17 million has been made in Country Delight – a subscription-led online food essentials delivery brand in India, that focuses on delivering high quality milk, milk derivatives, and other food essentials direct to consumers. Seviora Capital believes that Country Delight’s tech-enabled platform and strong brand proposition built around quality and trust allows the company to be best positioned to address key customer pain points relating to purity, freshness, and convenience. Over the past decade, Temasek has invested over $8 billion in innovative and scalable farm-to-fork businesses globally, with a growing portfolio of investments in APAC. Seviora Capital believes that the time is right to deploy capital to this key sector in APAC to benefit from the strong growth expected over the next decade. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1807/the-a2-farm-sustainability-fund-to-support-sustainable-dairying-across-new-zealand-and-australia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1807/the-a2-farm-sustainability-fund-to-support-sustainable-dairying-across-new-zealand-and-australia.html Fri, 09 Feb 2024 07:29:00 +0530 Announces a further round of grants The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) announces the launch of a new round of grants to support projects aimed at enhancing dairy farm sustainability via the a2™ Farm Sustainability Fund. Farmers supplying A1 protein free milk in New Zealand or Australia for use in the a2MC’s products are eligible to apply. The a2™ Farm Sustainability Fund supports projects within the Company’s supply chain that demonstrate an integrated approach to a sustainable future and enable a positive and meaningful impact across the community and environment. The Fund now combines farmer grants programmes that have been supporting farmers across New Zealand and Australia for a number of years. Under this latest round of funding, the a2™ Farm Sustainability Fund is seeking to allocate a further up to $630,000 in total to applicants in New Zealand and Australia. Since inception the New Zealand and Australia programmes have awarded more than 65 projects with a value of more than $1,500,000. The funded projects have included diverse riparian planting, alternative fertiliser use, diverse pasture implementation, wetland restoration and planting of trees to enhance biodiversity and provide shelter for animals. The a2 Milk Company has partnered with specialist agriculture organisations in both countries to administer the fund and support the assessment and progress of projects – Lincoln University, a specialist agriculture-based university in New Zealand; and Landcare Australia, a not-for-profit organisation focused on sustainable management of natural and productive landscapes in Australia. Applications are evaluated by an independent Investment Committee comprised of industry experts in regenerative agriculture, soil health, animal health and wellbeing and farming systems. Evaluation is based on criteria aligned to The a2 Milk Company’s sustainability objectives and key priority areas including: Improving animal health and wellbeing Lowering greenhouse gas emissions Increasing on-farm carbon sequestration Improving farm system resilience Improving water quality and efficiency Enhancing on-farm biodiversity Managing and improving soil health Jaron McVicar, a2MC’s Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer, said: “The a2 Milk Company’s purpose is to ‘Pioneer the future of dairy for good’ and this programme is testament to our commitment to support local farmers with projects that help to create better environmental outcomes.” Dr Shane Norrish, CEO, Landcare Australia, said: “We are delighted to partner with The a2 Milk Company to support Australian dairy farmers to implement projects that are contributing to nature positive outcomes. These investments in supply chain sustainability enhancements are so important to enable primary producers to respond to significant climate and biodiversity challenges we all face.” The a2 Milk Company is also funding measurement tools for farms that receive grants under the Fund, such as carbon audits and water quality testing, to enable them to measure the impact of their projects. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1812/uks-bright-tide-launches-the-regenerative-farming-accelerator-programme.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1812/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/4/1800/china-and-austria-deepens-bilateral-cooperation-via-agricultural-trade-investment-food-processing.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1800/china-and-austria-deepens-bilateral-cooperation-via-agricultural-trade-investment-food-processing.html Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:50:00 +0530 Vice Minister Ma Youxiang meets with Austrian Director General of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management Vice Minister Ma Youxiang met with Johannes Fankhauser, Director General for agriculture and rural development of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management of The Republic of Austria, in Vienna. They exchanged views on deepening agricultural cooperation between China and Austria.   Vice Minister Ma said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, China–Austria agricultural cooperation is stable and improving. The cooperation mechanisms have been continuously refined, agricultural trade has continued growing, and S&T cooperation has achieved fruitful results. The two countries have carried out a series of pioneering projects in organic agriculture. He noted that China stands ready to work with Austria to fully tap the potential in areas such as agricultural investment, processing of agricultural food products, and rural development to improve bilateral agricultural cooperation pragmatically.    Director General Fankhauser acknowledged the achievements of China–Austria cooperation in agriculture and rural development and agreed with Vice Minister Ma. He said Austria stands ready to advance pragmatic exchanges on issues of common concern to take bilateral agricultural cooperation to a new high.    ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1799/uae-strives-to-embark-on-sustainable-agriculture-resilient-food-systems-and-climate-action.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1799/uae-strives-to-embark-on-sustainable-agriculture-resilient-food-systems-and-climate-action.html Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:40:10 +0530 Three-year Sharm-El Sheikh Support Programme designed to ‘unlock’ financing and other means of support for farmers and small agri-businesses Food systems comprise one-third of global anthropogenic emissions, and close to 20% of the global food supply chain is in Asia, making it a critical region for climate-smart agricultural investments. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Boston Consulting Group to encourage regenerative practices across the global agricultural supply chain. These initiatives and investments represent a long overdue step towards ‘greening’ food systems. Food security is extremely susceptible to the changing climate, and any effort to address the climate crisis must address the destructive impacts of global food systems.  The United Arab Emirates’s COP28 presidency, in partnership with the FAO, World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the global partnership of international organizations, Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, recently announced the three-year Sharm-El Sheikh Support Programme designed to ‘unlock’ financing and other means of support for farmers and small agri-businesses.  Nearly 159 parties signed the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action. The signatories are responsible for 77% of global food production. While the declaration is not legally binding, it sends a strong signal by moving agriculture up the global climate agenda, a critical component previously lacking.  At least C$9.5 billion was mobilized during COP28 for food-system-related climate action. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also released its three-year roadmap to sustainable agriculture during the recent conference.  In addition, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai, food systems featured prominently discussed for the first time, with more than 130 countries making multiple commitments to integrate this overlooked sector into their climate action plans. Aside from state-level initiatives, the multistakeholder-led Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes was also launched by the COP28 presidency earlier in Dec 2023. The FAO’s first phase is a global roadmap, and the subsequent two phases, to be released at COPs 29 and 30 (happening in 2024 and 2025) will focus on regional and country-level plans to transform global agri-food systems. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1781/israel-u-s-binational-industrial-rd-foundation-to-invest-9-6-million-in-10-new-projects.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1781/israel-u-s-binational-industrial-rd-foundation-to-invest-9-6-million-in-10-new-projects.html Fri, 02 Feb 2024 08:25:00 +0530 The approved projects, with an overall budget of $24.5 million, involve innovations in the areas of Agrotech, Biotechnology, Electronics, Energy, Foodtech, Healthcare IT, and Life Science The Board of Governors of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation has approved $9.6 million in funding for ten new projects between U.S. and Israeli companies. In addition to the grants from BIRD, the projects will access private-sector funding, boosting the total investment in all projects to $24.5 million. The decision was confirmed on late Dec, 2023, at  Washington D.C., and announced lately. The BIRD Foundation promotes collaborations between U.S. and Israeli companies in various technological sectors for joint product development.  In addition to providing conditional grants of up to $1.5 million, the Foundation assists by working with companies to identify potential strategic partners and facilitate introductions. The submitted projects are reviewed by evaluators appointed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Israel Innovation Authority. The ten projects approved by the Board of Governors are in addition to the over 1000 projects that the BIRD Foundation has approved for funding during its 46-year history. To date, BIRD's total investment in joint projects is over $390 million, helping to generate direct and indirect sales of more than $10 billion. The projects approved are: Celleste Bio (Misgav, Israel) and Mondelez International (Chicago, IL) to develop and produce on-demand non-fat cocoa solids and cocoa-based powder using cell-based technology. CENS Materials (Beer Sheva, Israel) and LiCAP Technologies (Sacramento, CA) to develop a dry electrode process with carbon nanotube technology dispersion to advance EV battery capacity and performance while lowering production costs.   Diptera.ai (Jerusalem, Israel) and Vectech, Inc. (Baltimore, MD) will utilize advances in artificial intelligence to build a process and system to monitor and control the Anopheles Stephensi mosquito, a highly competent malaria vector. Greatnix, dba Opmed.AI (Herzliya, Israel), and Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) to advance the development of an AI-driven Planner that optimizes procedure scheduling, enhances operating room efficiency, and maximizes resource utilization. Hypervision (Yokneam Illit, Israel) and Light Polymers (Santa Clara, CA) will develop a liquid crystal-based polarized coating technology, methods & systems tailored for Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality optics. Imagindairy (Haifa, Israel) and Ginkgo Bioworks (Boston, MA) to develop and manufacture non-whey dairy proteins at scale and cost parity for novel food products. Israel Aerospace Industries (Lod, Israel) and MELD Printworks (Christiansburg, VA) to develop and approve large civil aviation components utilizing Additive Friction Stir Deposition technology. LahakX (Ramat Hasharon, Israel) and Aero Systems West (San Martin, CA) to develop a heavy payload spraying drone swarm for agriculture and fire prevention. Sheba Medical Center (Ramat Gan, Israel) and Serpin Pharma (Manassas, VA) will perform a Phase II clinical trial to provide a targeted therapeutic to restore immune balance for patients with acute myocardial infarction. Tissue Dynamics (Rehovot, Israel) and ATCC, (Manassas, VA), will develop an advanced organoid kit for cardiac toxicity assessment. The deadline for submission of Executive Summaries for the next BIRD cycle is March 7, 2024.  Approval of projects will take place in June 2024. The BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation encourages and facilitates cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies in a wide range of technology sectors and offers funding to selected projects. The Foundation supports projects without receiving any equity or intellectual property rights from the participating companies or the projects themselves. BIRD funding is repaid as royalties from sales of products that were commercialized as a result of BIRD support. The Foundation provides funding of up to 50% of a project's budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not require repayment if the project fails to reach the sales stage. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1784/unfccc-reviews-to-increasing-bidirectional-agricultural-investments-in-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1784/unfccc-reviews-to-increasing-bidirectional-agricultural-investments-in-asia.html Fri, 02 Feb 2024 08:19:00 +0530 The focus on agriculture is critical for a region as vulnerable to climate change as Asia. Food systems comprise one-third of global anthropogenic emissions, and close to 20 per cent of the global food supply chain is in Asia, making it a critical region for climate-smart agricultural investments. Food security is extremely susceptible to the changing climate, and any effort to address the climate crisis must address the destructive impacts of global food systems. A region like Asia that is vulnerable to climate change should pay close attention to the agriculture focus. Across Asia, climate change is posing a high risk to food security. Despite encompassing two-thirds of the global population, only 450 million smallholder  farmers with limited land and resources are responsible for producing 80% of the region’s food, adding more pressure on the food-insecure region. Half of the world’s undernourished population — 371 million people — reside in the Asia Pacific. The warming climate, decreasing crop yields, and rising food prices in the region are expected to push the number of undernourished people in Asia to 330 million by 2030.  Insufficient action and overly ambitious targets could make for potentially dire circumstances. The FAO’s ambitious roadmap of rapidly transforming the global food system has been criticized by some as being predicated on the “availability and affordability” of agri-technology, which is lacking in many smallholder farms. The roadmap has also been criticized for being out of step with the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework on nature and biodiversity. Despite the multitude of commitments and financing packages, recent COP28 came under fire for the role that meat and dairy lobbyists played in hindering negotiations. This subset of the agricultural sector is responsible for about 37% of methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. And while the outcome of the First Global Stocktake — an inventory of states’ efforts to meet their Paris Agreement obligations play role in sustainable agriculture in addressing climate change, but it failed to include specific actions on reducing agriculture-related emissions. Advancing climate-smart agriculture within Asia Grow Asia, a sustainable food systems investment forum, was officially launched in 2015 as a partnership between the World Economic Forum and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with funding from the Australian and Canadian governments. The platform seeks to foster greater engagement within the agricultural sector in scaling up the adoption of “more inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems.” In 2022, Grow Asia launched a C$2.1-million multi-donor impact fund to support women in the Asian agri-food industry. Together with the Canadian government, working through the International Development Research Centre and U.S.-based agri-tech company Corteva Agriscience, the fund has since evolved into the ASEAN Green Recovery through Equity and Empowerment Project and has helped revitalize gender-inclusive investments and support for women-led farming initiatives in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. From 2003 to 2022, Canada invested more than C$7.7 billion in the Asia Pacific agricultural sector. During the same period, Asian economies invested about C$2.5 billion in Canada, with the greatest inward investments coming from Japan, China, and Thailand. As part of its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, Canada is allocating C$470 million to the Agricultural Climate Solutions: On-Farm Climate Action Fund. This fund aims to assist farmers in adopting sustainable practices. The private sector is also actively engaged in climate-smart agriculture. Power Sustainable, a Toronto-based equity investor, introduced the C$300-million Lios Fund I in June 2021 to support companies within the food value chain that embrace sustainability trends impacting the sector. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1783/the-asia-pacific-foundation-of-canada-apf-canada-welcomes-laurel-west-as-vice-president-operations-partnerships.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1783/the-asia-pacific-foundation-of-canada-apf-canada-welcomes-laurel-west-as-vice-president-operations-partnerships.html Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:04:22 +0530 APF Canada has announced the appointment of Laurel West as Vice-President of Operations & Partnerships, effective January 8, 2024. Formerly a senior executive with The Economist Group, Ms. West has been based in Asia for the last three and half decades, first in Japan and then in Hong Kong. A journalist at the Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, and CBC Radio before relocating to Asia, she joined The Economist Group in 1992, working in a number of progressively senior roles on both the editorial and commercial sides of the business. After starting as a country analyst with The Economist Intelligence Unit, covering Southeast Asia before specializing in India, she established the group’s custom research business in Asia, which she led as editorial director. Most recently, she was Managing Director, Content Solutions, and Managing Director, Economist Events, as well as a member of the Asia Management Committee of The Economist Group Asia-Pacific. During her time in Japan, she worked on the Japan External Trade Organisation’s campaigns to address trade imbalances with the U.S. and Europe. “Laurel brings uniquely relevant professional and managerial depth in providing corporate clients with business intelligence and analysis products,” said APF Canada President and CEO Jeff Nankivell. “Her expertise in collaborating with multinationals, foundations, and governments and convening high-level knowledge and networking events in Asia Pacific markets from Australia to India will add immediate value to the Foundation’s senior leadership team.” In her most recent role with The Economist Group, Ms. West oversaw the execution of large-scale conferences on topics such as the future of health care, sustainability, global trade, and innovation, as well as country summits in the region, which brought together government, business, and civil society leaders alongside corporate sponsors and high-level speakers. “It is a very exciting time to join the Foundation as Canada seeks to deepen its engagement with the economies and peoples of Asia,” said West. “I look forward to leveraging my knowledge of the region as well as my commercial experience to help expand and strengthen the Foundation’s work at this critical time in Canada-Asia relations.” In her new role as Vice-President, Operations & Partnerships, Ms. West will be based at the Foundation’s headquarters in Vancouver, Canada, and oversee the Foundation’s events, business development, business networks, and the establishment of APF Canada’s new regional office in Southeast Asia, as well as operational functions, including finance and human resources ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1766/australias-grdc-announces-major-investments-to-combat-septoria-tritici-blotch-in-wheat.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1766/australias-grdc-announces-major-investments-to-combat-septoria-tritici-blotch-in-wheat.html Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:11:25 +0530 NSW DPI, ANU and GRDC are investing $8 million over five years to identify novel STB resistance genes and incorporate them into new Australian wheat varieties. Australia's Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has announced a series of investments to reduce the impact of the wheat disease Septoria tritici blotch (STB). The three GRDC investments are: Project 1: Identifying genes for STB resistance Project 2: Testing gene combinations for STB resistance Project 3: Understanding the cause of STB STB is a persistent issue for wheat growers in the high and medium rainfall zones of the northern and southern grain growing regions. If left unmanaged STB can reduce yields by up to 50%. Traditional control by fungicides is estimated to cost the industry $121 million per year, however resistance to some common fungicides including triazoles and strobilurin used to control STB is evolving. Together, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), the Australian National University (ANU) and GRDC are investing $8 million over five years to identify novel STB resistance genes and incorporate them into new Australian wheat varieties. GRDC genetic technologies officer Prameela Vanambathina says the investments will approach the STB problem from three different angles. “We are seeking to identify novel resistance genes, optimal combinations of adult plant resistance genes and understand plant pathogen interactions. We hope these three investments will provide tools and knowledge essential to reduce the impact of the disease for Australian grain growers. Most wheat varieties are susceptible to STB, leading to increased use of fungicides to control the disease. There’s a growing fungicide resistance problem, and the identification of new seed sources resistant to Australian pathotypes is crucial. Previous GRDC investment with NSW DPI and ANU has already identified genes that can contribute to adult plant resistance to STB” explains Vanambathina. Project 1 – Identifying genes for STB resistance The first of the three projects aims to discover and transfer novel adult plant resistance genes for STB resistance into wheat breeding programs. The project will be led by Dr Andrew Milgate (NSW DPI) and aims to identify novel genetic resources that are resistant to STB under Australian environments. The investment’s objectives include identifying and characterising novel sources of adult plant resistance from international and Australian germplasm pools, validating these genes and transferring the genetic potential into elite Australian wheat lines. Project 2 – Testing gene combinations for STB resistance The focus of the second project is on testing optimal combinations of these genes to identify the best ones, and a smaller number of genes for stable adult plant resistance. Dr Milgate says this partnership will see different combinations of resistance genes, previously identified by NSW DPI researchers in Wagga Wagga, to be bred into wheat varieties. Combining these high-quality genes together provides added, more stable protection and ensures the genes continue to be effective against STB, which can evolve new virulence rapidly. Having molecular markers makes it much faster and more accurate to bred wheat with the desirable resistance genes, meaning new wheat with improved STB resistance can be delivered to growers sooner. Project 3 – Understanding the cause of STB ANU Professor Peter Solomon says the University is pleased to continue its long-standing partnership with GRDC to tackle diseases that affect the viability and productivity of wheat in the third STB project. “Despite the impact that STB has on growers, disease and genetic resistance remains poorly understood. “This investment by GRDC will enable us to work with colleagues at Birmingham University in the UK to dissect the interaction between key pathogen proteins responsible for virulence and their corresponding host resistance genes in progressing disease. The outcomes will significantly advance our understanding of how the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici causes STB. The data generated will be used to develop an approach for screening disease-resistant cultivars" Professor Solomon says. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1908/fbn-expands-portfolio-with-10-new-crop-protection-products-digital-tools-and-strengthens-supply-chain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1908/fbn-expands-portfolio-with-10-new-crop-protection-products-digital-tools-and-strengthens-supply-chain.html Fri, 26 Jan 2024 08:04:00 +0530 Latest investments showcase steadfast commitment to Canadian growers Farmers Business Network, Inc. (FBN®), the global AgTech platform and farmer-to-farmer network, today announced the addition of 10 innovative Crop Protection products under the FBN Brand, reinforcing the company's steadfast commitment to Canadian growers. Eight of FBN’s new crop protection products support wheat growers, including: FBN ProTEB, FBN 2,4-D, FBN MCPA, FBN Fluroxypyr, and FBN Azoxy and three cutting-edge Wheat CoPacks – FBN BlackTailTM, FBN CapTTain CoPakTM, and FBN SterlingTM. While FBN is also expanding its fungicide portfolio with the addition of FBN Prothio, FBN ProTEB, and FBN Azoxy. In the run up to Planting 2024, FBN is also proud to launch its FBN Acre Plans. FBN Acre Plans is an entirely digital crop protection planning system to help growers optimize input planning and purchasing. These new Crop Protection products for Canada include: FBN Fluroxypyr 180 EC: The top kochia and cleaver control active for post-emergent use in wheat and barley. FBN 2,4-D Ester 700 EC: Tried and tested 2,4-D Ester from FBN. FBN MCPA Ester 600 EC: Tried and tested MCPA Ester from FBN. FBN ProTEB 250 EC: Contains Prothioconazole and Tebuconazole which are the active ingredients in Prosaro®, one of the top products to manage fusarium. FBN Prothio 480 SC: Contains Prothioconazole, the active ingredient in Proline®, one of the top fungicides for sclerotinia management in canola. FBN Azoxy 250 SC: Contains Azoxystrobin, the active ingredient in Quadris®, a proven product for protection against diseases in potatoes and pulse crops. FBN CapTTain CoPak: Contains 2,4-D and Fluroxypyr, the active ingredients in OcTTain® one of the top products for broadleaf weed controls in Wheat and Barley. FBN Sterling: Contains Fluroxypyr, Florasulam and MCPA, the active ingredients in Stellar®, a multi mode-of-action product for broadleaf weed control in wheat and barley. FBN BlackTail: Contains Carfentrazone and 2,4-D, the active ingredients in Blackhawk®, a multi mode-of-action add-in for your burnoff to manage resistant kochia and many other broadleaf weeds. Maxunitech Sulfentrazone: The first post-patent alternative to Authority(R) 480 in Canada. A pre-emergent option for management of resistant kochia and other broadleaf weeds. In addition to expanded product offerings, FBN is making strategic investments to enhance the shopping and delivery experience for growers. During checkout, products are intelligently grouped based on their use period, such as pre-season or in-season and delivered in two waves, providing greater order traceability and passing savings on to farmers. FBN's purpose built delivery network assures farmer members that these offerings will be delivered well before critical dates, so farmers have the tools they need for a successful 2024. FBN has expanded its delivery network so now 97% of growing acreage in Canada is within a 250-mile radius of a FBN logistics center. In 2023, FBN opened its flagship Canadian distribution center in Saskatoon, bringing enhanced delivery service through its network of eight Canadian fulfillment centers. FBN Canada now represents over 9,700 members across more than 31 million acres. Prosaro, Proline is a registered trademark of Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH. Quadris is a registered trademark of Syngenta Limited. OcTTain and Stellar are registered trademarks of Corteva Agriscience LLC. Blackhawk is a registered trademark of Nufarm Agriculture Inc. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1917/australia-to-build-agri-workforce-through-added-grants-and-schemes-for-2024.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1917/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/4/1726/fao-acclaims-thailand-as-proponent-of-sustainable-soil-management-in-the-apac-region.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1726/fao-acclaims-thailand-as-proponent-of-sustainable-soil-management-in-the-apac-region.html Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:05:51 +0530 FAO and LDD are collaborating in the joint implementation of a number of projects including establishment and operation of the Center of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia (CESRA) FAO Director-General QU Dongyu visited Thailand’s Land Development Department (LDD) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, underlining the country’s key role as a proponent of sustainable soil management in the Asia and Pacific region as he began a three-day visit to Bangkok. At the Land Development Department, steward of Thailand’s Soil Museum, the Director-General examined the various types of soil collected at the facility. Pramote Yajai, Director-General of LDD, Arthit Sukhkasem, Deputy Director-General for Academic Affairs and Anuwat Pothinam, and Deputy Director-General for Operations at LDD received Director-General at the LDD. In the LDD’s soil laboratory, the Director-General participated in examinations of soil and water, including soil PH level. The Director-General was also briefed on the Soil Doctors programme which aims to provide extensive training on soil sampling, with a target of 27,000 persons - one for each village in Thailand. The Director-General encouraged the soil scientists to continue their valuable work and urged them to share their expertise with other countries, particularly those with similar ecosystems. “Transfer your knowledge through the FAO Regional Office (for Asia and the Pacific) that is what I’d really like to see - for you to make use of the Regional Office to reach out to other countries in  the Asia and the Pacific region so they can learn more from you,” Qu said to the scientists.  The Director-General signed a clay plaque at the entrance to the Soil Museum, and inscribed the Chinese proverb “soil is the mother of the earth.” Following the work initiated by Thailand’s late King Bhumibol the Great, the country made significant investments in agriculture, prioritizing soil health preservation. Thailand provided significant political support to FAO for the launch and consolidation of the Global Soil Partnership, World Soil Day, the Global Soil Doctors Programme and Global Soil Laboratory Network (including the Asian Soil Laboratory Network). In recent years, FAO has been working to strengthen the position of LDD as a strategic partner. This includes providing laboratory equipment and offering technical and financial assistance for the establishment and operation of the Center of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia (CESRA). FAO and LDD are also actively collaborating in the joint implementation of a number of projects. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1745/australia-grants-30m-on-farm-connectivity-program-aiding-farmers-with-agtech-connectivity-tools.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1745/australia-grants-30m-on-farm-connectivity-program-aiding-farmers-with-agtech-connectivity-tools.html Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:51:30 +0530 Rebate is available for a wide range of technologies as part of OFCP program Australia grants $30 million for the on Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP), delivering significant productivity benefits for Australia's primary producers. More than $6.2 million in rebates are already committed to assist farmers in implementing Agtech and connectivity solutions. The program is extending data coverage further onto properties and allowing for greater connection and reliability of machinery and sensor technology by offering discounted technologies through approved suppliers. These technologies are assisting farmers to optimise soil quality and nutrient levels, monitor livestock, improve efficiency of water use and streamline farm logistics.  Since the program launch in late October, the Business Grants Hub has received more than 700 applications from equipment suppliers towards the $15 million in funding available under Round 1.  The rebate is available for a wide range of technologies such as external antennas, repeaters, boosters, sensors, automated tank systems and pump controllers, animal movement tags together with relevant installation and training costs. To help primary producers explore eligible connectivity options and make informed investment decisions, the Government has engaged the Regional Tech Hub to provided free and independent advice.  Though OFCP Australian Government is committed to $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan like improving mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience in communities across the country.  Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP said, “The Albanese Government is backing our farmers and primary producers On Farm Connectivity Program delivering the cutting edge tech the sector needs to stay competitive, boost sustainability and enhance farm safety.” Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said, “By helping farmers invest in new technologies, we’re powering productivity and embracing smarter, more sustainable farming practices. I’d encourage anyone wanting to see how agtech might benefit their work to give the Regional Tech Hub a call.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1747/ifad-accelerates-establishment-of-asia-and-the-pacific-apr-office-in-thailand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1747/ifad-accelerates-establishment-of-asia-and-the-pacific-apr-office-in-thailand.html Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:02:48 +0530 A tentative timeline for the establishment of the regional office has been set for Q3 of 2024 Thailand's Deputy Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Setthakiat Krachanwong, participated in a discussion on January 18, 2024, with representatives from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), namely Meyerhans, Executive Director, and Giorgia Salucci, Head of Support Department. Senior officials of the 16th Berlin Ministers' Conference of Agriculture (The 16th Berlin Ministers' Conference) met to discuss the progress of setting up an IFAD Asia and Pacific office in Thailand. As part of the process of establishing the IFAD Office for Asia and the Pacific in Thailand, the Host Country Agreement documents are referred to by the Deputy Permanent Secretary Economics and proposed to develop the documents by October 2024. In the 4th quarter of 2023, Thailand has been selected as the location for IFAD’s first regional office in the Asia and the Pacific region (APR). With the key milestone is part of IFAD’s decentralization strategy to bring the regional counterparts more closer to reflects steadfast commitment to enhancing collaboration and efficiency. Establishing IFAD’s first regional office in Asia strengthen IFDA's presence and impact in the region, enabling it to forge even stronger partnerships and drive growth. A tentative timeline for the establishment of the regional office has been set for Q3 of 2024. In line with the established regional office model, this office will eventually house the APR Regional Team as well as the COM, CSD, FMD, and SKD staff members mapped to APR. In addition to being IFAD's largest investment portfolio, APR also plays a significant role in the mission of the organization. By setting up regional offices, IFDA will be able to enhance efficiency, bridge time differences, and ensure seamless coordination among regional offices. Through closer collaboration with partners, IFDA aims to strengthen networks, and amplify efforts toward inclusive and sustainable rural transformation.  The strategic positioning of Bangkok enables IFDA's operational teams to serve clients with greater efficiency and achieve even greater impact. In addition, the presence of 21 UN regional and other offices in Bangkok provides valuable opportunities to enhance collaboration within the UN system, particularly with FAO and WFP regional offices. A stronger partnership with IFIs, also located in Bangkok, will further strengthen IFAD's regional initiatives. IFDA has considered an array of critical factors, including cost-effectiveness, travel accessibility, IT connectivity, visa considerations, alignment with IFAD’s strategy, proximity to other UN and multilateral agencies, and the overall impact on the staff costs to make Bangkok as the location . A strategic nexus uniting IFAD staff from different departments, the regional office will be led by the Regional Director. Stronger strategic focus on China and India To ensure comprehensive coverage across Asia, IFAD will further strengthen its office presence in Beijing, China, and New Delhi, India. India will operate as a multi-country office (MCO) in the APR region, while the office in China will have a particular focus on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) as IFAD SSTC Centre in Asia. In this unique capacity, the office will actively strive to secure substantial additional SSTC funds, significantly enhancing outreach efforts and maximizing the profound impact of IFAD-supported rural development and poverty reduction initiatives throughout the region.  We will also be exploring the possibility of strengthening the role of these offices further as centres for development financing, digital transformation, and more.  The two offices will oversee various country portfolios, thereby reinforcing IFAD’s strategic positioning and expanding partnerships at both country and regional levels in APR. The China office will continue to cover Mongolia, while the India office will continue to cover Sri Lanka and Maldives. As a result, they will foster robust client relationships and effectively reach rural communities in those countries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1741/grow-asias-executive-director-in-singapore-revels-goal-and-trajectories-for-2024.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1741/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/4/1738/bii-and-adb-forge-partnership-to-increase-green-goods-trade-financing-in-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1738/bii-and-adb-forge-partnership-to-increase-green-goods-trade-financing-in-asia.html Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:09:01 +0530 BII and ADB Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program sign $100 million risk sharing agreement to promote green trade in Asia British International Investment (BII), the UK's development finance institution (DFI) and impact investor, and Asian Development Bank (ADB), the regional development bank for Asia and the Pacific, today announced a new partnership to finance up to $100 million of green trade transactions in the region. The partnership will be managed through ADB's Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) and will focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate-smart agriculture to support the region's energy transition and climate resilience. In South and South East Asia, two of the most vulnerable regions to climate change, enabling development of more renewable energy capacity and its supply chain is essential to achieve the region's sustainability goals. Trade is a critical part of this as it enables the flow of goods that help regions to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. However, it is estimated that there is a global trade finance gap of $2.5 trillion annually, which means businesses lack access to the finance needed to trade energy transition goods for climate projects. Furthermore, local banks are currently not able to fully meet the demand to provide longer tenors required to finance goods for climate related projects, particularly within the renewable energy sector. The BII-ADB partnership aims to reduce the global trade finance gap and address this unmet demand for longer tenor for green transactions. The risk sharing agreement between the two organisations will help international banks increase their financing support to local banks, initially in Vietnam, before expanding to other countries supported by BII and ADB. This will provide crucial financing for local importers of solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and agricultural goods which will support the region to transition to cleaner sources of energy. From left: Ankita Pandey, ADB; Colin Buckley, BII; Alistair White, British Deputy Ambassador to the Philippines; Srini Nagarajan, BII; Suzanne Gaboury, ADB; Roger Fischer, ADB; Liz Lloyd, BII; Asif Cheema, ADB; Anton Periquet, BII; Dele Olufisan, BII; Cherrie Nuez, British Embassy and Benjamin Sandstad, ADB. Andrew Mitchell, UK Minister for Development and Africa, said: "This agreement between BII and the Asian Development Bank will unlock crucial green trade finance in Asia. It demonstrates how, by working together, the development finance system can mobilise the private finance so urgently needed to support countries in their transition to low carbon, climate-resilient economies." Srini Nagarajan, Managing Director and Head of Asia at BII, commented: "Supporting sustainable development in South and South East Asia is a key priority at BII. Green trade finance enables supply chain development of the renewable energy industry and tackles the bottleneck for much needed long tenor financing in the region. We are delighted to work with ADB, a strong partner with extensive knowledge and network in Asia, on a shared ambition to support the region's energy transition and build climate resilience." Suzanne Gaboury, Director General for Private Sector Operations at ADB, said: "This collaboration with BII will strengthen ADB TSCFP's capacity to further grow green supply chains in Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on energy transition goods that are essential for tackling climate change." The BII-ADB Green Trade Finance Facility supports SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13 on Climate Action. The transaction is led by Freddie Tucker, Investment Director, Trade and Supply Chain Finance at BII. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1714/thailands-nstda-mhesi-aligns-its-2024-goals-with-the-bio-circular-green-economy-bcg-model.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1714/thailands-nstda-mhesi-aligns-its-2024-goals-with-the-bio-circular-green-economy-bcg-model.html Fri, 12 Jan 2024 08:35:00 +0530 MHESI introduced the “11 BCG Implementation” policy for 2024; NSTDA's 6.0 policy to drive Core Agri-Business strategies boosting R&D and innovation Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI): Professor Dr. Sukit Limpijumnong, President of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) – an agency under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) along with a team of executives and researchers unveiled the NSTDA’s 2023 performance in driving BCG research to enhance the quality of life of Thai people towards sustainability. MHESI introduced the “11 BCG Implementation” policy for 2024, emphasizing NSTDA’s commitment to utilize science and technology to support various sectors in the national sustainable development mission, aligning with the Bio-Circular-Green economy (BCG) model. Prof. Dr. Sukit Limpijumnong, President of NSTDA, said that the NSTDA’s 6.0 policy has set the vision for NSTDA to function as the national powerhouse in science, technology, and innovation (STI) to strengthen Thailand’s research and innovation ecosystem, aligning with the policy announced by Ms. Supamas Isarabhakdi, MHESI which is “Private sector leads, state supports.” Under the 6.0 policy, NSTDA has mobilized personnel from its various departments to drive the NSTDA Core Business strategy, creating research power to serve society by becoming more proactive in making research and innovation more accessible and reducing bottlenecks in research. Through this strategy, impacts of our research become more evident in society, with positive feedbacks from millions of real users in various sectors. 2023 Research highlights in agriculture, energy and environment The press conference also featured exhibitions highlighting outstanding research work from five national centers. Among these displays are biocontrol products (developed by BIOTEC), which include pest control products, plant disease control products, and weed control products. The research team Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for integrated pest management for durian and yard long beans. These SOPs help farmers maintain and manage their agricultural plots while promoting the appropriate and effective use of biological products. SOPs are available in an e-book format on the online media channels of the research team and partners. Training workshops have been organized to introduce SOPs to farmers. A total of 150 farmers have attended these workshops. The HandySense Smart Farm is a precision agriculture system developed by NECTEC. It utilizes sensor technology and an automatic control system to improve plantation management, reduce production costs, and increase the income of farmers by at least 20%. HandySense is an open-source technology and is demonstrated in 200 smart farm learning centers nationwide. M Sense, developed by NANOTEC, is a test kit for measure the level of heavy metal contaminants in herbs and water. At present, three prototypes have been developed: manganese ions (Mn Sense), fluoride (F Sense), and copper (Cu Sense), for field use. The kit is highly sensitive and specific, easy to use, inexpensive, and can be applied in a variety of industries. The results can be determined qualitatively by comparing with a color chart and quantitatively using a portable device called the DuoEye Reader. The accuracy of the kit is consistent with standard laboratory methods, but it is less expensive compared to imported test kits. “EnPAT” is a biobased non-flammable transformer oil made from oil palm developed by ENTEC. It helps prevent fires from electrical transformer explosions, ensuring public safety while opening up opportunities for the high-value oleochemical economy. “Rachel” is a bodysuit designed by MTEC to aid mobility for the elderly. It can be worn all day long, allowing seniors to move freely and reducing the risk of injury from daily activities. This development employed interdisciplinary knowledge in various fields, including materials science (muscle stimulation), biomechanics and anatomy (musculoskeletal movement), and fashion design (comfortable fit). The product is now advancing to commercial production by leading clothing manufacturers in Thailand. In addition, NSTDA is also involved in driving the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Action Plan. Thailand’s Government AI Readiness Index ranking improved from 59th to 31st after the launch of the National AI Action Plan. NSTDA is actively engaged in driving the BCG Model at the national level and pilot provinces. Over 600,000 individuals have been trained in BCG skills development program during 2021-2022. Increased proportion of BCG economy has been witnessed in pilot provinces such as Chanthaburi and Ratchaburi. 2024 Goal, driving BCG research, innovation and sustainability In 2024, NSTDA is applying research knowledge and expertise to benefit the country and apply research results to various sectors in accordance with the policy set by MHESI Minister Ms. Supamas Issaraphakdi that emphasized application to benefit the public and private sectors. NSTDA aims to drive 11 BCG Implementation projects with the “1 reduction – 2 additions – 1 creation” strategy to improve the quality of life of Thai people. “1 Reduction” means reducing social disparities. This issue is addressed in three research projects: 1) “Thung Kula Rong Hai” focuses on transferring technologies to farmers and low-income families in Thung Kula Rong Hai area to improve their agricultural products 2) “Traffy Fondue” is a platform application for managing urban problems by connecting citizens with responsible agencies to increase the work efficiency of staff, 3) “Accessibility Information and Communication Platform” provides senior persons and persons with disabilities with access to communication, information and digital services. “2 Additions” means increasing Thai economic growth and improving self-reliance capacity. Two projects aim to boost the economic growth are: 1) “High-value herbal extracts from basil, black ginger, and centella” focuses on the development of an industrial production process for standardized extract to support the food and dietary supplements industry 2) “Functional food and functional ingredients production platform” aims to drive the growth of food industry, focusing on functional food, specialized food, and future food. The project will also enhance an ecosystem to promote functional ingredients industry and improve the competitiveness of the country’s food and cosmeceutical industries. Four research projects aims to support self-reliance, among which, “Animal Vaccine” focuses on testing the efficacy of inactivated ASFV autogenous vaccines prototype and developing the ASFV vaccine production process for domestic production Lastly, “1 creation” means creating sustainability of nature and environment with two research projects: 1) developing indicators and database of CO2, CE, SDG, national life cycle assessment database, and indicators related to sustainable production and consumption and the circular economy; and 2) “Industry 4.0 Platform” focuses on enabling industries to increase production efficiency, reduce resource use, minimize waste, and transition to green manufacturing. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1918/15-billion-oyster-initiative-aims-to-restore-texan-coast.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1918/15-billion-oyster-initiative-aims-to-restore-texan-coast.html Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:35:00 +0530 Country's largest marine species restoration project will be distributed along the Texas coast by 2025 Palacios Marine Agriculture Research (PMAR), and an unprecedented marine science-based push to restore Texas' depleted oyster reefs and once vibrant oyster population, have been supported by major financial commitments from the Ed Rachal Foundation. A number of other large and well-known oyster restoration projects with similar goals exist, such as the Horn Point Oyster Hatchery and the Billion Oyster Project in New York Harbor. In the western margin of the Gulf of Mexico, PMAR's conservation efforts extend along the entire Texas coast. As a large, resilient marine ecosystem, it remains vulnerable to man-made disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and climate-driven stressors such as sea level rise and warming. Texas' bays and estuaries have been tested to the limit by these challenges. As oyster reefs and oyster populations flourish, turbidity and erosion are reduced, which benefit other habitats, such as seagrass meadows and emergent wetlands. The 15 billion oyster project will address many of the concerns raised in the academy reports, including work on large ecological scales that can affect entire ecosystems and those who depend on them. “In order to successfully introduce 15 billion oysters, PMAR’s team will undertake more initial research to explore the development of new reefs and restoration of existing damaged reefs. Our initial research project will be in the area of oyster reef restoration and conservation aquaculture“ said Gail Sutton, PMAR director of operations. A large-scale hatchery system, with the support of a coastwide restoration partnership, is another PMAR goal aiming to reverse unsustainable trends in the Texas oyster industry. Oyster seed is already being supplied to commercial oyster ranchers on the Texas coast. Aquaculture is aimed at creating a sustainable commercial aquaculture industry that can produce seed oysters in hatcheries, grow them in a reliable, protected environment, and harvest them when ready - all while maintaining the integrity of the coastal environment. “A lot of people love to eat oysters, but they often don’t realise what an important role they play in our environment. They’re the water treatment plants of the bays — one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. They’re also a happening place to be underwater, providing habitat and nurseries for species like fish and crabs. When a reef dies or is removed, the water quality goes down and the fish leave. It’s an indicator of environmental degradation” said Gail Sutton, director and co-founder of the institute’s Oyster Recycling Program, Sink Your Shucks.  Oyster reefs are Texas' most endangered habitat, and their current depletion also compromises ecosystem health. As a result of hatchery output, a conservation-oriented aquaculture industry will be developed, which will contribute to overall restoration. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1696/indonesian-agritech-semaai-raises-4-7m-to-expand-agronomy-strength.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1696/indonesian-agritech-semaai-raises-4-7m-to-expand-agronomy-strength.html Mon, 08 Jan 2024 09:15:00 +0530 The funds will be channeled into expanding its agronomy service, collaborating with fintech institutions, and expanding the startup's presence in Central Java Semaai, provider of digital agritech solutions for Indonesian farmers and agri-retailers has raised $4.7 million (approx IDR 73 billion) in a mix of equity and debt financing. CyberAgent Capital led this investment round with participation from new investors, namely Sumitomo Corporation Equity Asia, Ruvento, MyAsiaVC and Heracles Ventures. Semaai's existing investors, Peak XV's Surge, Accion Venture Lab and Beenext, also participated in the round. Semaai's total funding has now reached $7.6 million (approx IDR 118 billion) with this latest round. In the last 12 months, the net revenue has increased by more than fifteen-fold (>15x), and its Toko Tani marketplace user base has doubled (2x). Furthermore, its advisory feature has witnessed an eightfold (8x) increase in adoption in the last six months and is used by most of Semaai's active users. Semaai plans to deploy the new funds to expand its agronomy advisory service to agri-retailers and farmers, collaborate with fintech institutions to provide advanced fintech solutions and strengthen its presence in Central Java. There are more than 8,2001 villages in the region, and Semaai plans to cover 75% of these villages by the end of 2024. "With the new funding, our company will collaborate with financial institutions and fintech providers to expand our embedded fintech solutions, having already doubled Semaai's total transaction volume in the last twelve months. This is part of our goal to provide an integrated digital ecosystem that addresses disruptions in the supply chain and fills knowledge gaps for Indonesia's agri-retailers and smallholder farmers," said Muhammad Yoga Anindito, Co-founder and CEO of Semaai. "Agriculture is the third largest contributor to the overall GDP in Indonesia. This certainly shows that the sector has massive opportunities, but unfortunately, it has been run traditionally without significant exposure to any digital adoption. As a result, productivity gains and development opportunities are left untapped. With the founding team's long experience in the agriculture sector, we are confident that Semaai will revolutionise the Indonesian agricultural sector through its offline-to-online approach, especially within the agricultural input material supply chain," said Kevin Wijaya, CyberAgent Capital, Director of CyberAgent Indonesia Office. Indonesia's agricultural sector, together with forestry and fisheries, grew 1.46% on a yearly basis and 1.61% on a quarterly basis. Badan Pusat Statistik 2023 data shows that the agricultural sector contributed IDR 397,291.202 billion to Indonesia's GDP or 12.71% of the total GDP. Despite being one of the most significant contributors to the national economy, Indonesia's agricultural sector still faces several challenges, such as limited access to financing, long supply chains, and low technology adoption. To tackle the challenge, Semaai provides three essential services widely utilised by farmers and agri-retailers, namely: B2B digital marketplace for agricultural inputs such as seed and fertilisers Agronomy advisory services to improve their farming practices Financial services in partnership with financial institutions and fintech providers. Semaai's agronomy advisory service, which was launched in 2024 gives access to a wide range of educational content, neatly organised by crop type, focused on crop-related pests and diseases. The content aids users in thoroughly understanding the complexities of crop issues and empowers them to prepare to mitigate and address future problems. Users are then recommended products from Semaai's marketplace platform, culminating in hassle-free doorstep delivery. The unique blend of commerce and logistics incorporated into Semaai's advisory service is set to bring substantial value and benefits to agri-retailers and farmers utilising the feature. Singapore is establishing global network of scientists and seed and field experts understand local, national and international requirements, and supports during all phases of the product development cycle. Singapore national policies supporting Sustainable agriculture using state-of-the-art technology, crop management solutions and digital tools, provides accurate results and supports you with technical competence. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1690/croplife-europe-commits-e10b-into-innovation-in-precision-and-digital-technologies-by-2030.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1690/croplife-europe-commits-e10b-into-innovation-in-precision-and-digital-technologies-by-2030.html Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:48:41 +0530 Also commits €4 billion into innovation in biopesticides by 2030 "We have established six commitments by 2030 focused on three areas, which are innovation and investment, the circular economy, and protecting people and the environment. Olivier de Matos, Director-General of CropLife Europe, said that the organization is planning to invest €4 billion in "plant bioprotection." " said de Matos. In the are of innovation and investment, the idea is to accelerate farmers' capacities to combat pests and diseases while protecting the environment, he added, noting that another €10 billion will be allocated to "digital agronomy," bringing the total estimated investment to €14 billion for the coming years. Regarding the circular economy, de Matos stressed that a significant challenge lies in plastic waste from pesticide products, as packaging must be collected and treated. "Currently, the rate of recovery of packaging waste from agrochemical products in the European Union (EU) is 66%, and we aim to reach 75% by 2025. We also want to develop and implement a system for collecting plastic waste because not all EU countries have it," he explained. In terms of protecting people and the environment, he highlighted the objective of facilitating access to new technologies. "We are committed to training one million farmers and consultants in good health practices, the use of water and environmental protection," de Matos said, noting the use of Closed Transfer Systems (CTS) technology to further reduce operators' exposure to chemicals. According to de Matos, CropLife Europe is committed to actively encouraging research and innovation to equip European farmers for more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agriculture. To achieve this, the organization will establish six commitments by 2030 focused on three areas, which are innovation and investment, circular economy, and protecting people and the environment. CropLife Europe is a European association composed of 23 companies, both multinationals and SMEs, and 31 national associations, including ANIPLA. It is based in Brussels. CropLife Europe's members support European farmers in protecting their crops through conventional chemical protection, biological control, plant biotechnology and digital agronomy. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1685/unifahs-raises-1-4m-in-seed-funding-for-sustainable-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1685/unifahs-raises-1-4m-in-seed-funding-for-sustainable-agriculture.html Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:46:23 +0530 UniFAHS raises $1.4M in Seed funding for Sustainable Agriculture UniFAHS, a trailblazing biotechnology company specialising in phage technology for sustainable agriculture and food safety, has announced it has raised over $1.4 million in its seed funding round. This significant step propels the company forward in its mission of growth and transforming food production using environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches. The funding round, led by A2D Ventures and supported by contributions from Asian Development Bank Ventures (ADB Ventures) and InnoSpace (Thailand), underscores the strong confidence in UniFAHS's innovative approach and future potential. A2D Ventures is a prominent community-led early-stage investing platform that aims to tackle fragmentation and democratise access to investment opportunities. Co-founded by Dr Kitiya Vongkamjan, a distinguished Cornell University alumna and leading figure in phage research and food safety, and Chalita Wongpukdee, who brings expertise in agribusiness marketing and sales with extensive connections in agriculture, food, feed, and animal health, UniFAHS's patented phage solutions are at the forefront of combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and promoting climate-friendly agricultural practices. Dr Vongkamjan shares, "Our vision at UniFAHS is to create a sustainable future for food production. This funding is a financial boost and a strong endorsement of our phage technology's potential to revolutionise the agriculture and food safety sectors." Recognised as one of the Top 10 Livestock Management startups globally by StartUs Insights in 2023, Dr Vongkamjan and her team continue to further groundbreaking research and sustainable food production to redefine the biotechnology landscape. This investment serves as a catalyst that will enable the company to expand its production capacity and extend its reach across Southeast and South Asia by working closely with its distribution partners to expand the customer segments by 20% in 2024 to impact the world's food production significantly. As UniFAHS embarks on a journey of growth and expansion, ADB Ventures has emerged as a critical partner, contributing financial support and a wealth of experience and global connections – with both companies sharing a united commitment to prioritising environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices in the pursuit of economic growth. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1687/trimble-announces-connected-climate-exchange-links-farmers-to-companies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1687/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/4/1683/australias-centre-for-entrepreneurial-agri-technology-ceat-rebrands-as-agrifood-innovation-institute-afii.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1683/australias-centre-for-entrepreneurial-agri-technology-ceat-rebrands-as-agrifood-innovation-institute-afii.html Wed, 03 Jan 2024 11:08:21 +0530 AFII will continue to focus on advancing agri techhnology with CEAT reserved $12 million investment for CEAT Innovation Institute for a further five years Australia's Centre for Entrepreneurial Agri-Technology (CEAT) rebrands as Agrifood Innovation Institute (AFII) effective from 1 January 2024. When CEAT started in 2018, focus was on addressing agricultural challenges by harnessing Australian National University (ANU) expertise in plant, environmental and computing sciences, engineering and technology development. This opens the opportunity to utilise ANU expertise across a broader range of disciplines (including social sciences, business and economics, law, policy and regulatory frameworks) to address a wider range of agrifood challenges facing society, industry and the environment.  With the University having committed to invest $12 million in the CEAT Innovation Institute for a further five years, through the rebranding, the scope has been widened beyond just 'agri-technology' to encompass all the interdisciplinary capabilities of ANU to address complex agrifood challenges at the regional, national and global levels. As an ANU Innovation Institute, AFII will invest in initiatives that: develop an entrepreneurial culture that promotes the translation of ANU research knowledge for societal benefit support researchers to build new partnerships with the agrifood sector invest in new models of biological, technological, social and policy innovation that change how ANU researchers work with industry harness the full interdisciplinary capabilities of ANU to address complex national and global challenges that threaten the resilience, stability and growth of the agrifood sector help shape national and global debates about how to meet increasing global demand for nutritious, abundant food that is produced in ways that are environmentally sustainable provide graduate students with a wider range of career opportunities.  With the rebrand comes an increasing need for ANU to deepen connections with industry and innovation networks beyond our campus. To complement the initiative new leadership roles are announced.  Associate Professor Alison Bentley will join ANU, both as AFII Deputy Director and as a Group Leader in the “Research School of Biology”. In addition, the new AFII Board will include members from the corporate sector bringing significant industry and innovation ecosystem experience: Victoria Taylor (Chair): Head of Sector Building at Cellular Agriculture Australia, Non-Executive Director of Horticulture Innovation Australia and WaterNSW, member of the NSW Rice Marketing Board Ben Fargher: Lead of Cargill Environmental Markets in the APAC region.  Hebbat Manhy: Head of Deep Technology at Cicada Innovations, member of the NSW Smart Sensing Network Advisory Board and Monash University’s Faculty of Robotics and Automation Industry Advisory Board Rob Gordon: the former CEO of SunRice, Non-Executive Board Director of the Inghams Group (Chair, Risk and Sustainability sub-Committee; Member, Finance/Audit Committee), and is a member of RaboBank’s Agribusiness Advisory Board.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1658/australias-approves-87-million-to-establish-new-zero-net-emissions-research-centre-by-corteva-agriscience.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1658/australias-approves-87-million-to-establish-new-zero-net-emissions-research-centre-by-corteva-agriscience.html Fri, 22 Dec 2023 11:17:26 +0530 The 10-year funding commitment will be matched by 73 partners across industry, education and government to tackle some of the most important issues facing Australian agriculture Australia has approved $87M in funding for the establishment of the Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC), partnering with key industry players such as Corteva Agriscience, to help Australia reduce agricultural emissions and advance the sector’s reputation in sustainability. The 10-year funding commitment will be matched by 73 partners across industry, education and government to tackle some of the most important issues facing Australian agriculture while supporting its continued growth and the target of $100B in economic value by 2030. The CRC will begin work in 2024 and Corteva Agriscience Country Leader, Ian Corr, said the company would partner to pursue research on input products for managing nutrition efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fertiliser losses. Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, said ZNE-Ag CRC would coordinate research projects including ways to improve crop quality and production, and soil and fertiliser management. “The message from the latest Climate Statement is clear, we’re close but we need to pull out all the stops to get over the line on our 2030 climate commitments, We need to mobilise Australian industry to play its role in the transition to net zero now. But we also need to think about the next big steps, which is why it is important to get Australian science and industry working together on this” Minister Husic added. The ZNE-Ag CRC Chair, Dr Debra Cousins, said "The national collaboration has secured $300M in funding over 10 years, with the Federal Government’s contribution of $87M making it the largest CRC in the program’s history". ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1650/newleaf-symbiotics-closes-45m-series-d-round-continues-growth-trajectory.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1650/newleaf-symbiotics-closes-45m-series-d-round-continues-growth-trajectory.html Fri, 22 Dec 2023 07:13:28 +0530 NewLeaf will accelerate its efforts with PPFM technology and adjacent technologies in the areas of biostimulants/microbial inoculants, biocontrol, nitrogen use efficiency and methane mitigation NewLeaf Symbiotics, a global leader and pioneer of pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs), announces the fully funded close of its series D financing round, totalling $45 million. This round was led by new investor Gullspång Re:food and followed by Otter Capital Partners LP, S2G Ventures, Leaps by Bayer and others. NewLeaf gained tremendous growth over the past three years with its PPFM technology, significantly increasing in product shipments for corn and soy acres. The market saw NewLeaf’s product-applied footprint increase from approximately 800,000 acres in the crop year 2022 to 3.5 million acres in the crop year 2023, with a projected nearly 11 million acres in the crop year 2024. With this funding, NewLeaf will accelerate its efforts with PPFM technology and adjacent technologies in the areas of biostimulants/microbial inoculants, biocontrol, nitrogen use efficiency and methane mitigation. Its plans for 2024 include a new EPA-registered biopesticide technology shown to repel corn rootworms in corn plants, new biostimulant technologies for peanut and cotton, and continued research and development around rice yield, nitrogen efficiency and methane reduction impact. NewLeaf remains focused on its mission to help growers do more with less as they work to feed the world’s increasing population. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1642/zespri-rallies-innovators-on-world-kiwifruit-day-to-create-a-more-sustainable-future.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1642/zespri-rallies-innovators-on-world-kiwifruit-day-to-create-a-more-sustainable-future.html Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:18:24 +0530 The world's largest kiwifruit marketer seeks forward-thinking visionaries to apply to its just-launched innovation funding initiative ZAG On World Kiwifruit Day (December 21), Zespri, the largest kiwifruit marketer in the world, invites all forward-thinking visionaries, disruptors, dreamers, and darers to apply for its new innovation funding initiative, ZAG. To raise awareness of some of the key challenges facing the kiwifruit industry – and create excitement for finding real-world solutions – Zespri is focusing on sustainable agriculture, technology, automation, packaging, supply chain, logistics, and industry education. Zespri's $2 million annual fund will support future innovation initiatives and global partnerships that strengthen its ability to fulfill its purpose - delivering the goodness of kiwifruit to people, communities, and the environment throughout the world. ZAG is designed to attract innovative problem solvers from around the world who can help address some of the key challenges the industry faces as it meets growing demand for kiwifruit. Zespri is seeking forward-thinking visionaries, disruptors, dreamers, and darers to help it better innovate in sustainable agriculture, technology, automation, packaging, supply chain, logistics and industry education. ZAG will support projects that are focused on four core priorities for Zespri: (1) Initiatives that are good for kiwifruit by driving superior quality and lifting on orchard productivity (2) Initiatives that are good for people by promoting wellbeing through kiwifruit consumption (3) Initiatives that are good for the environment by protecting and enhancing nature (4) And finally, initiatives that foster a thriving kiwifruit industry, benefitting growers and the local communities they are a part of. To join Zespri’s mission to create a better kiwifruit industry for all, apply to the fund at zespri.com/ZAGFUND ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1639/australias-to-invest-127m-on-new-research-centres-to-tackle-agriculture-emissions-and-eliminate-plastic-waste.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1639/australias-to-invest-127m-on-new-research-centres-to-tackle-agriculture-emissions-and-eliminate-plastic-waste.html Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:28:00 +0530 Funding will support two new large-scale Cooperative Research Centres Australia has announced a $127 million investment in research centres to cut emissions in the agriculture sector and eliminate plastic waste. The funding has been awarded from Round 24 of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program, an Australian Government initiative established in 1990 which funds industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and end users. Funding will support two new large-scale Cooperative Research Centres: The CRC for Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture has received $87 million to further develop and scale up technologies to reduce methane emissions from grazing cattle and sheep, and to improve crop quality and production. The Solving Plastic Waste CRC has received $40 million to transform the way plastics are designed, manufactured, used and recycled, and to develop a solution to remove microplastic pollution in soil. These CRCs align with the National Reconstruction Fund’s priority areas, as well as the Government’s broader ambitions to achieve net zero by 2050 and tackle plastic waste. These two CRCs will leverage more than $315 million in cash and in-kind contributions from project partners, and improve industry outcomes across the agriculture, environment, recycling and manufacturing sectors. The CRCs will involve more than 118 project partners working across Australia, including 50 small to medium enterprises, as well as 21 university partners from 17 universities, and 14 government agencies including Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. Minister Husic has also announced today that Round 25 of the CRC Program will open from 8 January 2024, closing on 5 March 2024. Government priorities are always considered as part of the assessment criteria in CRC selection rounds, with CRC applicants from all industry sectors and research disciplines having the opportunity to demonstrate alignment with Government priorities. All information on the round, including the Grant Opportunity Guidelines, are available on business.gov.au. Since the CRC Program commenced over 30 years ago, the Australian Government has committed more than $5.7 billion to establish 238 CRCs and 232 CRC Projects, leveraging a further $17.3 billion in cash and in-kind contributions from collaborating partners from industry, research, government and community organisations. Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science said, "The message from the latest Climate Statement is clear, we’re close but we need to pull out all the stops to get over the line on our 2030 climate commitments. We need to mobilise Australian industry to play its role in the transition to net zero now. But we also need to think about the next big steps, which is why it is important to get Australian science and industry working together on this. There are very few challenges more crucial than achieving net zero emissions and tackling plastic pollution. I wish these two new CRCs every success in achieving the important objectives they have set.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1629/fao-and-partners-join-forces-to-mitigate-the-impact-of-el-nino-in-the-asean-region.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1629/fao-and-partners-join-forces-to-mitigate-the-impact-of-el-nino-in-the-asean-region.html Mon, 18 Dec 2023 09:53:02 +0530 A key recommendation of FAO, ESCAP, and WMO was to contextualize and prioritize concrete actions at the local, national, and regional levels so that timely responses can be taken. In Southeast Asia, El Nio has made its presence felt and is expected to last for at least three months. WMO officially declared El Nio conditions for the first time in seven years in July, setting the stage for a surge in global temperatures and disruptive weather patterns. It is crucial to emphasize the critical importance of early warnings as the region prepares for the full potential impact of this climate phenomenon over the next three to six months. In response, governments are mobilizing preparations and limiting the impact on health, agrifood systems, and economies. In response to the challenge, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and WMO have called for joint action and necessary steps to take. A workshop to that effect was held this week in Bangkok “Bracing for El Niño: Getting Ready for Dry Years in ASEAN with Enhanced Early Warnings and Anticipatory Action” convened by the three. More than 50 experts, including government representatives, the ASEAN Secretariat and members from the Asia-Pacific Technical Working Group on Anticipatory Action attended the workshop. These collaborative efforts have focused on strategies to enhance regional preparedness, improve early warning systems, and strengthen anticipatory action measures. The discussions also centred around linking regional frameworks – such as the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action for Adaptation to Drought (ARPA-AD) and the ASEAN Framework on Anticipatory Action in Disaster Management (AFAADM) - as well as a global initiative, the UN Early Warnings for All initiative, to guide their next steps and boost proactive measures against potential drought. Collaborative action: getting ahead of the emerging drought risk Emphasizing the collaborative potential of regional initiatives, Ben Churchill, Director of the WMO Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific, highlighted that through the UN Early Warnings for All (EW4ll) initiative we can jointly support the roll-out of the ASEAN’s ARPA-AD and AFAADM Frameworks, benefitting from ASEAN experiences and capacities. “There are three pathways which could strengthen drought adaptation. First, there is a need to shift to Transformative Adaption. Second, to minimize siloed action. And third, to adapt to protect the sustainable development of the region. The ARPA-AD and the AFAADM present a perfect opportunity for key stakeholders to do so and see real progress made on SDGs: 6 on water, 13 on Climate Action, 15 on Life on Land and 17 Partnership for the Goals” said Madhurima Sarkar-Swaisgood from ESCAP. By identifying drought-prone regions and implementing sustainable practices, we can mitigate adverse effects on agriculture, water supplies, and livelihoods. Investing in innovative technologies and collaborating with local stakeholders fosters a holistic approach to drought preparedness. Prioritizing early intervention not only shields communities from immediate hardships but also establishes a foundation for long-term resilience in the face of evolving climate challenges. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1611/volcani-international-and-western-negev-farmers-launch-regrow-israel-emergency-fund-to-rebuild-war-destroyed-agricultural-communities.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1611/volcani-international-and-western-negev-farmers-launch-regrow-israel-emergency-fund-to-rebuild-war-destroyed-agricultural-communities.html Thu, 14 Dec 2023 09:35:59 +0530 Israel's leading Agricultural NGO, Volcani International Partners and Western Negev Farmers launched ReGrow Israel – an Emergency Fund to restore and rebuild farming communities hardest hit by the October 7th terrorist attacks. The initiative seeks to raise $50 million that will be immediately distributed to farmers to address the significant losses: More than $500M in income More than 100,000 acres of agricultural land Equipment such as tractors, plows, fertilizer spreaders, combines, planters Infrastructure and irrigation systems Restoration of this area within the next six to twelve months is critical to the entire country's food and economic security. The Western Negev distributes a substantial portion of staples like potatoes and tomatoes, produce and dairy to the Israeli population. The 45 Kibbutzim and Moshavim communities that live and farm in the Western Negev region will lead the assessment of needs and allocation of dollars with support from scientists, applied R&D experts and agronomists and technology leaders from around the world. "These pioneering, passionate farmers are already getting creative in finding solutions to use what's left of their land and resources to feed the Israeli population," says Danielle Abraham, CEO, Volcani Partners International. "Investing in the rebuild of the Western Negev is critical to ensuring the immediate safety and security of all Israeli people as well as the world's food and Agriculture system." "The Western Negev farming communities are sought by governments, corporates and non profits around the globe for their ability to turn minimal arable land bordering desert terrains into a world-renowned agricultural powerhouse region," said Arbel Levin, Chief Business Development Officer at Mishkey HaNegev. "Israel has been making significant contributions to the world's agriculture system for 70 years, and the ReGrow Israel fund will invest in building this region back even better for the future." ReGrow Israel has generated support from leaders around the world such as former US Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman who serves as an advisor to the fund. He underscores the importance and urgency of ensuring the stability of Israel's food supply and the country's continued contributions to a more sustainable food system. "The Kibbutzim and moshavim farmers pioneered innovations including drip irrigation, wastewater recycling, biofertilizers and precision agriculture; and export nearly $2.5 billion in crops annually," says Dan Glickman, former US Secretary of Agriculture. "This conflict has revealed the fragility of farming and importance of ensuring this region can build back better for the future as unpredictability and uncertainty become more common in Israel and around the world." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1603/sustainable-markets-initiative-agribusiness-task-force-launches-blended-finance-framework.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1603/sustainable-markets-initiative-agribusiness-task-force-launches-blended-finance-framework.html Wed, 13 Dec 2023 08:30:55 +0530 To make regenerative farming mainstream  At COP 28, the Sustainable Markets Initiative's Agribusiness Task Force announced the launch of a new blended finance framework that could unlock trillions of dollars for regenerative agriculture. A task force of companies including Mars, McCain Foods, McDonald's, Mondelez International, PepsiCo and Waitrose, unveil a plan to make regenerative farming financially viable and scalable; explore implementation projects in India, the UK and the US; welcome Lloyds Banking Group to boost cross-industry support, and call for policy changes to help support its implementation. The global food system currently creates ~30% of human produced GHG emissions and is the greatest driver to nature loss. Embracing regenerative farming globally could help provide a third of the land-based climate action needed by 2030, but as the Sustainable Markets Initiative Agribusiness Task Force found last year, the economics do not work for most farmers. The Task Force including Bayer, Indigo Ag and Olam Agri, today outlines a four-lever framework to accelerate the scaling of regenerative farming, built on: New funding and sourcing models; Introduction of common metrics; Suggested government policy changes; and A plan to create new revenue streams for farmers. "New funding and sourcing models" is a first-of-its-kind blended finance model combining philanthropic support, catalytic capital from asset managers, commercial capital offered at preferential rates from banks, longer-term contract commitments from food businesses to source sustainable commodities, and crop insurance from insurance companies helping de-risk farming operations. A "plan to create new revenue streams for farmers" proposes a way to create more revenue for farmers by allowing them to capture carbon credits during a field's entire rotation, not just when it is in-use. Titled the Ecosystem Services Market, the approach means when a field is farmed to supply a buyer, regenerative practices can help the buyer's Scope 3 footprint; then during a year when the farmer is resting the field to recover soil health and biodiversity, the farmer can continue selling carbon credits to other buyers outside of their value chain. Complementing solutions to make regenerative farming financially viable, are proposals to make it scalable. The Task Force suggests the "introduction of common metrics", which would give regenerative farming a universally understood and scalable approach, and 10 "suggested government policy changes" which could help unlock $1.2 trillion that regenerative agriculture can add to the worldwide economy. Policy recommendations include financial advice and training support to farmers implementing regenerative farming, and those carrying out Research and Development; promoting regenerative farming terms in trade agreements; and creating incentives for landowners to encourage regenerative techniques by tenants. The Task Force reveals it is exploring at least four farming projects to prove its concept. These include rice in India, involving Bayer and Olam; canola and wheat projects in Poland, involving Mars, PepsiCo and ADM; wheat projects in the US, involving Mondelez and Indigo AG; and potatoes and other crops in the UK, involving McCain, McDonald's, Waitrose, PepsiCo, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1596/malaysias-agritech-startup-qarbotech-lands-7m-to-bring-unprecedented-agriculture-productivity-to-global-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1596/malaysias-agritech-startup-qarbotech-lands-7m-to-bring-unprecedented-agriculture-productivity-to-global-farmers.html Fri, 08 Dec 2023 11:06:49 +0530 The funding is led by 500 Global, with additional grants secured from notable institutions such as the Temasek Foundation and Dana Impak, an initiative by Khazanah Nasional. Qarbotech, a leading Malaysia-based agritech startup, announced today that it has raised $700,000 in Seed funding and grants. The round was led by multi-stage venture capital firm, 500 Global, and includes innovation grants from the Temasek Foundation for winning the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2023, and Khazanah Nasional’s Dana Impak for winning the Khazanah Impact Innovation Challenge (KIIC) 2023.  Qarbotech’s patented photosynthesis enhancement nanotechnology is an on-plant or in-soil solution that boosts agricultural productivity - increasing crop yields by up to 60%. The company’s unique formulation contains biocompatible organic compounds with properties similar to chlorophyll, thus increasing the photosynthesis rate of leafy plants. By optimising photosynthetic efficiency and shortening growth cycles, farmers and growers of all sizes can enhance their crop yield.  Chor Chee Hoe, CEO and Co-Founder of Qarbotech said, “As the industry’s most accessible photosynthesis enhancer, we are pioneering a new and disruptive solution that will reshape conventional approaches to farming. The strategic support from our investors propels us towards scalable growth, but more importantly, allows us to empower more farmers around the world to feed the rest of us.” With this round of financing, Qarbotech will make significant investments in strengthening their research & development, and expand its manufacturing facility to produce up to 50 times its current capacity to serve farmers and growers in new markets across Southeast Asia. “Qarbotech's journey, from the labs of the university to the fields of commercial farms, shows the transformative power that research and innovation can have in our lives. This milestone not only signifies Qarbotech's commitment to driving positive change through science, but is also a proud moment for Universiti Putra Malaysia, where our groundbreaking research took root and flourished,” said Dr. Suraya Abdul Rashid, Chief Scientist and Founder of Qarbotech, and Deputy Director at Universiti Putra Malaysia's Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Innovation is required in Southeast Asia’s agricultural sector The population in Southeast Asia is estimated to grow by 12%, from 670 million in 2020 to 750 million by 2035. This population surge and climate volatility are expected to drive a 40% increase in food demand by 2050. Limited agricultural resources, widespread land degradation, and diminishing arable land caused by urbanisation and industrialization in the region pose a threat to food production. Qarbotech’s technology is essential for farmers to grow more with less arable land.  “Agriculture is an industry that’s ripe for investments. When we have the privilege to meet a team that’s catalyzing a step change for farmers, we back them. Qarbotech's technology has exciting potential to solve the global food security challenge of the world’s growing population, of which about 30% do not have food security. We believe that when Qarbotech wins, these 2.3 billion people win too," shared Khailee Ng, Managing Partner, 500 Global. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1594/saudi-fund-for-development-provides-100-million-in-development-financing-for-the-rogun-hydropower-project.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1594/saudi-fund-for-development-provides-100-million-in-development-financing-for-the-rogun-hydropower-project.html Wed, 06 Dec 2023 11:06:23 +0530 SE Sultan Al-Marshad, the CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), signed a new development loan agreement with the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, HE Kahhorzoda Fayziddin Sattor. Under this agreement, the SFD will contribute $100 million to finance the Rogun Hydropower Project – a landmark initiative that will improve energy, food and water security and accelerate the country's sustainable development. The signing was attended by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Tajikistan, HE Waleed Al-Reshiadan, and the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia, HE Akram Karimi, as well as other representatives of both sides. The SFD development loan will contribute to more sustainable and equitable food and water supplies in Tajikistan, while supporting the country's energy transition and climate resilience. The project will ensure electricity supply from renewable energy sources to meet regional demand and expand domestic electricity generation, providing a capacity of 3600 MW in the region to strengthen national energy security and promote sustainable development in the Republic of Tajikistan. The loan will also finance the construction of a 335-meter-high dam that will improve irrigation capabilities and facilitate agricultural activities across the country. The project will improve flood protection through the construction of four hydraulic tunnels for diversion and drainage. In addition, desalination provides the population with clean drinking water and promotes socio-economic development through the creation of direct and indirect jobs. As another important point, this project supports the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - in particular SDG 2, "No Hunger", SDG 6, "Clean water and sanitation", and SDG 7, "Affordable and clean energy" . On the occasion of the signing, the CEO of the SFD, HE Sultan Al-Marshad, said: “Today’s signing marks an important milestone on our shared path towards a more sustainable future. With this landmark development loan, SFD not only supports Tajikistan's future energy security, but also its sustainable development and the well-being of its people. The Rogun Hydroelectric Project is a beacon of hope for a better future powered by clean, renewable energy. It will lead Tajikistan to environmental responsibility and prosperity.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1577/nexpoint-capital-inc-grants-2m-for-bioplastic-manufacturing-company-plantswitch.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1577/nexpoint-capital-inc-grants-2m-for-bioplastic-manufacturing-company-plantswitch.html Wed, 29 Nov 2023 10:44:22 +0530 NexPoint, a multi-billion-dollar alternative investment firm, today announced its investment of $2M in the early growth funding round of PlantSwitch, a bioplastics manufacturing company with a carbon negative production process that upcycles agricultural waste to produce biodegradable and compostable resins for single-use products. The investment is part of a total $7.7M raise in this early fundraise round, to which other institutional investors, along with NexPoint, subscribed. PlantSwitch has also recently received a $4.94M federal grant from the department of agriculture. PlantSwitch's mission is to "to replace all petroleum-based single-use plastic with plants" by manufacturing and distributing its uniquely compostable bioplastic resin. PlantSwitch's manufacturing process utilizes agricultural waste products such as rice husks, wheat straw, and other cellulose rich byproducts in combination with a polymer to make sustainable bioplastics while upcycling agricultural waste. In addition to its carbon negative production process, PlantSwitch's bioplastics are cheaper to produce and more compostable than comparable bioplastics. PlantSwitch, which was founded in 2020 by SMU Graduates Dillon Baxter and Maxime Blandin, has also recently closed on a 52,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Sanford, N.C. which will increase its production capacity. NexPoint identified PlantSwitch at this early stage by leveraging its research capabilities and extensive network, and its investment demonstrates the firm's continued commitment to environmentally sustainable investment standards and support of early-stage companies with uncorrelated potential. NexPoint's investment, and this fundraise generally, will help the Company continue to scale its production capacity, increase its marketing capabilities and help deliver products to existing and future customers. PlantSwitch recently entered framework contracts with several nation-wide restaurant and grocery store chains which it will begin supplying as early as next month. As PlantSwitch scales, its founders expect growing its full-time workforce to over 50 employees by the end of 2024 and anticipate needing additional manufacturing space in the next few years. On NexPoint's investment, Co-Founder and CEO of PlantSwitch Dillon Baxter remarked: "Having institutional backing is a huge step for PlantSwitch. With this and other investments from our early growth funding round, we will be able to continue to scale our business and deliver sustainable and biodegradable bioplastics to our eager future clients." Baxter continued, "There is so much that makes PlantSwitch unique, and funding from institutional investors like NexPoint show that they believe in the company as much as we do." "Some studies forecast bioplastic demand increasing from 4.9 billion pounds in 2022 to almost 13.9 billion pounds in 20271." Remarked Dillon Baxter, Co-founder and CEO PlantSwitch, "With that kind of demand increase, PlantSwitch's biggest priority is sustainable growth. We are confident that our product, our supporters like NexPoint, and our distinguished board can help PlantSwitch scale in a deliberate way that allows us to take advantage of demand conditions." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1557/philippines-da-sra-receive-800-m-yen-worth-of-farm-equipment-from-japan-for-small-sugarcane-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1557/philippines-da-sra-receive-800-m-yen-worth-of-farm-equipment-from-japan-for-small-sugarcane-farmers.html Mon, 20 Nov 2023 11:23:30 +0530 Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) received 800 million yen (PhP300-million) worth of farm equipment for Filipino small sugarcane farmers. The Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Kazuhiko Koshikawa turned over the grant to Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Sec Kiko” Tiu Laurel, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, and representatives of beneficiaries from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. “We thank Government of Japan and for the 80 units of tractors, 48 units of sugarcane planters, 48 units of flail mowers, and 5 units of power harrow—all extended under the Japan Non-Project Aid Program,” Sec. Laurel said this during the turnover ceremony at the SRA Compound in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The Department has played a significant role in the evaluation, approval, and monitoring of the progress of the project entitled Farm Mechanization Program for Small Sugarcane Landholders. “Mechanization reduces hard labor, relieves labor shortages, and improves the productivity and timeliness of agricultural operations,” the agriculture chief said. Laurel also commended the SRA for steering the sugarcane industry toward increasing its production through small sugarcane farmers. In his public pronouncements, the new agriculture chief said he would consult with stakeholders, including the huge DA bureaucracy, in order to accomplish President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s marching orders to bring down the prices of food items like rice, sugar, meat, chicken, fish, and vegetables by increasing food production. Laurel noted that his experience moving up the corporate ladder allowed him to witness for himself the problems of the agriculture sector and the need for national and local authorities to work together to address the problems of Filipino farmers. “I have been on a journey of administrative responsibility. I went to see first-hand conditions throughout the agriculture sector, to see how effectively national and local authorities are taking care of the Filipino farmers’ pressing problems and how they work together to support national food security,” he said. Laurel thanked the Japanese embassy official involved in actualizing the grant and said modernizing Philippine agriculture is key to meeting the President’s and the public’s expectations of more affordable and accessible food items. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1552/vietnam-advocates-green-ips-development-to-attract-foreign-investors-in-agri-economy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1552/vietnam-advocates-green-ips-development-to-attract-foreign-investors-in-agri-economy.html Mon, 20 Nov 2023 10:49:39 +0530 Vietnam Industrial Parks Forum 2023 plans for green development in the future with the total number of IPs has reached 413 nationwide Vietnam Industrial Parks Forum 2023 on November 16 hears of plans for green development in the future. Vietnam Investment and Trade promotion Center recently reported that, Industrial parks (IPs) are now on the way to ensuring a balance between the economy, society, and the environment for sustainable development and green growth. Concentrated wastewater drainage systems are in place at 267 of the 295 IPs in operation nationwide, or 90.5 per cent. According to Vuong Thi Minh Hieu, Deputy Director of the Economic Zones Management Department at the Ministry of Planning and Investment, who was one of the speakers at the Vietnam Industrial Parks Forum 2023 on November 16, with the theme “Towards Green Growth”, as of the end of October, since the setting up of the first IP, the Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, in Ho Chi Minh City in 1991, the total number of IPs has reached 413 nationwide, including 369 outside of economic zones, 37 inside coastal economic zones, and seven in border gate economic zones, covering an area of nearly 120,000 ha in total, of which industrial land stood at 87,700 ha. Of the 413 IPs, 295 covering a total area of 92,000 ha, including 63,000 ha of industrial land, have been put into operation. Meanwhile, 118 others are under construction, covering a total area of 37,500 ha, including 24,700 ha of industrial land. The occupation rate at operating IPs is about 73 per cent on average. Under plans for the development of coastal economic zones approved by the Prime Minister, 19 such zones cover a total area of 871,500 ha, including 583,100 ha of land (or 1.75 per cent of the national land area), and 288,400 ha of sea area. Regarding State management over IPs, according to Ms. Hieu, a law on industrial and economic zones will be built to encourage the effective their operations, including favorable conditions for them to compete globally. She said that to achieve the goal of sustainable development it is necessary to be selective in investments and not develop IPs on fertile agricultural land, especially high-yielding rice fields, and in regions where site clearance and compensation would be difficult.  Procedures for securing IP investment licenses have been simplified, she added, with ten regulations from Government Decree No. 82/2018/ND-CP reduced to six under Decree No. 35/2022/ND-CP. Dr. Nguyen Cong Ai, Deputy General Director of KPMG Vietnam, another speaker at the forum, noted the negative impact from the fact that the US and Europe want to reclaim some investment capital flows to ensure independence in their economies, for fear that economic globalization may make their economies unsafe. That, according to Dr. Ai, may negatively impact Vietnam’s FDI flows. In the first nine months of this year, FDI into Vietnam increased 7.7 per cent year-on-year. It is expected that the increase will continue in the final quarter of the year, as investors from Northeastern Asia, like China, Japan, and South Korea, remain among the largest in terms of capital. However, according to Dr. Ai, the US is still expected to pour more investment capital into Vietnam, as a result of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established during President Joe Biden’s visit to Vietnam in September. According to a survey conducted by KPMG Vietnam on 200 FDI enterprises, the factors deciding their investment in an IP is location and then human resources and primary infrastructure such as electricity and water supply. The Vietnamese Government should map out a national strategy for FDI attraction, with flexible policies in the context of complex economic and geopolitical developments globally. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1547/global-coffee-industry-experts-urge-public-private-collaboration-to-invest-in-regenerative-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1547/global-coffee-industry-experts-urge-public-private-collaboration-to-invest-in-regenerative-agriculture.html Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:06:37 +0530 Leading industry experts discuss in UN headquarters on protecting the future of coffee which may requires $10 billion over the next ten years for the transition  In a round table organised by illycaffè at the UN Headquarters in New York on the occasion of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award 2023, was attended by some of the world's leading experts in the sector. Vanusia Nogueira, Executive Director, International Coffee Organization, Andrea Illy, chairman of illycaffè and co-chair of Regenerative Society Foundation, Jeffrey Sachs, economist and co-chair Regenerative Society Foundation, Oscar Schaps, President of the Latin America division of Trading StoneX Financial Inc. and commodity trader, and Glaucio De Castro, President of Federação dos Cafeicultores do Cerrado Mineiro. The situations of coffee producing countries around the world vary, but two common factors loom over the future of coffee production: social development and the need to adapt to climate change. Coffee production has traditionally been a mainstay of agriculture for millions of people living in tropical mountainous areas: about 12.5 million farms, run by small farmers, work on a few hectares of land. Ninety-five per cent of these do not exceed five hectares and 84% have an area of less than two hectares. Coffee producers often have little alternative to growing this product, which creates a considerable dependency for the exports of many countries. However, over the past two decades, low and volatile coffee prices have had a worrying impact on farming communities. According to Coffee Barometer, this is particularly relevant for producers in countries that contribute 15% of global volumes, such as those in Africa and Central America. Now, the remarkable improvements that caffeiculture has nevertheless achieved in recent decades through the process of 'de-commoditisation' - improvements that still have a long way to go before achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability - are at risk of being reversed due to climate change. The direction that emerged from the round table points towards regenerative agriculture, which has proven to be more resilient and to produce both environmental and health benefits, although it requires investments in the order of $10 billion over the next ten years. Therefore, since producer countries do not have sufficient economic-financial capacity, it is necessary to activate private public partnerships that can mobilise international supply chain funds. This is a major challenge, which has already engaged the most important governmental, intergovernmental, non-governmental and private stakeholders for some years now. Economist Jeffrey Sachs. "True economic development aims to transform our society by creating sustainable increases in wellbeing through investments in human capital, physical infrastructure, and business enterprise, all with attention to the preservation of natural capital on which our economy and survival depend. After decades of severe human-induced environmental degradation, we need to transform our economies to the core principles of sustainable development and the regeneration of natural capital. The most basic principle of all is to act for the common good. This means that we must start from cooperation within our communities, our nations, and globally". "Two things are needed for adaptation to climate change: improved agronomic practices and the renewal of plantations with more resistant varieties. Regenerative agriculture seems to provide an answer to the first need, and I hope that this will become a model for the whole caffeiculture. As far as renewal is concerned, we need to speed up considerably,' says Andrea Illy. 'All this requires supply chain investments that cannot be delayed any longer. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1544/thailands-rise-and-israels-ourcrowd-launch-rocx-exponential-fund.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1544/thailands-rise-and-israels-ourcrowd-launch-rocx-exponential-fund.html Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:18:09 +0530 Bangkok’s first Israel-focused VC fund investing in cutting-edge technologies aims to impact industries across ASEAN OurCrowd, a leading global digital investment platform, and RISE, the corporate innovation powerhouse based out of Southeast Asia, has announced the launch of the ROCX (Rise OurCrowd Exponential) Fund. The $50 million fund is Thailand’s first Israel-focused VC fund and will invest in early-stage deep technologies in cybersecurity, AI, HealthTech, semiconductors, quantum computing, ClimateTech, AgTech, FoodTech, and more. Dr. Kid Parchariyanon, Co-founder and CEO of RISE said, “RISE is dedicated to fostering the growth of corporate innovation and global startups by facilitating powerful collaborations with leading corporations across Southeast Asia, creating mutually beneficial partnerships that drive growth and market expansion. This new fund in partnership with OurCrowd will invest in the most cutting-edge deep technologies both Israel and Asia have to offer and put them to work in creating maximum impact and changing lives, from life sciences to agriculture, from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and beyond.” OurCrowd Founder & CEO Jon Medved said, “The partnership between the ROCX Fund, RISE and OurCrowd will create an unprecedented bridge between Thailand, greater Southeast Asia, and emerging Israeli technologies. OurCrowd is Israel’s most active early-stage investor with a 10-year track record of fostering collaboration between hundreds of portfolio companies around the world with thousands of multinational corporations across dozens of countries. The new joint capacity unleashed by the ROCX Fund has the exponential potential to leverage the innovation from Startup Nation for the benefit of Thailand and the regional ecosystem to generate a double bottom line of GDP growth and social impact across Southeast Asia.” The ROCX Fund, anchored by a major Thai institution and managed by an experienced team of VC experts from both Thailand and Israel, will begin investing by the end of 2024. and the fund plans to deploy tens of millions of dollars over a 2-3 year period into 20-30 companies with a promising track record and the capacity to develop and deploy solutions with proven product-market fit, providing them with the capital to scale up their commercial growth with leading corporations across Southeast Asia. RISE is a leading corporate innovation powerhouse based in Southeast Asia with the mission to raise regional GDP by 1 percent. RISE works closely with Fortune 500 companies, large family businesses, and government agencies across Southeast Asia to set up and scale innovation initiatives through 5 corporate services: Corporate Innovation Consulting, RISE University, SeaX Ventures, and Athena. OurCrowd has grown rapidly into the world’s leading online venture investing platform with $2.2 billion capital deployed into more than 420 portfolio companies and 50 funds in five continents across dozens of major technology sectors. OurCrowd’s award winning FinTech platform leverages artificial intelligence and advanced automation tools to identify world-class startups, empower hundreds of thousands of accredited investors, corporate VCs, and family offices to discover and participate in exclusive investment opportunities, and rapidly realize commercial connections between the portfolio companies and major corporations worldwide, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of contract value. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1514/australia-grants-au10-million-to-aid-winemakers-and-cider-producers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1514/australia-grants-au10-million-to-aid-winemakers-and-cider-producers.html Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:25:52 +0530 The average grant size is $47,847 and the maximum grant will be $53,905, Australia has provided $10 million worth of grants to wine and cider producers across the country to help attract visitors to wine regions and promote agri-tourism. The Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program supports cellar door operators to upgrade their infrastructure, support regional employment and increase demand for Australian wine. The average grant size is $47,847 and the maximum grant will be $53,905. The grants are based on eligible cellar door sales made during the previous financial year. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the program is an important support for Australian wine and cider businesses. “Our wine and cider producers have faced significant challenges in recent years, especially with the loss of the important China market. We worked hard to see China agree to review its tariffs on Australian wine, we have also continued to support the industry through programs like this. Since the first round opened in 2019, more than $50 million in grants have been provided. This fifth round provides $10 million to 209 wine and cider businesses to help attract visitors different wine regions around the country. These local wine businesses and cellar door operators enrich our rural and regional areas every day." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1491/foa-strives-to-achieve-gender-inclusive-advance-agrifood-systems-transformation-in-asia-and-the-pacific.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1491/foa-strives-to-achieve-gender-inclusive-advance-agrifood-systems-transformation-in-asia-and-the-pacific.html Mon, 23 Oct 2023 01:49:48 +0530 Empowering women in Asia and the Pacific to accelerate an agrifood systems transformation In Asia and the Pacific, as rural women play a pivotal role across food systems, contributing to agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, and livestock sectors. However, they often face many of these significant challenges in accessing essential resources. In wage employment within agriculture, rural women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific recently on 'International Day of Rural Women' voiced regarding inclusive opportunities to break barriers to ensure gender equality, improve access to water resources, and promote financial inclusion for rural women. According to FAO’s 2023 ‘Status of Women in Agrifood Systems’ report, bridging the gender gap in farm productivity and the wage gap would increase global gross domestic product (GDP) by nearly $1 trillion and would reduce food-insecurity for 45 million people. In southern Asia, 71 percent of women are working in agrifood systems, compared with 47 percent of men. Despite their active contribution to food security, women are more likely to experience food insecurity than men. Robert Simpson, Special Adviser to the Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific said that “it is crucial to address gender issues in policies, programmes and investments in agriculture and food systems. FAO recognizes the potential of rural women and men in achieving food security and is committed to overcoming gender inequality in the region". FAO’s regional programmes focus on promoting financial inclusion and breaking down the barriers that have limited their access to credit, savings, and insurance. In the Asia-Pacific region, FAO collaborates with Member Nations in promoting gender equality at the policy and strategic levels while addressing gender gaps within communities through women’s economic empowerment. For example, FAO has employed initiatives on behalf of Members to improve water access for rural women, enable them to irrigate their crops, generate livelihoods, and lead healthier lives. The FAO Regional Gender Strategy and Action Plan 2022–25 approach commitments to the "Four Betters" - better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1472/asean-and-cgiar-launch-joint-program-on-accelerating-innovation-in-agri-food-systems.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1472/asean-and-cgiar-launch-joint-program-on-accelerating-innovation-in-agri-food-systems.html Wed, 18 Oct 2023 09:39:17 +0530 CGIAR has been working with the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Member States, and a range of funding and other partners to develop this multi-year research and innovation program. The ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program was officially launched during the 45th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 4, 2023. This program aims to scale up and scale out integrated innovations in order to enhance the resilience of ASEAN's agri-food systems to climate change. "Over the next 10 years, the program envisions delivering better livelihoods for food producers and stakeholders, while ensuring affordable, nutritious, and healthy food for consumers. Additionally, it seeks to foster a healthier natural environment for all," said Dr. Jongsoo Shin, the ASEAN-CGIAR Regional Program Director. Dr. Stephan Weise, ASEAN-CGIAR Program Co-Director, emphasized that "the Program aims to be bottom-up, cross and trans-disciplinary. It is being co-created and, therefore, is fully co-owned by ASEAN partners." Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Malaysia, who is also the AMAF Chair, extended his gratitude to CGIAR for developing the Intervention Packages (IPs) that are in line with the 9 thematic areas to address comprehensively, the needs of the country's food, land and water systems. He stressed that the ASEAN-CGIAR Regional Program "underscores the dedication and commitment of AMS towards achieving a competitive, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food and agriculture sector in our region." Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, the Secretary General of ASEAN, emphasized that the program is "formulated to address the above-mentioned challenges by leveraging cutting-edge research, technology, and innovation that enhance the resilience of the agricultural system. With eight intervention packages, the Programme will catalyse transformative change, enabling us to adapt to the evolving needs of our region, particularly with the impact of climate change."  Under the ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food Regional Program, the following eight IPs were developed: Regenerative Agriculture/Aquaculture Practices and Judicious Agrochemical Use  Climate Neutrality and Circular Agriculture Enhancing ASEAN Agrobiodiversity Use and Landscape Biodiversity Enhancing Value Chains and Regional Trade Transboundary Pests and Diseases Private Sector Investment and Sustainable Financing Farmer-Led Irrigation for Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems Food Systems Transformation for More Nutritious and Healthy Diets Dr. Ajay Kohli, the Director General of IRRI and Senior Leadership Team Member of CGIAR, represented Professor Andrew Campbell, the CGIAR Executive Managing Director, and shared that the Program, which can be a model on how to cater to client's needs, is "not just about creating technologies, but using the policies and taking them to the farmers and industries, and making a difference and empower man's life." Representatives from the funding partners expressed statements of support for the Program. Will Nankervis, Australian Ambassador to ASEAN, said "The Program will serve as a catalyst for even deeper collaboration to promote food security in The region". He shared that the Australian government had contributed an additional AU$1M bringing its total contribution to the Program to over AU$3M. To add, Dr. Daniel Walker, Chief Scientist of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, shared that the Program will be a platform to strengthen Australia's partnership with ASEAN and CGIAR. Sarah Tiffin, the Ambassador of UK to ASEAN announced that UK will contribute an additional GBP 2M to the Program, bringing a total contribution of GBP 2.25M. The Program Launch, which was attended by high-level officials from the AMS and CGIAR experts, as well as funders, was a celebratory event marking a significant milestone in the Program. The event also acknowledged the promise of scaling up innovative solutions for positive transformation across ASEAN's agri-food systems, benefiting various stakeholders. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1448/rockefeller-and-ait-partner-to-drive-climate-resilient-agriculture-solutions-in-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1448/rockefeller-and-ait-partner-to-drive-climate-resilient-agriculture-solutions-in-southeast-asia.html Mon, 09 Oct 2023 10:11:32 +0530 The Rockefeller Foundation and The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) join forces to catalyze regenerative agriculture practices and aligns with Rockefeller Foundation's $1 billion climate strategy grant In its continued endeavor to enhance climate change resilience in Asia, The Rockefeller Foundation will support the AIT to catalyze regenerative agriculture practices in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states of Cambodia, Laos People's Democratic Republic, and Thailand. The AIT and The Rockefeller Foundation forged their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed to establish a framework for collaboration between the two organizations. The collaboration aims to join forces to catalyze regenerative agriculture practices, minimize climate change impacts, and promote sustainable food production in Southeast Asia. This grant aligns with The Rockefeller Foundation's recently announced $1 billion, five-year climate strategy, which aims to promote human opportunity while propelling climate solutions. The collaboration aims to benefit farmers, policymakers, researchers, and communities by driving climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable practices in Southeast Asia. The collaboration seeks to address critical challenges in the agriculture sector – including climate change impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable food production – by emphasizing nature-positive solutions characterized by regenerative, non-depleting, and non-destructive production systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance agricultural sustainability. The collaboration aims to support farmers, policymakers, researchers, and communities by driving climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable practices in Southeast Asia. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1432/trimble-and-agco-embarks-joint-venture-to-thrive-into-mixed-fleet-precision-agriculture-globally.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1432/trimble-and-agco-embarks-joint-venture-to-thrive-into-mixed-fleet-precision-agriculture-globally.html Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:14:29 +0530 Joint Venture to Accelerate Innovation in Factory-Fit and Aftermarket Solutions to Benefit Farmers Across the Globe Trimble announced today a definitive agreement to form a joint venture (JV) with AGCO to better serve farmers with factory fit and aftermarket applications in the mixed fleet precision agriculture market. Trimble and AGCO's shared vision is to create a global leader in mixed fleet smart farming and autonomy solutions.  In aggregate, Trimble expects approximately $3 billion in value from the transaction from pre-tax cash proceeds, Trimble's 15 percent stake in the joint venture, and the related commercial agreements. Under the terms of the JV, Trimble will contribute its precision agriculture business (Trimble Ag) excluding certain Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and guidance technologies and AGCO will contribute its JCA Technologies business, which is a leader in the development of autonomous software for agricultural machines, implement controls and electronic system components. Trimble will receive $2 billion in pre-tax cash proceeds plus a 15% stake in the JV. In addition, the parties will enter into (i) a long-term Supply Agreement through which Trimble will provide the JV with key GNSS and guidance technologies (Supply Agreement), (ii) a Technology Transfer and License Agreement (TTLA) to govern the licensing of Trimble trademarks and technology for use by the JV after the expiration of the Supply Agreement and (iii) a Positioning Services Agreement through which the JV will serve as a channel partner to Trimble for its positioning services in the agriculture market. Following completion of the transaction, Trimble will continue to deliver its differentiated technologies at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds across its core businesses. The transaction is expected to result in significant benefits to Trimble, including "Connect and Scale Strategies" such as 'Streamlines portfolio and increases focus on priority growth areas', 'Reduces exposure to hardware-centric agriculture market while retaining highly recurring revenue Positioning Services business' and 'Retains core GNSS IP and will continue to innovate and offer across served markets, including the JV". Further, it will enhances Financial Profile and Flexibility and De-risks Trimble's Channel Transition in the Agriculture Market. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1364/idh-and-the-government-of-mato-grosso-renew-partnership-for-investments-in-the-state.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1364/idh-and-the-government-of-mato-grosso-renew-partnership-for-investments-in-the-state.html Mon, 18 Sep 2023 06:45:56 +0530 The Chief of Staff of the Mato Grosso State (Civil House), Fábio Garcia, and the executive director of IDH Brazil, Daniela Mariuzzo, signed the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding in Cuiabá, which consolidates the commitment to support and direct investments in the PCI (Produce, Conserve and Include) Strategy and Institute in Mato Grosso. The partnership between the state government and IDH was formalised in 2016, when the PCI Strategy became public policy. The initiative to achieve the Production, Conservation and Inclusion targets was launched at the Global Climate Conference (COP 21) in Paris. The governance which was developed from the Strategy became robust and resulted in the creation of the PCI Institute, a private, non-profit organisation able to raise and manage public and private funds to implement sustainability measures in the field. Since 2016, IDH has invested more than 10 million euros in Mato Grosso, including the Strategy, the PCI Institute, three Regional Compacts and programmes co-financed with the private sector, as well as supporting the State Secretariat for the Environment in implementing the Forest Code. New executive director of the PCI Institute, Richard Smith, highlighted some of Mato Grosso’s achievements as a result of the implementation of the PCI Strategy. He mentioned, for instance, the funding from the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanism and the World Bank’s loan to the Mato Grosso government, which considered the PCI Strategy as a counterpart environmental guarantee. From now on, our priority will be to reassure investors that the PCI Institute meets all the requirements for managing and investing resources. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1383/grow-asia-launches-its-largest-public-private-climate-fund-to-leverage-1b-of-green-investment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1383/grow-asia-launches-its-largest-public-private-climate-fund-to-leverage-1b-of-green-investment.html Wed, 13 Sep 2023 02:34:00 +0530 The GrowBeyond Fund is the most innovative and ambitious of Grow Asia’s Public-Private impact funds and includes the ASEAN Sustainable Agriculture Loan Facility (ASALF) Grow Asia, a leading multi-stakeholder platform focused on building more resilient, and sustainable food systems has unveiled its largest impact fund, which includes a first-of-its-kind blended loan facility targeted at small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Launched at this year’s Grow Asia Investment Forum, the GrowBeyond Fund is designed to leverage up to $1 billion of climate finance through a public-private blended financing model.  The new fund will unlock inclusive finance for small agri-businesses over the next 10 years, targeting the 70+ million SMEs in Southeast Asia that lie at the forefront of the climate crisis. With the agri-food industry producing more than 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the fund will prioritize investments in climate-smart agriculture, regenerative practices, and innovative technologies, addressing the pressing climate challenges faced by farmers and rural communities in Southeast Asia. The GrowBeyond Fund is the most innovative and ambitious of Grow Asia’s Public-Private impact funds and includes the ASEAN Sustainable Agriculture Loan Facility (ASALF), which will address the current fragmentation of climate finance. By consolidating strategic investments from governments, financial institutions, private investors, fintech/agritech companies, alongside technical assistance providers, Grow Asia will deliver a comprehensive suite of crop-specific financial and market services that are required for SMEs to scale their businesses and adopt regenerative practices.  Over the next ten years, the fund aims to support over 200,000 farmers in accessing suitable financial products and technical assistance. Through these investments, it is estimated that each farm will see an increase in productivity of between 20% and 30%, and a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1318/regenerative-organic-agriculture-to-boost-cash-flows-and-land-values.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1318/regenerative-organic-agriculture-to-boost-cash-flows-and-land-values.html Tue, 22 Aug 2023 10:35:58 +0530 US based Farmland LP launches $250M Third Fund focused on Organic and Regenerative Agriculture A leading investment fund focused on converting conventional agricultural land into sustainable farming, Farmland LP has invested in Organic and Regenerative Agriculture.  Farmland LP leads in preeminent fund manager specializing in organic farmland in the US has launched its $250M Vital Farmland III (Fund III), its third and largest fund to date. Fund III will extend Farmland LP's mission of transforming conventional farms into dynamic, sustainable, and organic operations, catering to the surging consumer demand for food products derived from organic and regeneratively farmed sources. Farmland LP currently manages over 16,000 acres with approximately $250M in assets under management (AUM). Fund III will allow investors to align compelling financial returns with measurable, positive environmental impact. The firm's previous funds have delivered strong performances; notably, Vital Farmland LP (Fund I) has since inception generated a net average after-tax return to original investors of 113%. With greenwashing a growing concern in the farmland investment sector, Wichner added: "Investors are increasingly seeking verifiable claims of sustainability. Our commitment to Certified Organic standards and regenerative farming practices focused on soil health assures our investors that their capital is truly advancing sustainable agriculture." "Farmland LP's acquire conventional, chemical-dependent farms and reengineer them as models of organic and regenerative agriculture, thereby boosting cash flows and land values. We have already demonstrated the efficiency by converting low-margin, high-volume farmland into higher-margin organic alternatives that generate substantial financial benefits while simultaneously promoting environmental stewardship."  said Craig Wichner, CEO of Farmland LP.  Tom Sullivan, Managing Director of Capital Markets and Investor Relations for Farmland LP said "Our new fund provides a unique opportunity for institutional and accredited individual investors to tap into this high-potential asset class, fostering regenerative farming practices that benefit our planet." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1312/australia-invests-130m-in-trade-alliance-program-to-advance-aussie-horticulture-exports.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1312/australia-invests-130m-in-trade-alliance-program-to-advance-aussie-horticulture-exports.html Mon, 21 Aug 2023 11:18:05 +0530 In the eight-year program key Aussie export stakeholders and officials joining forces to help protect and grow Australia’s horticultural exports. Australia's largest and most ambitious horticulture trade initiative has been given the go-ahead, with a host of partners committing $130 million to the Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA). In an eight-year program, key Aussie export stakeholders and officials will join forces to protect and grow Australia's horticultural exports through the federal Hort Innovation Corporation, delivered by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. As part of the program, FASTA will also boost biosecurity initiatives to solidify Australia’s strong reputation in pest-management and as a responsible trading partner for years to come. Insect pests are a major challenge for Australia’s horticultural producers as they impact production and domestic and international trade. Australia’s trading partners require evidence that Australian horticulture exports are insect pest free. FASTA's research program is focused on two areas:  Delivering robust and timely datasets to underpin market access negotiations: State and Territory governments will work together to standardise their approach to collecting phytosanitary, or pest and disease management data.  This data demonstrates that Australia’s produce is pest-free while also ensuring the impact of phytosanitary treatments on fruit quality will be minimised. These datasets will be used to open new export markets for Australian produce and improve access to existing ones. Increasing understanding about fruit fly and other key pests: A multi-discipline, multi-organisational research team of over 70 scientists from across Australia will test new technologies for tracking pests, trapping pests and reducing pest pressure. The eight-year program will increase Australia’s research capabilities in pest management research and facilitate world-class research. Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the research will be able to be used by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in international trade negotiations or by states and territories in supporting domestic trade. “This initiative will reduce the impact of endemic pests on sustainable horticulture crop production, improve Australia’s preparedness for future exotic pest incursions and facilitate a national, industry-driven and coordinated approach to research activity supporting horticultural market access and improvements,” Minister Watt said. The latest Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook revels progressive data on Australian Horticulture, The total value of horticulture exports grew by 2.4% from Dec 2021 to Dec 2022. In 2022, fruit accounted for $1.2B of export value, followed by nuts with $1.1B and vegetables at $262M. In 2022, Australia’s top three export commodities were almonds (30 % share), table grapes (18 per cent) and citrus (18 %). Australia’s top export destination is China (28.4 %) followed by Japan (7.4 %) and Vietnam (6.6 %). Australia’s top 10 export markets have changed over the past few years – in particular, over the past six years exports to Vietnam have increased by 266%. Victoria accounts for the largest share of export value – 49% of total export value. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1295/philippines-revitalizes-coco-industry-through-massive-replanting-drive.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1295/philippines-revitalizes-coco-industry-through-massive-replanting-drive.html Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:12:52 +0530 MoU signed between PCA and CFOP-CONFED to promote collaboration, and expand the reach of support services of the PCA A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) with the Confederation of Coconut Farmer's Organizations of the Philippines (CCFOP-CONFED) and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) on August 9, 2023, at the PCA Auditorium in Quezon City, to revitalize the Philippine coconut industry and increase farmers' incomes and drive economic development. The MoU signed between PCA and CFOP-CONFED, represented by its Executive Director Charles Avila, along with PRRM, represented by President Edicio dela Torre, seeks to promote collaboration, and expand the reach of support services of the PCA in line with its mandate and under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr’s “Bagong Pilipinas” brand of governance as well. To address the growing demand for coconut products, President Marcos has instructed PCA during its 50th anniversary to conduct mass planting and replanting of coconut trees nationwide. According to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data in 2021, coconut oil ($1.431 billion), desiccated coconut ($396 million), and copra oil cake ($67.54 million) secured the first, fourth, and 10th positions, respectively, among the Philippines’ top agricultural exports in terms of value. Furthermore, non-traditional coconut products like virgin coconut oil (worth Php 26 billion in exports), coconut concentrates (Php 4.40 billion), and coconut milk (Php 2.44 billion) have swiftly gained ground in export earnings according to the latest data from PCA.  The PCA Administrator Bernie Cruz said the organization has been in constant communication with coconut farmers to assess the real situation. Coconut remains one of the country’s top dollar-earning exports despite years of stagnation and lack of support. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1291/national-agricultural-technology-center-strengthen-field-management-in-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1291/national-agricultural-technology-center-strengthen-field-management-in-china.html Mon, 14 Aug 2023 10:58:25 +0530 To enhance field management and disaster prevention and mitigation, soybeans have been released to encourage strong plants, strong populations, and drum-enhancing grains. High temperatures and droughts have occurred in North and Southwest China since the spring sowing, causing local rainstorms and floods, and some soybeans were sown at a high density, leading to weak growth and soft stems, as well as late defertilization, lodging, and reduced yields. National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' Scientific Fertilization Expert Guidance Group, developed technical guidance on soybean management to promote strong plants, strong populations, and drum granules in order to strengthen field management and disaster prevention and mitigation.   1. Top dressing to promote strong plants: For fields with weak growth and soft stems, appropriate amount of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers and potassium fertilizers should be added to supplement medium and trace elements to promote the growth of soybeans and enhance the strength of stems. Combined with cultivating for topdressing, apply 3-4 kg of diammonium phosphate, 1-2 kg of potassium sulfate or 2-3 kg of high-potassium compound fertilizer per mu. It can also be sprayed with 1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution and water-soluble fertilizer with medium and trace elements 1-2 times. 　　2. Strong control groups: Due to late sowing or variety reasons, some fields have just entered the initial flowering stage, and they are prone to flourishing when encountering high temperature and precipitation, so chemical control should be taken in time. Spray 10-20g of 5% uniconazole wettable powder per mu, and drones can be used to spray to control plant height, build strong colonies, and prevent later lodging. 　　3. Drainage and anti-lodging: It is currently the rainy season, and for fields that are prone to waterlogging, measures such as ditching and mechanical drainage must be taken in time to remove field water and stagnant water in the plow layer. After drainage, 0.5%-1% urea solution and 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can be sprayed on the leaves to promote the recovery of roots and plants. For soybean-corn strip compound planting, after the root system recovers, topdress fertilizer in time to increase nutrient supply. Slightly lodging plants can be lifted up manually, two rows are supported, and soil is fertilized. It is not advisable to manually lift up the plant when it is seriously lodging, so as not to break the plant. 　　4. Fertilizer spraying and drumming pellets: The peak period of fertilization is from flowering and pod formation to bulging grains. If there is defertilization, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, boron, molybdenum and other nutrients can be supplemented by foliar spraying to reduce grains, increase grain weight, and increase yield. For fields with weak plants, it is recommended to spray 0.1%-0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, and apply boron fertilizer 120-125g/mu. Spray foliar fertilizers containing amino acids, molybdenum fertilizers can also be sprayed to supplement nutrients and promote plant growth. . ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1277/china-allocates-732-million-yuan-to-agriculture-disaster-relief-work.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1277/china-allocates-732-million-yuan-to-agriculture-disaster-relief-work.html Wed, 09 Aug 2023 03:49:00 +0530 The funds will be channeled into nine provincial regions, including Hebei, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Fujian, and Beidahuang Group, one of China's major agricultural and agribusiness groups.  China has allocated disaster relief funds totaling 732 million yuan (about $102.3 million) to support the recovery of agricultural production, according to the country's finance ministry.  The funds were issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and will be channeled into nine provincial regions, including Hebei, Jilin, Heilongjiang and Fujian, as well as the Beidahuang Group, one of China's major agricultural and agribusiness groups.  The funds are intended to be used for urgent agricultural flood control and disaster relief work, and to support post-disaster agricultural production.  Appropriate subsidies will be applied to purchases of agricultural materials such as seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides and operational services to resume agricultural production, and to repairs of damaged agricultural production facilities, according to the finance ministry.  Record-breaking rains brought by Typhoon Doksuri have hit northern China, damaging crops and agricultural production facilities and leading to flooding in cities. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1272/philippines-boosts-it-agrihubs-in-caraga-by-php4-6-million.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1272/philippines-boosts-it-agrihubs-in-caraga-by-php4-6-million.html Wed, 09 Aug 2023 03:18:00 +0530 The aid is part of ATI’s “Techno Gabay Program” (TGP) to provide information and technology services in agriculture, fishery, forestry, and natural resources. The Agricultural Training Institute in the Philippines Caraga Region (ATI-13) provided a technology boost worth PHP4,600,000 to the various Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) centers in the area as of July 2023. “The FITS centers serve as info hubs in municipalities where our farmers and fisherfolk can source the needed information on agriculture and fishery technologies," said Fil Victor Babanto, ATI-13 information office chief. As of August 2023, the region has 46 existing FITS centers which received PHP100,000 in financial support from ATI-13, "intended to boost the information, education, and communication campaigns at the municipal levels on agriculture and fishery technologies,. FITS centers are located in Agusan del Sur. Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands.  At least PHP2.2 million was released to 38 Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA) centers in various towns across Caraga earlier this month. The LSA centers serve as onsite learning facilities for farmers and fisherfolk in different villages. “The LSAs allow our farmers and fisherfolk to directly learn new technologies at the barangay levels. The ATI-13, as of Aug. 1, has provided PHP60,000 support each to these LSAs,” Babanto said. Highlighting various forms of assistance given recently to FITS centers in the region to enhance their information dissemination drive Babanto said, “At least five FITS centers were provided with PHP150,000 enhancement support since July this year through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund of the Department of Agriculture.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1259/adb-appoints-new-regional-director-for-singapore-office.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1259/adb-appoints-new-regional-director-for-singapore-office.html Thu, 03 Aug 2023 11:17:12 +0530 Singapore center provides a one-stop-shop for enquiries and business opportunities with project sponsors, contractors, advisors, financiers, and more The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Jackie Surtani as Regional Director of its Singapore Office, where he will lead efforts to deepen cooperation between ADB and the Government of Singapore and the financial sector, as well as explore opportunities for private and public sector projects across the region with a strong focus on climate action. “Singapore plays a key role in fostering sustainable development across the region by serving as a hub for trade, finance, and infrastructure development. By expanding ADB’s presence and activities in Singapore, we can work more closely and efficiently with its strong ecosystem of financial institutions and other development partners for a more prosperous and resilient Asia and the Pacific.” said Mr. Surtani. The Singapore Office opened 2020, provides a one-stop-shop for enquiries and business opportunities, while streamlining ADB’s engagement with project sponsors, contractors, advisors, financiers, other international financial institutions, and professional service providers. This office reflects efforts under ADB's new operating model to increase private sector activities and decentralize operations. Surtani was earlier the director of infrastructure finance at ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department covering East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. His team successfully closed milestone projects including investments in broadband satellites regionwide, renewable power in Indonesia, cross-border renewables in Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand, as well as investments in electric transport and charging infrastructure. Singapore is a founding member of ADB. It contributes to ADB’s concessional fund, the Asian Development Fund, and is an active participant in the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, supported by ADB. In 2022, ADB and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote investment in Asia and the Pacific, and to recognize the importance of private sector finance as well as catalyzing public sector resources for sustainable and inclusive development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1239/australias-grdc-commits-1-billion-over-5-years-to-rde-boosting-the-nations-grains-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1239/australias-grdc-commits-1-billion-over-5-years-to-rde-boosting-the-nations-grains-industry.html Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:21:00 +0530 GRDC launches RD&E Plan 2023-28 at the Australian Grains Industry Conference in Melbourne. Australia’s leading research investors, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has announced it will invest more than a billion dollars over the next five years in research, development, and extension (RD&E) for the nation’s grains industry. Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt, officially launched GRDC’s RD&E Plan 2023-28 at the Australian Grains Industry Conference in Melbourne on 26 July. “GRDC’s plan had been informed by extensive consultation with grains industry stakeholders and considered the needs and priorities of those set to benefit from ongoing RD&E investment. The GRDC is comprehensive and clear in its intent to challenge the status quo and stretch the industry over the next five years to maximize the impact of research investments" explained Minister Watt. GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart says the new plan would build on 30 years of RD&E investments with trusted and new research partners to deliver RD&E that improves the profitability and sustainability of Australian grain growers. “At any time GRDC manages more than 500 RD&E projects ranging in scope from multi-million-dollar national projects with university research partners and other Research Development Corporation, to small projects with farming systems groups designed to deliver against regional needs. There is a time-lag between discovery and adoption, so foresight is needed to ensure we have a portfolio of investments that delivers impact for the problems of today and tomorrow” says Hart. Over the life of the plan, GRDC will invest more than a billion dollars in grains RD&E investment in Australia. Through these investments, GRDC will seek to: Harness existing potential by helping growers to hit yield and profit targets across every paddock, every season. Reach new frontiers to deliver step changes in the productivity of crops beyond what we thought possible. Grow markets and capture value to ensure growers have access to a diversity of markets and get more for the crop. Thrive for future generations to ensure Australia’s grains industry remains a global leader in sustainability, for people, the planet and our long-term ability to farm. Strategically, the plan looks ahead to 2040, anticipating substantial changes in global crop mix and demand, the potential game-changing opportunities presented by new technologies, the need for action on increasing seasonal variability and production risk and changing consumer and investor demands. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1241/china-initiates-level-iii-emergency-response-for-major-agricultural-disasters.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1241/china-initiates-level-iii-emergency-response-for-major-agricultural-disasters.html Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:19:00 +0530 Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan and other provinces and cities are required to strengthen emergency response duties China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has initiated a Level III emergency response for major natural disasters in agriculture, as typhoon-triggered heavy rainfall hits parts of North China, in areas between the Yellow River and the Huaihe River. According to the requirements of emergency response, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan and other provinces and cities are required to strengthen emergency response duties such as; closely monitor and evaluate the disaster situation implement flood control and disaster relief measures clear and dredge ditches in advance check, repair and reinforce planting and breeding facilities investigate potential safety hazards prepare emergency drainage machines and tools The emergency response requires the relevant areas to send working groups and scientific and technological teams to corresponding counties and towns, to enter villages and households, guide the disaster-affected areas to drain accumulated water in time, and replant crops with short growth periods for inundated fields, according to local conditions, so as to minimize losses to the greatest extent. China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1234/australia-commits-au2-8m-to-strengthen-biosecurity-in-north-to-combat-plant-pest-and-diseases.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1234/australia-commits-au2-8m-to-strengthen-biosecurity-in-north-to-combat-plant-pest-and-diseases.html Fri, 28 Jul 2023 10:20:03 +0530 Northern Australia Plant Capacity and Response Network (NAPCaRN) to better detect, prepare and respond to biosecurity threats, like black sigatoka, Asian citrus psyllid and citrus canker. Australia government is pledging to invest AU$2.8 million to bolster biosecurity capability and create the Northern Australia Plant Capacity and Response Network (NAPCaRN) to better detect, prepare and respond to biosecurity threats, like black sigatoka, Asian citrus psyllid and citrus canker.   NAPCaRN will operate as an inter-jurisdictional plant biosecurity network to tackle plant biosecurity threats in partnership with industry and communities. The investment will integrate resources and actions of industry and four governments through the appointment of nine positions—significantly bolstering biosecurity risk management across the north. The new grant is built on the ongoing biosecurity work already in action in Northern Australia, including: $4 million Northern Australia Coordination Network established last October to improve surveillance and preparedness to foot and mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD). Ongoing investment in the Indigenous Biosecurity Rangers Program, which provides vital surveillance needed for the early detection of biosecurity threats along the Northern Australian coastline. Biosecurity Business Grants for Indigenous businesses, organisations or other organisations working with Indigenous people to support business opportunities relating to biosecurity activities for Northern Australia. Northern Australia will get another line of defense in the fight against plant pests and diseases, with more federal support for biosecurity in the region. The initiative will be coordinated by the Northern Territory Government, with support from the Queensland and Western Australian Governments. The Network will invest in more frontline staff, including technical staff and interns in each northern jurisdiction.  Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said: “towards Queensland’s Biosecurity we’re are investing AU$21.7 million over 5 years, and AU$2.8 million each year thereafter, for action against current and emerging plant pests and diseases which is in addition to AU$22 million over 5 years , and AU$2.5 million each year thereafter, already announced to address increasing animal biosecurity risks.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1233/satsure-rabo-partners-to-revolutionize-cash-flow-based-lending-for-smallholder-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1233/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/4/1197/pls-plantations-to-establish-malaysias-first-largest-and-advanced-banana-plantation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1197/pls-plantations-to-establish-malaysias-first-largest-and-advanced-banana-plantation.html Wed, 19 Jul 2023 10:44:33 +0530 PLS Agrofresh will  develop, operate, maintain and harvest an initial 500-acre banana plantation. PLS Plantations announced that its wholly-owned Brighthill Synergy Sdn Bhd has entered into a strategic partnership with Agrofresh Management Sdn Bhd to develop Malaysia’s largest banana plantation.  Agrofresh is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Agrofresh International Sdn Bhd, which is extensively involved in the full value chain of the agriculture-based industry. Agrofresh specializes in Cavendish bananas, boasting a rich portfolio of activities encompassing R&D, seedlings, plantation, packaging, trading, and exporting to China, Europe and Middle East. The joint venture establishes a new company named PLS Agrofresh Sdn Bhd,  with PLS Plantations holding 60 % stake and the balance by Agrofresh. PLS Agrofresh will  develop, operate, maintain and harvest an initial 500-acre banana plantation. The partnership aims to scale up to 2,500 acres of banana plantations in the subsequent phases over three years.  PLS Agrofresh executive director and chief executive officer Datuk Tom Chow Chin Kiat said it will build the first large hyper-advanced and modern banana plantation in Malaysia with foresight in R&D, fertilizer production, tissue culture, product development, and international partnerships. By November of 2024, the maiden 500-acre banana plantation of PLS Agrofresh should produce its first banana harvest. PLS Plantations group chief Executive officer Lee Hun Kheng said “As part of the group's strategic collaboration with Agrofresh, PLS Agrofresh is assembling a team of experienced technical experts specializing in the development and operation of banana plantation with international standard from the Philippines”. PLS Plantations group intends to become one of the largest banana planters in Malaysia. The PLS Agrofresh initiative is expected to impact both local and international markets significantly. On a domestic level, the increased banana production will ensure a consistent supply for local consumers, as well as stimulate various sectors of the economy, such as retail, logistics, and food processing. Moreover, it may increase Malaysians' access to this nutritious fruit by lowering prices. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1195/agthia-group-launches-54-mn-corporate-venture-capital-fund.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1195/agthia-group-launches-54-mn-corporate-venture-capital-fund.html Tue, 18 Jul 2023 16:56:02 +0530 Agthia Ventures will build on experience, creating a program to help the best and brightest entrepreneurs in food and related industries Agthia Group PJSC, a diversified food and beverage company announced the launch of Agthia Ventures, a corporate venture capital fund (CVC) designed to expand Agthia’s innovation capabilities and create mutual value with startups as the company continues to drive profitable growth in both new and existing markets. Funded by Agthia and its parent company ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, Agthia Ventures will be managed together with Touchdown Ventures, a global leader in establishing and operating bespoke CVC programs for blue-chip corporates, with over 100 completed venture investments to date. Agthia Ventures will build on Agthia’s four decades of experience, creating a program to help the best and brightest entrepreneurs in food and related industries scale their operations and accelerate their product development and market adoption, through access to Agthia’s extensive industry knowledge, diverse distribution networks, technological infrastructure, research, development and marketing capabilities, and established customer relationships. Utilising Touchdown’s extensive network of startups, venture capital relationships, incubators, and accelerators, Agthia Ventures is well-placed to identify attractive early-stage, seed, and growth investment opportunities, within relevant and target geographies. The fund is stage-agnostic and will invest primarily in companies with clear product-market fit that are demonstrating revenue growth. Investments will focus on brands, categories, and solutions across Agthia’s portfolio that are both complementary and adjacent to its business model, for example in snacks and beverages, value chain technology, and ingredient technology. Target investment interests include premium and better-for-you snacks and beverages, functional water and hydration, alternative proteins, sustainability solutions in farming and packaging, e-commerce solutions for the food and beverage industry, and other capability enhancements relevant to Agthia’s value chain. Alan Smith, Chief Executive of Agthia Group, commented, “Innovation is the lifeblood of Agthia Group and plays a vital role in our strategic vision of being a leading food and beverage company in the MENA region and beyond by 2025. In conjunction with our internal R&D initiatives, our CVC will give us access to cutting-edge technologies and market insights from dynamic entrepreneurs, helping to future-proof our growth and strengthening our ability to meet the evolving needs of consumers across multiple territories. In turn, Agthia will offer our product, market, and distribution expertise to the entrepreneurs supported by the program to help them succeed.” Scott Lenet, Touchdown President and co-founder noted, “We believe entrepreneurs globally will be impressed by the collaborative, supportive culture of Agthia’s team and their capabilities to help a startup grow. Whether through providing expertise and distribution locally in the MENA region, or by working collaboratively in North American and European markets to leverage Agthia’s expertise, the team have a lot to offer to food and beverage innovators.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1188/singapores-blue-aqua-secures-investment-from-two-prominent-omani-companies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1188/singapores-blue-aqua-secures-investment-from-two-prominent-omani-companies.html Mon, 17 Jul 2023 11:01:55 +0530 Blue Aqua specializing in super-intensive shrimp farming will be funded by Bahwan Services and Trading LLC (BSTL) and Muscat Investment House LLC (MIH). Blue Aqua Singapore, specializing in super-intensive shrimp farming, has secured investment from two prominent Omani companies – Bahwan Services and Trading LLC (BSTL) and Muscat Investment House LLC (MIH). Singapore's Blue Aqua shrimp farm aims to meet 50 percent of Singapore's seafood needs and improve Middle Eastern food security. Omani investment will allow Blue Aqua to "produce 50 percent of Singapore's seafood". By infusing funds into Blue Aqua Singapore's farming operations, the company expects to accelerate its rapid expansion. With the infusion of funds, Blue Aqua Singapore says it will be able to enhance its trout farming capabilities, expand distribution channels, and boost exports of aquafeeds. The company anticipates that it will be able to expand distribution channels, boost aquafeed production, and enhance its high-tech trout farming capabilities. This partnership also marks the start of multi-phase aquaculture projects throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), particularly in Oman. By building a world-class aquaculture project in Oman, the Bahwan Group aims to support Oman's Vision 2040 while contributing to economic diversification and growth. Blue Aqua Singapore, Muscat Investment House, and Bahwan Group are collaborating to build an urban aquaculture model that addresses food security concerns around the globe."This investment demonstrates a strong vote of confidence in Singapore's aquaculture industry. The growth of Blue Aqua will not only meet the rising demand for sustainable seafood in the region but also contribute to Singapore's food security objectives. Once the farm construction is completed in 2024, Blue Aqua is projected to produce 50 percent of Singapore's seafood," stated Dr Farshad Shishehchian, CEO of Blue Aqua International. Blue Aqua Singapore is currently operating a super-intensive shrimp farm, certified by The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), where it produces tiger shrimp and white shrimp using its patented method. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1183/singapores-adb-and-ema-partnership-promotes-clean-energy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1183/singapores-adb-and-ema-partnership-promotes-clean-energy.html Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:45:41 +0530 The collaboration will involve sharing expertise and best practices in areas such as regional cooperation, public-private partnerships, project structuring and financing. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Energy Market Authority (EMA) of Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) paving the way for the development of manufacturing and transmission of renewable energy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, while supporting the establishment of the ASEAN Power Grid. The partnership will also boost Singapore's efforts to decarbonize the power sector and import clean electricity from the region. The collaboration will involve sharing expertise and best practices in areas such as regional cooperation, public-private partnerships, project structuring and financing. The MOU also empowers ADB to utilize its full range of products and services to assist ASEAN countries and project sponsors in the implementation and risk management of energy projects. clean in the area. Mr. Ahmed M. Saeed, ADB Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific said: “The clean energy transition requires impactful cooperation within ASEAN and multiple sources of financing. different. ADB is honored to partner with EMA in ASEAN's energy transformation efforts. Investing in clean energy not only puts us on the path towards Net Zero, but also increases our prospects for strong and sustainable growth.” EMA Executive Director, Mr. Ngiam Shih Chun added: “This partnership will combine the expertise and resources of EMA and ADB to further expand the low-carbon electricity potential to power the region. , while accelerating our power sector decarbonization efforts through low-carbon electricity imports.” In October 2021, EMA announced plans to import up to 4 gigawatts of low-carbon electricity by 2035, or 30% of Singapore's total supply, as part of its energy sector decarbonization plan. . Under this scheme, the ongoing request for proposals has attracted more than 20 proposals from six countries, proposing to provide a combined import capacity of more than 10 gigawatts. Singapore has also entered into multiple energy cooperation agreements with supply countries, including Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Vietnam, to explore the potential for electricity exports to Singapore. As the climate bank of Asia and the Pacific, ADB has raised its ambitions to provide $100 billion in climate financing across the region between 2019 and 2030, while supporting a range of initiatives to help countries transition to a low-carbon economy and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1180/crdcs-plan-to-deliver-1b-in-value-to-australian-cotton.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1180/crdcs-plan-to-deliver-1b-in-value-to-australian-cotton.html Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:25:29 +0530 Over the next five years, CRDC aim to deliver $1 billion in additional value to the Australian cotton industry through RD&E.  Once every five years, CRDC creates a new Strategic Plan. and the new plan Clever Cotton has been just launched.  Clever Cotton sets out CRDC vision for a sophisticated, prosperous and sustainable Australian cotton industry that is strongly connected to its value chain. It's the roadmap that guides all of CRDC's research, development and extension (RD&E) investments from 2023 to 2028.  Over the next five years, CRDC aim to deliver $1 billion in additional value to the Australian cotton industry through RD&E.  CRDC's goals primarily have investment approach, and most importantly, planned impact for the next five years. In 2023-24, the first year of the plan, cotton growers and the Australian government will co-invest $25.3 million into Clever Cotton via CRDC, in collaboration with our research partners. Over the life of the plan, we intend to invest $125 million. Clever Cotton is built around three pillars - Paddock, People and Planet - and nine investment areas.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1178/malaysia-bioeconomy-corporation-appoints-ybrs-dr-lee-boon-chye-as-new-chairman.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1178/malaysia-bioeconomy-corporation-appoints-ybrs-dr-lee-boon-chye-as-new-chairman.html Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:06:00 +0530 Bioeconomy Corporation supports Malaysian Agri biotech companies through fiscal incentives, grants, and guarantees Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) has announced the appointment of YBrs Dr Lee Boon Chye as its new Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors on 11 July 2023. Appointed by the Honourable Prime Minister, Dr Lee Boon Chye succeeds YB Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid who retired on 16 December 2022. Bioeconomy Corporation facilitates the development of BioNexus Status companies in Malaysia. BioNexus Status is an accreditation given to international and Malaysian bio-based companies that qualify them for fiscal incentives, grants, and guarantees administered by Bioeconomy Corporation. The Malaysian Government has identified the biotechnology sector as one of the key strategic sectors that will support the growth of the Malaysian economy. The government planned to achieve its agricultural biotechnology goals through several key measures such as public financed research system, investment to enhance the innovative capacity (both human and physical capacity) of the national biotechnology research program, and creation of institutions and regulations. Malaysia has established Bioeconomy Corporation a one -stop centre for biotechnology; and three national R&D institutes, namely the Malaysia Agro-Biotechnology Institute (ABI), Institute of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Malaysia (IFNM) and Malaysia Genome Institute (GenoMalaysia). The policy also allows the government to provide various fiscal and tax incentives to biotechnology companies. The newly appointed Chairman, with his expertise and leadership, is poised to strengthen Bioeconomy Corporation's commitment to advance biotechnology and bio-based industries that harmonise economic growth, social well-being, and environmental sustainability in Malaysia. YBrs Dr Lee is also instrumental in the development of the healthcare tourism industry in Malaysia through his directorship in Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1149/upl-and-radicle-growth-launch-the-radicle-npp-challenge-for-agtech-start-ups.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1149/upl-and-radicle-growth-launch-the-radicle-npp-challenge-for-agtech-start-ups.html Fri, 07 Jul 2023 09:38:33 +0530 UPL and Radicle Growth dedicates $1.75M in global AgTech Start-ups that are advancing natural and biological solutions to protect crops from biotic stresses UPL a global provider of sustainable, agriculture products and solutions, and Radicle Growth, a company-building platform investing in early-stage agriculture and food technologies, have launched, "The Radicle Natural Plant Protection (NPP) Challenge by UPL". The Challenge sets out to invest $1.75M in start-up companies that are advancing natural and biological solutions to protect crops from biotic stresses such as bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects, arachnids, and weeds. A $1 million investment will be made in The Challenge winner and a $750,000 investment in the second place winner in order to accelerate their growth. In 2022, $1.25M was invested in early-stage companies under “The Radicle Carbon and Soil Challenge by UPL”. NPP is a business unit of UPL, offering growers an extensive portfolio of natural solutions to increase crop resilience and protection, improve nutrition, and support soil health. Over the past decade, there has been a growing demand for natural solutions as an alternative or complement to synthetic chemistries as means of protecting crops whilst safeguarding the environment. Mike Frank, CEO of UPL Corporation Ltd. said: “Amidst the multitude of challenges facing farmers and food systems, natural solutions are critical to advancing agriculture in a way that delivers prosperity for growers, consumers, and the environment. Guided by our OpenAg purpose, we’re working with Radicle Growth to seek out start-ups that are pioneering the next generation of game-changing solutions. We invite entrepreneurs who share our aspirations to apply and join our journey to Reimagine Sustainability.” Kirk Haney, Managing Partner, Radicle Growth, said: "to transform agriculture system and advance sustainable solutions in the food value chain, we need to find new technologies that are working on natural and biological control solutions. We are working collaboratively with UPL to find and fund the best entrepreneurs worldwide who are solving these issues." Investment decisions will be made during a "Pitch Day" in March 2024. A judging panel of industry experts will hear from 4-6 finalists who will be chosen from the global applicant pool. In addition to the funding, the winners will also get access to advice from both UPL and Radicle senior executives to help accelerate their company's business and technical efforts. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1132/philippines-bangsamoro-lawmakers-file-bill-to-boost-production-economic-development-in-agri-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1132/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/4/1130/astrazeneca-pledges-400-m-in-reforestation-and-biodiversity-conservation-projects.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1130/astrazeneca-pledges-400-m-in-reforestation-and-biodiversity-conservation-projects.html Mon, 03 Jul 2023 08:26:18 +0530 Initiation of new reforestation projects in Brazil, India, Vietnam, Ghana and Rwanda, in addition to existing projects such as Australia and Indonesia AstraZeneca, the global biopharmaceutical company has announced a $400 million investment in its forest program (AZ Forest), committing to plant 200 million trees by 2030 and ensuring that they Can survive for a long time. This investment will be used in new or expanded projects in countries such as Brazil, India, Vietnam, Ghana and Rwanda to help AstraZeneca's climate action, restore natural ecology, promote biodiversity, and enhance ecological and community resilience. Covering more than 100,000 hectares of land worldwide. AstraZeneca's forest plan is an important part of AstraZeneca's core sustainable development strategy - "Ambition Zero Carbon". AstraZeneca is working towards deep decarbonization in line with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The company is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) including operations and team production by 98%* by 2026 , and halve the carbon footprint of the entire industry chain by 2030, committing to an absolute reduction of 90% emissions and achieve science-based net zero emissions by 2045 Through the plan, AstraZeneca aims to eliminate its residual emissions in the atmosphere from 2030. The AstraZeneca Forest Program is designed by AstraZeneca in collaboration with plantation experts, local communities and governments to restore forests in a natural way and promote agroforestry,  protect and restore endangered species. AstraZeneca Global CEO Pascal Soriot said: "The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are destroying the planet and harming human health. Through the AstraZeneca Forest Programme, we work with local communities and ecological experts , large-scale reforestation and supports biodiversity, ensuring the survival of plants and animals and the sustainable development of people. AstraZeneca's forest plan is based on science and will remove about 30 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in about 30 years." As part of the company's reforestation commitment, AstraZeneca, together with European Forest Institute (EFI) and Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), has launched the first-ever science-based collaborative framework for sustainable, resilient, locally appropriate regeneration of landscapes. The CBA principles of landform regeneration will enable circular bioeconomy value chains and restore biodiversity. The AstraZeneca Forest Program also contributes to the World Economic Forum's 1t.org initiative, a public-private partnership to protect, restore and plant 1 trillion trees by 2030. In 2020, AstraZeneca proposed the Forest Plan project for the first time and committed to planting and maintaining more than 50 million trees by the end of 2025, demonstrating the solid connection between healthy people and a healthy planet . Subsequently, tree planting efforts have sprung up in Australia, Indonesia, Ghana, the United Kingdom, the United States and France, and more than 300 tree species have now been planted, restoring biodiversity and natural habitats. Building on ongoing projects in Australia, Indonesia, Ghana, the UK, the US and France, the AstraZeneca Forest Program will include new and expanded projects in Africa, Asia and South America: India: AstraZeneca Forest Program has entered into a new 30-year partnership with Earthbanc and local partners in Meghalaya state in northeastern India. The project is expected to plant 64 million trees, mostly a diverse mix of species. The project is expected to be the largest of CBA's Living Labs for Nature, People and Planet, supporting agricultural livelihoods while restoring the region's degraded biodiversity. Vietnam: AstraZeneca has pledged to restore Vietnam's forests and landscapes by planting 22.5 million trees on at least 30,500 hectares. This new investment will help biodiversity thrive, provide sustainable livelihoods for more than 17,000 smallholder farmers, improve diets and nutrition, and protect soil and water resources. Australia: Working with Greening Australia and One Tree Planted, more than 4 million trees were planted (out of a total plan of 25 million, including 260 native tree species), supporting vulnerable and endangered wildlife species. Indonesia: In partnership with One Tree Planted and Trees4Trees, more than 3 million trees have been planted, and more than 13,000 farmers have chosen to pursue agroforestry by 2022. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1129/australia-grants-au250k-to-boost-agriculture-market-intelligence.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1129/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/4/1058/adb-signs-44-2-mn-blue-loan-with-alba-to-reduce-ocean-waste-in-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1058/adb-signs-44-2-mn-blue-loan-with-alba-to-reduce-ocean-waste-in-indonesia.html Tue, 13 Jun 2023 12:17:55 +0530 Blue loans are financing instruments that aim to safeguard access to clean water, protect underwater environments, and invest in a sustainable water economy The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $44.2 million blue loan with PT ALBA Tridi Plastics Recycling Indonesia, an ALBA Group Asia company, to establish a polyethene terephthalate (PET) recycling facility in Central Java. ADB and Leading Asia's Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP) will each provide $22.1 million in funding for the project. Blue loans are financing instruments that aim to safeguard access to clean water, protect underwater environments, and invest in a sustainable water economy. "Plastic pollution causes billions of dollars in irreversible harm to our marine ecosystem, and also have severe impacts on economies and public health," said Ashok Lavasa, ADB Vice-President for Private Sector Operations and Public–Private Partnerships. "This project showcases the potential for PET recycling in Indonesia, while the certified blue loan aims to attract more investors into waste management and recycling." Each year, approximately 8 to 12 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean. Indonesia is one of the top contributors to marine plastic pollution. Its government has implemented policy initiatives targeting a 70 per cent reduction in plastic waste leakage by 2025 and achieving near-zero plastic pollution by 2040. The recycling plant will process PET beverage bottles into high-quality recycled polyethene terephthalate (rPET) flakes and food-grade rPET pellets, which can be used to produce new rPET bottles. The plant is expected to recycle up to 48,000 tons of PET bottles annually, diverting them from landfills, open burning, or leakage into the ocean. The plant will produce 36,000 tons of rPET, which will offset up to 30,500 tons of carbon dioxide that would have resulted from using virgin PET. “It has been a pleasure working with ADB on this landmark project for Central Java,” said Axel Schweitzer, ALBA Group Asia Limited Chairman. “Our project will increase food-grade rPET production capacity in Indonesia and contribute to the creation of a circular economy for plastics. We are excited to do more projects like this in Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asia region, and look forward to partnering with ADB to explore future opportunities.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1034/singapores-gmt-launches-global-mangrove-trust-restoration-and-conservation-project-in-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1034/singapores-gmt-launches-global-mangrove-trust-restoration-and-conservation-project-in-indonesia.html Thu, 08 Jun 2023 14:18:00 +0530 GMT is a Singaporean NGO that specializes in developing technology solutions for reforestation and forest conservation projects in Southeast Asia. Singapore's The Global Mangrove Trust (GMT) has launched its 001-OxC Global Mangrove Trust Restoration & Conservation project in Indonesia's North Sumatra. GMT is a Singaporean NGO that specializes in developing technology solutions for reforestation and forest conservation projects in Southeast Asia. The organization, as an innovator and project coordinator, empowers families and businesses worldwide to support community-based mangrove forestry. The 001-OxC project, launched in collaboration with local partner Yayasan Gajah Sumatra (YAGASU), an Indonesian charity with over 19 years of practical experience in forest conservation, ecosystem restoration, and green livelihoods, aims to conserve and regenerate coastal ecosystems in four villages across 2305.6 hectares of mangrove forest. The project is expected to generate an avoidance of 2,594,027 tonnes CO2 equivalent and a removal of 857,416 tonnes over its lifetime. 001-OxC is the first blue carbon conservation project launched under the OxCarbon Standard, a novel science-based carbon standard that seeks to renew and expand confidence in forest carbon climate projects. The OxCarbon Principles, supported by robust science, complete data transparency, and scrutiny from the academic peer review community, were satisfied by validating 001-OxC through the Kumi Analytics Carbon Sequestration Assessment Tool (KACSAT). KACSAT integrates satellite imagery, machine learning, and ground-based observations to estimate total above-ground biomass and carbon sequestration rates with path-breaking scientific accuracy. Dr. Ryan Merrill, Executive Secretary of GMT said, "By launching 001-OxC regeneration project as its unique combination of science-based carbon crediting, high fidelity impact tracking, and strong first-mile bonafides we set the bar for scalable blue carbon sustainable land use in Southeast Asia." GMT aims to replicate the success of the 001-OxC pilot in Indonesia, the Philippines, West Africa, and beyond, covering 25,000 hectares of protected forest over the next 3-5 years. GMT is grateful for the support from UBS Climate Collective, Personio Foundation, Climate Lab, and Hogan Lovells International in scaling its work GMT is supported by Marex Asia, a global leader in commodity and financial markets, to drive innovation in carbon project origination, governance, and market outreach. This game-changing initiative promises to transform the world of carbon conservation and bring us one step closer to a more sustainable future. In addition to the climate impact, the 001-OxC project delivers multiple co-benefits to local communities via artisanal women’s groups, silvofishery programs, and employment in active conservation patrols across the forest zone. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1035/australia-record-90b-in-production-and-75b-in-exports-in-farm-incomes-in-fy-2022-23.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1035/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/4/1025/australias-dairytas-embarks-on-farm-business-resilience-pilot-program-with-4m-grant.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1025/australias-dairytas-embarks-on-farm-business-resilience-pilot-program-with-4m-grant.html Tue, 06 Jun 2023 12:05:00 +0530 Novel program to build on-farm resilience, disaster preparedness and risk management to promote competitive sustainable production at Tasmanian dairy sector Australia's Dairy Tasmania has rolled out a successful farm business resilience pilot program designed to help Tasmanian farmers adapt to a changing climate and prepare for risk management. DairyTas is leading the way to build on-farm resilience, disaster preparedness and risk management to promote competitive sustainable production at Tasmanian dairy sector. Governments have committed over $4 million to the new Tasmanian Farm Business Resilience Program, under the Australian Future Drought Fund. Federal Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, Murray Watt said, "We are committed to working collaboratively with government and industry to ensure businesses are equipped for the future. We are pleased to commit federal funding to develop more resilient communities.” Over the next two years, the target is for at least 300 farming businesses to receive subsidised learning opportunities and develop farm business plans. These plans will be tailored to a participant’s own agribusiness, risks, and situation. Tenders are now open for industry groups and service providers to deliver similar farm business resilience plans across all Tasmanian regions. The Program runs until late 2025. Additionally, the Tasmanian Government will support a $450,000 partnership with Dairy Tas to deliver its Our Farm Our Plan framework to 75 dairy farmers. "Developing a climate ready agricultural sector is a priority to unlocking the Rockliff Liberal Government’s target to grow agriculture value to $10 billion by 2050. We know this starts on the farm, supporting farmers, farm managers, and their employees with training and coaching to develop or update their own plans for their own business in their own way. The Tasmanian Farm Business resilience program has been designed with the ethos developed by farmers for farmers" explained Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jo Palmer. The program will give farmers access to workshops and one-to-one support to consider their long-term goals, business management and risks, investment priorities, natural resource management, climate change, succession plans, sustainable irrigation, and farm safety.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1006/international-soil-borne-pathogens-rd-center-launched-in-ankara-turkey.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1006/international-soil-borne-pathogens-rd-center-launched-in-ankara-turkey.html Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:30:00 +0530 New center will initiate programs on robust surveillance system for tracking pathogens, a genebank for germplasm, and screening facilities for SBP resistance Food security is threatened by soil-borne pathogens (SBP), especially as climate extremes (temperature, precipitation) become more common. A variety of specific adverse effects are caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes, including root rot, wilt, yellowing, and dwarfing. Crop yields can be reduced by 50-75% as a result of these pathogens. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kirişci inaugurated the Center, the first of its kind in Central West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) dedicated to advancing research on SBPs and developing innovative solutions to control and prevent their spread. Among the new programs at the center are a robust surveillance system for tracking pathogens, a genebank for germplasm, and screening facilities for SBP resistance. The opening ceremony took place in early May 2023 at the Directorate of Plant Protection Central Institute working under the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), and it was attended by deputy ministers, TAGEM’s DG, and high-level officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. In order to enhance crop health and productivity, Country Representative of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Soil-Borne Pathogens Research & Development Center (ISBPRDC) are signing a joint R&D collaboration agreement that will facilitate knowledge exchange and technology transfer. Thirty-five scientists and technicians will work at the ISBPRDC and the institute will act as an umbrella for all SBP research in Turkey. Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute (BDIARI), the Transitional Zone Agricultural Research Institute (TZARI), and the Plant Protection Central Research Institute (PPCRI) with offices in Konya, Eskisehir, and Ankara, respectively, will support the ISBPRDC center and collaborate with the SBP program at CIMMYT to deliver high-yielding wheat germplasm that is resistant to SBP. In accordance with international sanitary standards, the ISBPRDC will be operated, said the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), part of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. CGIAR and TAGEM mutually supported the SBP CIMMYT Turkey program by establishing and funding the ISBPRDC. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1004/australias-sparklabs-cultiv8-launches-cleantech-accelerator.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/1004/australias-sparklabs-cultiv8-launches-cleantech-accelerator.html Wed, 31 May 2023 10:07:48 +0530 The new accelerator will bring the number of companies supported by SparkLabs Cultiv8 to 50 at a combined value of more than $1.6 billion SparkLabs Cultiv8, Australia’s most active Agri-Food Tech accelerator, has thrown its weight behind cleantech, funding and supporting ten startups through its new SparkLabs Cultiv8 CleanTech Accelerator. ​The new accelerator will bring the number of companies supported by SparkLabs Cultiv8 to 50. More than $AUD half a billion has been raised by the companies, which boast a combined value of more than $1.6 billion and have created over 750 new jobs. Created in 2017 in partnership with Asia’s largest accelerator, SparkLabs Group, SparkLabs Cultiv8 has become a leader in addressing climate change through innovation. Partner and Agri-Food Tech veteran Malcolm Nutt said the addition of cleantech to the portfolio made sense as Australia faces the mounting pressures of climate change. “Australia should be globally recognised as a leader in this space - the Australian Agri-Food Tech scene has an exceptional track record of innovation and there is more happening all the time,” he said. “Agriculture is essential to any conversation around climate change, we are excited to contribute through innovation and collaboration with the leading research houses in Australia.” The GATE, located at the Orange Agricultural Institute, where SparkLabs Cultiv8 launched in 2017, will be home base for the startups, which are predominantly from NSW, for the next six months. They include: AusBioEnergy is a closed loop manufacturing system to produce competitively priced, scalable and sustainable biomethanol. Blue Carbon S2C is focused on developing and financing blue, teal and green carbon projects that help to restore large-scale nature-based ecosystems. Carbonaught is delivering organic fertiliser derived from enhanced rock weathering to permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and promote sustainable agriculture. Clean Eyre Global is a land based Asparagopsis seaweed production business committed to accelerating the commercialisation of ruminant animal feed supplements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. DownForce Technology provides a novel platform for precise and efficient calculation of natural capital and ecosystem services, empowering farmers and land stewards. ExoFlare has developed a platform for the food and agricultural industries to evaluate and manage biosecurity hazards in real-time while adhering to reporting standards. NanoSoils uses silica nanoparticles to directly administer agrochemicals to plants, reducing pesticide residues in the environment. Packamama has reinvented the wine bottle to make it more climate-friendly. Savings in space, weight and energy mean better bottles that slash carbon emissions in the supply chain. Ten Carbon Chemistry has developed unique antimicrobials that are in trials on fresh produce to extend shelf life; on packaging to improve safety and reduce emissions as well as other industrial, agricultural and hygiene industry applications. Wollemi has developed a platform that automates scenario analysis and climate vulnerability assessment, enabling seamless integration of climate risk into decision-making. Their technology quantifies and reports climate risks for land-based and agricultural assets, from asset to portfolio level. The accelerator is powered by Cultiv8 Funds Management, an Agri-Food Venture Capital Fund founded by Malcolm Nutt and Jonathon Quigley in partnership with Challenger Group. The new accelerator builds on the successful SparkLabs Cultiv8 Accelerator program and is enhanced by the support of the Department of Primary Industries, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Cotton Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Agriculture Innovation Australia (AIA), Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), Hort Innovation and Science and Technology Australia (STA). “Our globally recognised program is an opportunity to highlight the innovation occurring within NSW and broader Australia, and provides industry expertise to support the companies on their commercialisation journey,” said Jonathon Quigley, Partner of SparkLabs Cultiv8. “This year’s participants zero in on areas such as biodiversity, resource efficiency and renewable energy, and we are excited to partner with these businesses that will contribute to a more sustainable planet.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/998/8-5-million-boost-for-aquaculture-research-and-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/998/8-5-million-boost-for-aquaculture-research-and-development.html Tue, 30 May 2023 10:35:00 +0530 Four-year investment to fast-track aquaculture industry development in Western Australia Western Australia is investing AU$8.5 million over the next four years to drive aquaculture research and development including upgrading facilities at Broome, Pemberton and Albany in the region. The Aquaculture Development Plan identifies opportunities for industry and the State Government to work together on projects which fast-track industry growth by reducing the risk to new and existing industry operators looking to enter or expand aquaculture operations in WA.  The funding will be used to implement key projects identified in the Aquaculture Development Plan across Western Australia. Part of the funding will be used to develop industry plans to guide research and investment in key sectors including marine shellfish and finfish, freshwater aquaculture and emerging industries like seaweed and algae production.  Additionally, the department is upgrading modern, fit-for-purpose aquaculture facilities to attract new investments in the aquaculture industry, including finfish and seaweed research and production.  There will be upgrades to the Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre to support the continued expansion of the popular freshwater trout fishery and continued maintenance of the Albany Aquaculture Park and Albany Shellfish Hatchery to drive the growth of shellfish aquaculture on the South Coast. Additional investment in the WA Seafood Quality Assurance Program will support the classification of additional areas which are suitable for shellfish production for human consumption.  There will also be a project to scale up research into the commercialisation of a dietary additive with global significance for finfish production as well as ongoing monitoring of aquaculture development zones to ensure economic and environmental sustainability.  An additional $2 million will be invested to redevelop and modernise the Broome Tropical Aquaculture Park to meet growing industry demand to expand aquaculture production and research capability in the north of the State.  "Projects under the Aquaculture Development Plan will continue to support the production of yellowtail kingfish, barramundi, abalone, mussels, marron, silver perch, rainbow trout, yabbies and oysters, as well as provide opportunities for emerging industries such as coral and seaweed, to build a strong and sustainable aquaculture industry for the future."  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/997/chinas-silk-producing-season-on-top.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/997/chinas-silk-producing-season-on-top.html Mon, 29 May 2023 16:20:30 +0530 China produces more than 150,000 metric tonnes of silk every year The end of May is known as the silkworm cocoon season in China. In China, spring is the best season to raise the silkworm. Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Sichuan are silk-producing provinces in China. Silkworm farmers in these provinces are busy cultivating silk cocoons. China produces 70 per cent of silkworm cocoons and raw silk in the world. Each cocoon has only one thread and in a good cocoon, the length of the thread is around 1.5 kilometres. It takes 28 days for silkworms to transform into adult, pupae. China is the top silk exporter in the world. In 2022 China’s silk export reached $932.98 million, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. China produces more than 150,000 metric tonnes of silk every year. After China India produces 30,000 metric tonnes of silk. China’s plant-reeled silk export reached 3590 tonnes in 2022 up by 202.46 per cent year on year, with an export value of $222 million up by 223. 35 per cent. Silk is a long continuous fibre made from the solidification of silk liquid secreted by the mature silkworm during cocooning. Depending on the food of the silkworm, it can be divided into mulberry silk, sericulture silk, cassava silk and camphor silk and so on. Mulberry silk as raw material, a number of cocoon silk will be held together and reeled into filament, also known as silk. Machine-reeled silk is called plant-reeled silk. At present, it is rare to see hand-reeled silk, and the silk produced in China and exported is basically plant-reeled silk. As the largest manufacturer of silk, China’s The National Genetic Resources Bank of the Silkworm in Chongqing was recently listed as one of 12 new genetic resource protection units. There are 217 protection units including 10 genetic resources in China. According to the China Daily, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs approved the second group of units in January. The protection of China's silkworm genes found in silkworm eggs under the country's Animal Husbandry Law, according to the Institute of Sericulture and Systems Biology in Southwest University, the gene bank's home. The gene bank established in the 1930s, has maintained comprehensive silkworm data since 1940. Over the years, the gene bank became the world's biggest for domestic silkworms bank. The gene bank has more than 1,150 live genetic stocks of domestic silkworms, including local strains, improved varieties, natural mutants, chemical-induced and physically-induced artificial mutants, innovative germplasms that are constructed via transgenic and genome-editing techniques and special germplasms whose lineage traces to wild ancestors. The stock covers more than 90 per cent of the world's representative silkworm resources. Chinese cities such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Shaoxing are known for the silk industries.   Silk has been a symbol of Chinese culture for thousands of years and spring is the best season to raise the silkworms that produce it. The province is known across the world for its high-quality material and local farmers continue to adapt to the times. Specially bred mulberry leaves contain 20 per cent protein, which silkworms then convert into silk protein after devouring them. China’s silk reeling industry has been industrialised since the 1950s, and it's now a local economic pillar. Modern agricultural techniques have helped take the industry to the next level. Shraddha Warde Shraddha.warde@mmactiv.com ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/983/vietnam-new-zealand-to-boost-trade-investment-ties.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/983/vietnam-new-zealand-to-boost-trade-investment-ties.html Thu, 25 May 2023 12:50:00 +0530 Vietnam is now the New Zealand's 13th largest trading partner with trade between the two countries reaching a average annual rate of 14.2%. New Zealand and Vietnam have signed a bilateral trade cooperation agreement to extend the efforts and close cooperation to uplift the economies mutualy. At the 8th meeting of the Vietnam-New Zealand Joint Trade and Economic Commission (JTEC) held in Hanoi on May 23, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang said there is a lot of potential for Vietnam and New Zealand to further strengthen cooperation in trade, industry and investment. An overview of bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, education and training, tourism, aviation, and labor was discussed at the meeting co-chaired by Thang and Vangelis Vitalis. Since the two countries established a comprehensive partnership in 2009, trade between the two countries has grown at an average annual rate of 14.2%. Vietnam is now New Zealand's 13th largest trading partner. In 2022, two-way trade reached 1.2 billion USD, up 14% from last year. A total of 39 valid New Zealand direct investment projects have been registered in Vietnam with a total capital exceeding $209.7 million, placing them 39th out of 143 countries and territories that have invested in the country. The Vietnamese government has invested 38.4 million USD in 11 projects in New Zealand, mainly in the processing and manufacturing industries, wholesale and retail activities, and accommodation services. Bilateral cooperation has been enhanced in trade, investment, and economy, including multilateral trade negotiations, agriculture, agribusiness, clean technology, agricultural supply chain development, education, aviation, and tourism. Vietnam and New Zealand aim to increase their trade turnover to 2 billion USD by 2024. Vietnam's lime and grapefruit market opening and New Zealand's squash and strawberry market opening in 2022 was appreciated by both sides. To facilitate businesses of the two countries to take advantage of the new import-export opportunity, Vietnamese officials suggested relevant ministries, sectors, and agencies of New Zealand coordinate closely and provide detailed instructions on procedures. The two sides discussed cooperation in multilateral frameworks and agreed to continue coordinating and supporting each other in mechanisms and frameworks such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/969/taiwan-us-trade-pact-to-benefit-taiwanese-agri-export.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/969/taiwan-us-trade-pact-to-benefit-taiwanese-agri-export.html Mon, 22 May 2023 16:55:12 +0530 The United States of America and Taiwan have finalised the first phase of a 21st-century trade plan United States of America (US) and Taiwan have finalised the first phase of a 21st-century trade plan amid tension between Washington and Beijing, the trade will facilitate some agricultural exports to the US, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA). Moth orchids and guavas will gain quick access to the US. The export value of moth orchids has reached $64.6 million and the value of guavas reached $248,000 last year.  Both countries have introduced digital declaration and a streamlined system under the deal, those goods and products with a short shelf life will be allowed to clear customs faster. A trade agreement between US and Taiwan is expected to be signed in the coming weeks, according to Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations. COAis expecting the second phase of talks could enable Taiwan to export pineapples and processed pork products to the U.S. The First Agreement under the initiative, its text comprises eight chapters and over 80 articles and is being called the most detailed trade agreement signed between Taiwan and the U.S. since 1979, when formal bilateral ties were severed. Taiwanese officials described the document as a milestone that will serve as a crucial ‘building block’ in efforts to negotiate a free trade agreement between the two countries and shows that Taiwan's trade system meets high international standards. This initial agreement did not cover tariff reductions or exemptions. It outlined practices and procedures related to a host of topics aimed at streamlining and strengthening trade relations. The areas covered were customs and trade facilitation, regulatory practices, domestic regulation of services, anti-corruption practices, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Under the new deal, the two sides have committed to working to facilitate bilateral trade and investment flows, improve regulatory practices, promote anti-corruption measures, and minimize unnecessary formalities at the border. Katherine Tai, US Trade Representative (USTR) said, "This accomplishment represents an important step forward in strengthening the US-Taiwan economic relationship," Taiwan and the United States do not have official diplomatic relations, both nations do maintain unofficial ties through the de facto US embassy in the country, the American Institute in Taiwan. Beijing has in recent years stepped up its threats and rhetoric against Taiwan, increasing military drills in the seas around the island and working to cut off its official ties with countries around the world. The issue prompts rare bipartisan agreement in the United States, with politicians including Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his Democratic predecessor Nancy Pelosi both meeting publicly with the Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen over the last 12 months, drawing sharp criticism from China. According to a Statement by US Trade Department, “The first agreement under the initiative will allow American businesses to bring more products to Taiwan and Taiwanese customers, while creating more transparent and streamlined regulatory procedures that can facilitate investment and economic opportunities in both markets, particularly for small- and medium-sized enterprises." The United States is becoming the largest market for Taiwan’s agricultural products export, Taiwan’s agricultural export reached a record value of $5.67 billion last year. China imposed a ban on the import of food and beverage products from Taiwan, including fish, seafood, fruit and beer, after this Taiwan diversified its export policy   Shraddha Warde shraddhawarde@mmactiv.com ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/966/searca-and-ait-partner-for-sustainable-agriculture-in-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/966/searca-and-ait-partner-for-sustainable-agriculture-in-southeast-asia.html Mon, 22 May 2023 10:21:16 +0530 Signs MoU to promote education, training, and research programs, projects, and activities to upgrade agriculture by technology integration and to address challenges of farming practices The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) signed a formal agreement to cooperate on initiatives that promote agriculture and rural development. SEARCA has priority focus on promoting a transformational leadership mindset among stakeholders in the agricultural sector, including its scholars, training participants, and other beneficiaries of its formal education and capacity-building initiatives. Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director, and Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, AIT vice president for academics signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which intends to promote collaboration between the two institutions in undertaking education, training, and research programs, projects, and activities. Prof. Dhakal expressed his enthusiasm for institutional cooperation, stating that “the partnership between SEARCA and AIT have potential broad linkage opportunities, including scholarships, training programs, and policy development. "AIT is focused on technology and engineering, and we are focused on agriculture, but actually, we are integrating technology in agriculture to upgrade and address challenges of farming practices. This is one area of possible collaboration between our institutions. We can see the synergy of complementing priority areas of both SEARCA and AIT” explained Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director. SEARCA conducts workshops, seminars, and training programs focusing on leadership development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. The end goal is to help build a new generation of leaders who are committed to promoting innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector. Image Caption: Dr. Glenn Gregorio (second from right), SEARCA director, and Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, AIT vice president for academics, during MoU signing ceremony. They are flanked by Dr. Nur Azura Adam, SEARCA deputy director for programs, on the right and Prof. Sangam Shrestha of the AIT Water Engineering and Management Program. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/963/bangladesh-lifts-fumigation-requirements-on-u-s-cotton.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/963/bangladesh-lifts-fumigation-requirements-on-u-s-cotton.html Fri, 19 May 2023 12:21:21 +0530 This shift will remove a significant export barrier for U.S. cotton to Bangladesh A Cotton Council International (CCI)-sponsored Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture Delegation's U.S. visit coupled with indispensable efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) office in Dhaka, ultimately convinced the Bangladesh government to relax its nearly-five-decade-long fumigation requirement on U.S. cotton imports. This shift will remove a significant export barrier for U.S. cotton to Bangladesh, as well as save Bangladeshi mills time and money as they look to the U.S. to fill their cotton fibre import needs. Bangladeshi mills have been paying over a million dollars annually to cover unnecessary fumigation costs imposed on cotton imported from the U.S. U.S. exporters will continue to use APHIS-generated phytosanitary certificates, but under the new regulation, the certificate will have additional language confirming no live boll weevils are in U.S. baled cotton. APHIS will issue revised instructions for exporters. Bangladesh's Agricultural and Commerce Ministries' decision to lift the fumigation requirements came after six Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture delegation members joined a CCI-sponsored U.S. cotton tour coordinated with the National Cotton Council (NCC).  The delegation learned why U.S. cotton bales do not harbour live boll weevils, including a review of the U.S. cotton industry's successful Boll Weevil Eradication Program and its modern cotton harvesting and standardized ginning techniques. Bangladesh presently ranks as the No. 2 global importer of cotton, according to the USDA FAS's global market analysis in May 2023. Although there is some domestic cotton produced in Bangladesh, it accounts for 1 per cent or less of the total demand. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/956/philippines-invest-p65-3-b-in-agri-fisheries-with-4-new-projects-introduction.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/956/philippines-invest-p65-3-b-in-agri-fisheries-with-4-new-projects-introduction.html Thu, 18 May 2023 11:26:25 +0530 APA, FishCoRe, PRDP and MIADP are the four priority projects securing the grants. Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced an investment of P65.3 B (nearly $12 Billion USD) in agri-fisheries with the launch of 4 upcoming projects in agri-fisheries. Arnel De Mesa, the DA's Assistant Secretary for Operations, presented four new major projects at the event to demonstrate the agency's commitment to transforming agriculture and fishing. In partnership with international funding institutions such as the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization, the recently approved projects include: Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) With a project cost of P2.3 billion, the APA aims at increasing the resilience of agri stakeholders in areas vulnerable to climate change particularly in the Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen regions. Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project (FishCoRe) The FishCoRe targets to improve management of fishery resources and enhance the value of fisheries production in select Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) covering 24 provinces with P11.422 project cost. Scaled-up Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) The Scale-up PRDP will expand its coverage in 82 provinces nationwide with a total project cost of P45.012 billion to improve the farmers’ and fisherfolk’s access to markets and increase their incomes from agri-fishery value chains. Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) The MIADP will focus on 26 ancestral domains in Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and BARMM to sustainably increase their agricultural productivity, resiliency, and access to markets and services with a project cost of P6.625 billion. At the annual National Farmers' and Fisherfolk's Month (NFFM) celebration on May 15, 2023, the DA also honored the farmers and fisherfolk and their valuable contribution to food security and economic development. Senior Undersecretary at the Department of Agriculture (DA), Domingo Panganiban said, "Expanding investments in food production will create jobs and promote progress in the sector". ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/949/start-up-nation-central-partners-with-microsoft-to-promote-israeli-agrifood-tech-startups.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/949/start-up-nation-central-partners-with-microsoft-to-promote-israeli-agrifood-tech-startups.html Thu, 18 May 2023 07:39:00 +0530 Collaboration aims to integrate innovative agricultural data companies with core technologies of AI, Cloud & Machine Learning with Microsoft's AI tools to develop models for optimal, sustainable agriculture across the value chain Start-Up Nation Central has collaborated with Microsoft to promote Israeli AgriFood Tech startups in the international marketplace. The collaboration focuses on connecting AI, data, cloud, and machine learning technologies from agricultural information to Microsoft's AI tools. In the first phase of the collaboration, Start-Up Nation Central and Microsoft will promote a series of tech challenges to propel mapping Israeli startups and relevant technologies within the AgriFood Tech sector. Together, Start-Up Nation Central and Microsoft will work to identify global AgriFood Tech challenges, with an emphasis on connecting AI technologies that can help develop durable models for optimal and sustainable agriculture across the entire value chain. Led by Microsoft AgriFood CTO Ranveer Chandra, the collaboration will identify relevant innovative companies in Israel that are using agricultural data for cutting edge applications. It will also examine how these technologies can be integrated into Microsoft's cloud-based agriculture-focused business tools. Israeli AgriFood Tech entrepreneurs will benefit from exposure to global opportunities through Microsoft's network of connections. Potential opportunities include collaborations with strategic partners, access to new markets, and showcasing market-ready technologies on a global scale. Start-Up Nation Central CEO, Avi Hasson said "Israel boasts over 250 leading cloud agriculture startups that offer fertile ground for innovation in this rapidly developing sector. The Israeli AgriFood Tech industry is well advanced in data, software, and connectivity, and offers incredible potential for Microsoft in the growing field of data-driven agriculture". The first two tech challenges are already underway with a focus on water management and sustainable agriculture. As part of these challenges, over 40 relevant Israeli startups were mapped, and two Israeli AgriFood-Tech companies– Projini (developers of innovative pesticide solutions) and Saturas (developers of a breakthrough sensor-based precision system for optimized irrigation) – were selected to collaborate with Microsoft at this event and have the opportunity to collaborate with Microsoft's global technology and investment teams. Start-Up Nation Central is a non-profit organization that connects Israeli innovation to the world in order to help international entities solve global challenges. Supported by the Israeli technology ecosystem, the organization provides a platform that nurtures business growth and generates partnerships with corporations, governments, investors, and NGOs to strengthen Israel's economy and society. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/939/china-imposes-ban-on-summer-sea-fishing.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/939/china-imposes-ban-on-summer-sea-fishing.html Mon, 15 May 2023 15:56:15 +0530 The ban will be observed in parts of the north, east, and south to conserve marine fish stocks   China will take a tough stance on illegal fishing by both domestic and foreign vessels in stretches of its coastal waters during the annual summer fishing moratorium, which started in May and will last through mid-August in most areas, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.  The ban will be observed in parts of the north, east, and south to conserve marine fish stocks.  Ministry described the ban as the country's most influential marine fish conservation effort and said that regions subject to the ban include the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the seas north of 12 degrees north in the South China Sea.  The ministry also launched a law-enforcement operation in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Security and the China Coast Guard in the waters off the Shandong and Fujian provinces, and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.  China has imposed the annual ban in the South China Sea since 1999, as part of efforts to promote the sustainable development of marine fishing and improve the marine ecology.  The China Coast Guard's South China Sea division and local authorities will patrol major fishing grounds and ports to ensure that the ban is observed.  Midway through the moratorium, three enforcement actions will take place in the Beibu Gulf, the Pearl River Estuary and along the marine border between Fujian and Guangdong provinces, in a bid to crack down on illegal fishing and protect marine resources.  The ban will end on Sept 1 for the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea north of 35 degrees north but will last until Sept 16 in the East China Sea depending on the fishing nets in use.  According to authorities in Qingdao, Shandong, the ban affects 17,000 fishermen. For the first time, the city will hand out marine conservation subsidies of some 70 million yuan ($10.6 million).  The Zhejiang province Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department said that after May 8, it would ban the sale of eight species of frozen or living catch, including hairtail, yellow croaker, and pomfret. According to official data, authorities banned nearly 8,000 illegal vessels in 2021.  China introduced the 14th Five-Year National Fisheries Development Plan in 2022. According to the plan, by 2025 China is targeted to reach 69 million tonnes of aquatic production. China’s fishing industry has been undergoing major structural shifts. China’s fisheries policy restricted fishing and reduced the number of vessels since 2016. In 2020, 40,000 working vessels had been banned from coastal waters, due to which fisheries production was reduced to 9.5 million tonnes. In 2022 China’s fish production reached 10 million tonnes and working vessels were restricted compared to 2021. China became the world’s leading aquaculture producer in 1989 and it remains the same today. In recent years industrialisation, urbanisation and other thing affected Chinese fish production. In recent years, China has gone through a major transition in the fishery trade. China is becoming a leading processor of fish raw material for re-export into a country that increasingly sources high-quality aquatic products for domestic consumption. Although China has long been the world’s top fish exporter. But rising domestic demand for high-quality seafood is brought on by China’s expanding middle class. Policy measures taken by the central government to facilitate fishing imports have resulted in soaring imports and declining re-exports. For the first time in decades, in 2022, China registered a fishery trade deficit.  China’s fishery imports reached $23.7 billion and fishery exports during the same period were $23 billion. China wanted to remain one of the largest fish producers in the world and to conserve the fish stock China has imposed a ban on fishing.    Shraddha Warde shraddha.warde@mmactiv.com ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/911/australia-commits-2m-grants-to-support-indigenous-farm-business.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/911/australia-commits-2m-grants-to-support-indigenous-farm-business.html Wed, 10 May 2023 07:35:00 +0530 The Biosecurity Business Grants are delivered through the Indigenous Rangers Biosecurity Program, through a $3.6 million investment from the Australian Government. The Australian Government is supporting innovative First Nations business opportunities that strengthen biosecurity in Northern Australia with the announcement of four recipients of the Biosecurity Business Grants. Biosecurity in northern Australia underpins development and protects Austalia from the threat of pests and diseases that could devastate our agricultural industries. Nearly $2 million had been committed through the grants to support Indigenous business, economic and employment opportunities delivering biosecurity outcomes in Northern Australia. The Biosecurity Business Grants are delivered through the Indigenous Rangers Biosecurity Program, through a $3.6 million investment from the Australian Government. This is the second round of funding under the Biosecurity Business Grants Program. Five projects were approved for funding under Round 1 in August 2021 totaling over $2.4 million over two years (2021-22 and 2022-23). Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt said “These recipients have received some much-needed funding to support their innovative business ideas which will contribute to strengthening the biosecurity system. Supported initiatives include the northern Australia Aboriginal Kakadu Plum Alliance Cooperative Limited establishing an insect monitoring network amongst Aboriginal bushfood producers in the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia, and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation Pty Ltd leading the co-design and delivery of a community awareness program about biosecurity in the Torres Strait. Northern Territory business Deadly Hair Dude Pty Ltd will establish a horticultural micro-business in the remote community of Gunbalanya, Northern Territory which will support long-term, sustainable employment and build important biosecurity surveillance skills.   And Yagbani Aboriginal Corporation will lead a project to manage climate-change driven pathogen biosecurity threats in the north – using co-designed, hands-on workshops and traditional knowledge to build new skills in early warning surveillance and response. “First Nations people are inseparable from stewardship of country, making them uniquely placed to identify and respond to the exotic pests, weeds and diseases which threaten Australia’s environment and agricultural industries. The Australian Government is committed to backing the capabilities and innovative ideas that empower that partnership” said Minister Murry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/905/vietnam-ranks-3rd-in-mango-exports-to-korea.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/905/vietnam-ranks-3rd-in-mango-exports-to-korea.html Tue, 09 May 2023 07:44:47 +0530 Vietnam has exported 1.7 thousand tons of mangoes to South Korea, worth $7.4 million, up 19.1% Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade's Import-Export Department has reported that Vietnam is currently the third-largest supplier of mangoes to South Korea. In the past 11 months, Vietnam has exported 1.7 thousand tons of mangoes to South Korea, worth $7.4 million, up 19.1 per cent in volume and 24.8 per cent in value over the same period in 2021. The average import price of Vietnam’s mangoes is currently $4,232.3 per ton, up 4.7 per cent over the same period in 2021. Statistics from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) show that South Korea imported 22,000 tons of mangoes (HS 08045020) in the first 11 months of 2022, worth $95.3 million, an increase of 4.1 per cent in volume and 8.2 per cent in value compared to the same period in 2021. The average import price of mangoes into South Korea in the first 11 months of 2022 was $4,326.2 per ton, up 4 per cent from the same period in 2021. Thailand and Peru are the two biggest mango suppliers to South Korea in the first 11 months of 2022, with imports from these two markets accounting for 81.2 per cent of the total mango imports. According to the Import-Export Department, South Korea is a major market for fresh fruit imports, with a value of over $1.6 billion per year and continued strong growth. Meanwhile, Vietnamese fresh fruits accounts for a very modest market share in this market. South Korea is a very wealthy market with an average per capita income of over $30,000 per year and imports of around $700 billion per year. Therefore, the potential for exports, especially fruits, including Vietnam’s mangoes, to the South Korean market is still very large. In addition, South Korea is one of the few countries that have participated in many bilateral and multilateral FTAs with Vietnam. The two countries have joined FTAs such as the ASEAN-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA); Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA); and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/903/china-plans-to-achieve-annual-flower-sales-of-over-100-bn-by-2035.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/903/china-plans-to-achieve-annual-flower-sales-of-over-100-bn-by-2035.html Mon, 08 May 2023 15:42:08 +0530 To promote the high-quality development of the flower industry, the country will promote independent innovation in the flower seed industry China plans the modernisation of the flower industry by 2035, with annual flower sales surpassing 700 billion yuan ($101.28 billion), according to Xinhua news agency. As of 2035, China will basically develop a comprehensive system for flower germplasm resources protection, with the market share of major home-bred varieties reaching 25 per cent, according to the development plan jointly issued by multiple government organs including the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. To promote the high-quality development of the flower industry, the country will promote independent innovation in the flower seed industry, optimise the industrial chains and supply chains in the flower industry, and strengthen technology innovation in the sector, according to the development plan. China’s floriculture industry is valued at more than $11 billion, with 90 per cent of the fresh flowers produced consumed in China, According to China Horticultural Business Services. China’s cut flower industry began in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong in 1984, it is now principally centred in Yunnan province. Daily, the region sees over 10 million flowers sold through auction at the cavernous Dounan Flower Market located in Yunnan’s capital of Kunming. As China's largest fresh-cut flower market in terms of both trade volume and export value for 23 consecutive years, Dounan has become the largest fresh-cut flower trading market in Asia, with a product portfolio of fresh-cut flowers, bonsai, green seedlings, and gardening materials. As Asia's largest fresh-cut flower trading market with a yearly trade volume of 11 billion, the Dounan Flower Market is considered a reliable barometer of the performance of China's flower markets. The world’s largest cut-flower auction at the Aalsmeer Flower Market in the Netherlands sees 16 million auctioned daily. Yunnan accounts for 70 per cent of the cut-flower trade in China and is now looking to become Asia’s largest as well as to become a key player in global floriculture. In Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Centre, more than 1,500 varieties of fresh-cut flowers from more than 40 categories, such as rose, Barberton daisy, carnation, and Hydrangea, are traded in over 50 countries and regions including Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Russia, and Australia through auction transactions. Flower farmers and florists from Yunnan province pack fresh-cut flowers and transport them to Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Centre every morning. Every bouquet must undergo strict inspection and get a rating before the auction. To improve flower trading efficiency, Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Centre has constantly enhanced trading modes. The centre also took the initiative and introduced a number of e-commerce live broadcast platforms to boost flower sales and income for flower merchants and farmers.  Dounan, Kunming, has also gradually built a one-stop logistics station for collection, cargo allocation, security inspection, and delivery at the leading regional airports in Yunnan Province, to build a terminal logistics and distribution system. Fresh-cut flowers can arrive at the terminal market between 24 to 48 hours after they are picked.  After years of development, Dounan owns two well-known trademarks of the Chinese flower industry, ‘Dounan’ and ‘KIFA’. Dounan is more than a flower planting land but a complex platform for auctions, logistics, R&D, agricultural resources, tourism, etc., and has attracted over 4,000 related enterprises. The solid domestic and foreign markets have jointly infused Dounan's flower industry with great potential.  China’s development plan specified measures to elevate flower quality, accelerate the digitalisation of the flower industry, and promote flower consumption upgrades. China now is the world's largest flower producer, an important participant in the foreign trade of flowers, and a major flower consumer.   Shraddha Warde shraddha.warde@mmactiv.com ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/897/golden-agri-resources-move-to-europe-for-integrated-agribusiness.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/897/golden-agri-resources-move-to-europe-for-integrated-agribusiness.html Fri, 05 May 2023 11:42:14 +0530 GAR's new office location is in line with the agribusiness' commitment to advancing sustainability in the palm oil sector Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), one of the world's largest seed-to-shelf agribusinesses, has completed its relocation to new premises in Utrecht, the Netherlands, to support growing headcount and commercial aspirations for its European operations. Europe is the world's primary consumer of sustainable palm oil, accounting for 45 per cent of the total global use of certified sustainable palm oil. GAR's new office location, Central Park Utrecht, has been selected with sustainability in mind, in line with the agribusiness' commitment to advancing sustainability in the palm oil sector. Central Park Utrecht has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent certificate for sustainable design, with positive assessments for nine categories including energy, transport, water, management, materials and health. BREEAM is regarded as the world's leading science-based suite of validation and certification systems for sustainability in the built environment. Maarten van der Hoeven, Head of Europe & LatAm at GAR said: "Our European business is built on long-term relationships that prioritise understanding and addressing our customer’s needs to offer consistent, reliable and sustainable offerings across a range of sectors. Our dedicated team have built a structural supply chain for our key customers, always working to add value where possible. This move gives us greater scope to build capacity and continue pushing for quality and sustainability above all else for our customers and partners." GAR has entities in the Netherlands, Spain, Colombia and Brazil, and representative offices in Bulgaria and Romania, supported by an extensive distribution and logistics network encompassing shipping, freight, and warehousing facilities. The company manages dedicated storage terminals and warehouses in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Romania and Colombia, with plans for further expansion.  GAR also operates a sugar distribution and trading business with a global reach, including the origination of sugar from LatAm through the company's Brazil office. Elsewhere in the Americas, GAR established operations in Colombia and focused on sourcing palm oil in 2021, followed by the formation of storage and distribution channels for its oleochemicals business in the United States in 2022. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/891/global-shrimp-forum-2023-to-take-place-during-september-in-netherlands.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/891/global-shrimp-forum-2023-to-take-place-during-september-in-netherlands.html Thu, 04 May 2023 12:18:46 +0530 More than 500 high-level executives representing farmers, feed companies, technology suppliers, service providers, processors, exporters will gather The second edition of the Global Shrimp Forum will take place from 5 to 7 September 2023, a fully dedicated high executive meeting place for the warm water shrimp Industry, in Utrecht the Netherlands. More than 500 high-level executives representing farmers, feed companies, technology suppliers, service providers, processors, exporters, importers, wholesalers, retailers and other industry stakeholders will gather. More than 100 speakers and panellists have been confirmed and this year, to set the scene, the Forum will open with a leadership panel, including President of Cargill Aqua Nutrition, Helene Ziv-Douki, General Manager of Omarsa, Sandro Coglitore and Chairman of Devi Fisheries, Rajagopal Choudary Chitturi. There’s a star line-up for the breakout sessions featuring industry leaders such as the General Manager of Skretting Ecuador, Carlos Miranda, CEO of Marinasol, Roberto Ferron, Shrimp Buyer for Maruha Nichiro, Hidetami Haruta, and Managing Director of MU Seafood, Shyamal Das. A full schedule, including all confirmed speakers and panellists, will be present at the forum. The subjects for this year’s sessions will be: Trade Statistics: The Latest Import and Export Trends Feed Manufacturing and Feed Ingredients Production: Strategies to Sustain Shrimp Production in Challenging Times Finance and Investment: CEO Visions and Investor Reflections Animal Welfare and Decarbonization Technology and Innovation Retail and Consumption This year the conference organisers, the Global Shrimp Forum Foundation (GSFF) are also funding a study to inspire discussion about how to promote global shrimp consumption. The preliminary results of the research will be presented and debated as part of the meeting. During an invite-only lunch, the world’s top producers will also discuss the status of establishing a global shrimp council. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/882/adb-private-business-unit-strengthens-support-for-climate-action-and-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/882/adb-private-business-unit-strengthens-support-for-climate-action-and-food-security.html Wed, 03 May 2023 08:18:00 +0530 The ADB has supported 47.5 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and approximately 10 million farmers through its portfolio of private sector projects. Asian Development Bank (ADB) reported its Development Effectiveness for the year 2022 around its Private Sector Operations in a recent report. According to the report, $1.1 billion was invested in contracts with a double increase in the percentage of climate change financing projects since 2021.  ADB currently has 68 member countries, including 49 countries from Asia-Pacific, with the objective of creating a prosperous and sustainable region. ADB Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) prepared the report, which focuses on Azerbaijan's first private investment in renewable energy, Uzbekistan's first wind power project, and Thailand's electric ferry fleet development, the largest in Southeast Asia. The project is cited as an example of an innovative project that received financial support.   As part of the ADB's mission to address food insecurity, the ADB expanded its support for agribusiness through its 2022 ADB Private Sector Project. For example, Asian Development Fund – the first project supported through the Private Sector Window facility, supporting animal feed producers to expand their business in Cambodia, and improving their resilience to climate change This includes the first sustainability-linked financing arrangements used in India to encourage Shiki fishing practices. PSOD's first industrial and trade sector energy efficiency project since 2012 is holding back the development of sustainable blue economies, health care systems, ICT, sustainable transport, water and sewerage, as well as other urban infrastructure and services. Ashok Lavasa, Vice-President for Private Sector Operations and Public–Private Partnerships, said, “ADB is committed to helping developing countries in the region address climate change and food security challenges through private sector investments, while directly helping small businesses reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic.”  PSOD has also demonstrated its ability to provide funding to women-owned and women-led microenterprises through a variety of representative projects. Of the 37 new commitments for 2022, 81% directly promote and mainstream gender equality. As part of its efforts to mobilize private sector financing, the ADB worked closely and effectively with other financial institutions, with particular emphasis on sectors such as renewable energy and sustainable transportation. Through private sector co-financing, the ADB mobilized $7.1 billion and established the first charitable fund, the Climate Innovation and Development Fund. By investing in this fund, it will promote sustainable, low-carbon development in South and Southeast Asia.  As part of a recent agreement with leading global insurance companies, ADB has agreed to provide coverage of some of the loss risks associated with loans provided to private sector financial institutions worth $1 billion, which will contribute to improving the efficiency of ADB's loans. The ADB has supported 47.5 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), most of which are owned or operated by women, and approximately 10 million farmers through its portfolio of private sector projects. There were 592,047 new jobs created as a result of these initiatives, of which 123,645 were held by women. The energy sector generated 44,062 GWh of power annually, and greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 28.8 million tons. Using ADB's Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) and Microfinance Program, which bridges the gap between trade and supply chain financing for small and medium enterprises, the 2022 deal was made possible through ADB's Microfinance Program. Approximately 10,200 cases have been processed, with a total value of more than 8 billion dollars. The TSCFP has assisted Sri Lanka in securing essential imports and initiated activities to track and record carbon emissions across the supply chain. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/875/chinas-agri-produce-foreign-trade-up-by-11-5-in-q1.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/875/chinas-agri-produce-foreign-trade-up-by-11-5-in-q1.html Tue, 02 May 2023 09:11:24 +0530 The country's foreign trade of farm produce stood at $83.38 billion in the first three months China's imports and exports of agricultural products rose 11.5 per cent year on year during the first quarter (Q1) of this year, according to Xinhua news agency. The country's foreign trade of farm produce stood at $83.38 billion in the first three months of 2023, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. China's farm produce imports jumped 13.2 per cent year on year to $ 59.88 billion during the period, while its exports of agricultural products hit $ 23.5 billion, up 7.4 per cent from the same period of 2022. The country's trade deficit for farm produce climbed 17.2 per cent year on year to $36.38 billion in the same period.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/852/australia-boost-livestock-diseases-biosecurity-in-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/852/australia-boost-livestock-diseases-biosecurity-in-indonesia.html Tue, 02 May 2023 07:20:00 +0530 Australia is investing around $770,000 on a international training program in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste to prevent spread of FMD and LSD disease Australia is investing around $770,000 in an international training program to boost farmers' biosecurity capabilities in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Aiming to protect neighboring countries from incursions of exotic diseases like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD), Australia is partnering with disease-prone zones. Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is funding Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste with $5 million worth technical expertise to help them combat livestock diseases. This includes personnel and logistic support for vaccine distribution, along with testing and epidemiological work. This funding has also helped fund the Biosecurity Training Centre. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said, “Australia has a long history of biosecurity collaboration with Indonesia and Timor-Leste, and we have ramped up our work together since May 2022 following the detection of FMD in Indonesia. This program will provide vital support to Indonesia’s efforts to control the FMD and LSD outbreaks there while assisting Timor-Leste’s to prevent and prepare for an incursion". The funding will create and deliver country-specific ‘train the trainer’ programs for Indonesia and Timor-Leste and is part of a $14 million package announced by the Government last year. The program will be run by the Charles Sturt University through Australia’s Biosecurity Training Centre (BTC) from April 2023. Initiatives to support Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste for FMD and LSD preparedness Indonesia and Papua New Guinea: The Australian government has committed more than $17 million to directly support Indonesia’s efforts to control outbreaks of FMD and LSD. As a initial funding aid Australia has granted 4 million doses of FMD vaccines and 435,000 doses of LSD vaccines to the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture. Further, Australian Government commits to provide 1 million doses of LSD vaccine to aid in the control of the disease. In addition, an on-going vaccinator training program delivered to Indonesian vets and paravets to assist in building their technical capabilities in FMD and LSD control and eradication. This will support the development and implementation of long-term communication strategies about FMD and LSD in Indonesia. Australia has supplied expertise to support Indonesia’s planning to establish domestic FMD vaccine production. FMD is considered endemic in Indonesia. Indonesian participants will be receiving training in international best practice approaches to biosecurity. Areas covered will include import risk analysis, border clearance processes, on shore management, disinfection treatments, and specific risk management associated with high priority transboundary plant pests and animal diseases including FMD and LSD among others.   Timor-Leste: Similarly, Australia is providing technical assistance to Timor-Leste to support FMD and LSD preparedness, capacity building including diagnostics, support for delivery of animal health surveys and awareness materials and provision of equipment. An example includes an LSD and FMD awareness and surveillance campaign that is currently being delivered in the municipalities of Timor-Leste that border West Timor, Indonesia. There is currently no FMD or LSD in Timor-Leste. In addition, Australia has delivered support for Timor-Leste’s African swine fever response and recovery arrangements. The Department funds the delivery of joint annual plant health surveys in Timor-Leste in partnership with Timor-Leste’s biosecurity agencies. According to the schedule, Biosecurity Development Program will be delivered in Timor-Leste between April 2023 and June 2026. The program is currently in the design phase and will complement and build on the training program occurring currently at the Biosecurity Training Centre.  Charles Sturt University and the department have been working closely with animal and plant quarantine colleagues in Timor-Leste and Indonesia to determine gaps in their capacity to detect and mitigate the risk of exotic disease entering through regulated pathways. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/870/maldives-forms-agro-nat-company-for-crop-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/870/maldives-forms-agro-nat-company-for-crop-development.html Mon, 01 May 2023 13:48:05 +0530 The company has targeted 17 crops, which can produce in the country To address issues related to agriculture, the Government of Maldives have formed a state-owned company called ‘Agro National Corporation’ (Agro Nat) which is focusing on crop development within the country. The company has targeted 17 crops, which can produce in the country, said Ibrahim Ameer, Finance Minister of Maldives in a special interview with Agrospectrum. Ameer said,” During Covid 19 pandemic we understood the importance of food security, so our government is making sure, we should substitute some of the imports in terms of agricultural produce. Maldives imports most of the goods that we conceive, but we believe a lot can be done in the Maldives. So the government is focusing on the crops that can be developed in the country, and in a few years’ time we can reduce imports of some of the crops. We are working on food security,” he said. “For the purpose of food security, Agro Nat was founded as a state-owned company to assist in developing agriculture. AgroNat is working towards enabling an efficient supply chain for agriculture, providing technical expertise and training, expanding the role of women in farming and facilitating access to quality fertilisers across the nation. AgroNat aims to achieve economic targets relating to food security, import substitution, creation of jobs and improving the trade balance,” he added On Challenges, Ameer said, “In a country like Maldives, Challenge would be a scarcity of land. The Maldives is a series of small and remote islands scattered across the Indian Ocean. The country’s economy is dependent primarily on tourism and fisheries. The Maldives grows corn, sweet potatoes, watermelon, eggplant, papaya, peppers and coconut. For agriculture, we have adopted innovative methods. Agro Nat will primarily target agricultural products in the Maldives. One of the obstacles would be getting funds into this project, already there are issues of climate change and other issues. We want to attract finance not only from the tourism sector but other important sectors as well as fisheries and agricultural sectors. Agriculture Company will focus on new methods of agriculture, also adopting innovative methods in agriculture.”   AgroNat has completed the construction of 4 greenhouses with a fertigation system and irrigation network in Hd.Nolhivaram area under the ‘Zakath Nafaa’ program initiated by The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and The Ministry of Economic Development. Four families of Hd. Nolhivaram received assistance to farm under this programme. The four greenhouses, built on 5,000 square feet of land with the experience of AgroNat's technical personnel, are 16 feet by 50 feet in size. A modern irrigation system with wells and pumps has been installed on the rest of the land. Therefore, a large part of the farm will be Semi Automatically watered. While farmers have to spend two or three hours to water the field, the newly installed irrigation system will irrigate the entire field in at least 20 minutes. Under this project, farmers have been provided with training and all the necessary resources such as fertilisers, seeds and pesticides through AgroNat. Apart From this Information on fertigation systems and agricultural technical assistance were given to the farmers. Some of the crops are expected to be grown and harvested in the greenhouses in the coming months. AgroNat will buy all the produce grown by the farmers for a year under this contract. After one year, farmers will have the opportunity to sell their produce through AgroNat's contract farming program. On plant-based meat, he said, “Maldives is one of the fishing countries, our fishing is sustainable, Maldives is one of the nations that do polar line fishing. Fish provides the principal source of animal protein for the population, and almost half of the catch is consumed locally. Fisheries used to be the largest contributor to the Maldivian GDP. Our fish production is large, we export fresh fish and we are expanding the capacity of fish processing. Right now we export raw materials for frozen shilled Tuna to other countries for processing. But idea is that in a few years’ time, we have the capacity to process will be what we catch in the country and do the value addition and then export to other countries. So right now there is no plan to promote plant-based meat.” Agronat has launched a school gardening program as an effective way to promote lifelong healthy eating habits and connect students to the natural world. In this project, AgroNat will emphasis more on promoting, organic farming and using GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) in farming. School students will be engaged in every process of making the garden. The purpose of this is to ensure that students feel a sense of responsibility for their garden and the upbringing of the garden. On-going maintenance and looking after the farm will be carried out by the school management and students. AgroNat will assist in providing training and making a schedule for farm activities. GAP will be introduced and AgroNat will assist school management and students in the application of GAP. In the gardening program, initially, conventional organic farming will be used to ensure students are active in learning the basics of agriculture. Organic farming will be promoted to reduce the usage of chemicals and to teach students about the benefits of organic farming to their health and well-being. Shraddha Warde ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/862/global-seaweed-coalition-gsc-convenes-seaweed-stakeholders-to-streamline-global-standards-and-regulations.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/862/global-seaweed-coalition-gsc-convenes-seaweed-stakeholders-to-streamline-global-standards-and-regulations.html Fri, 28 Apr 2023 11:58:46 +0530 Safe Seaweed Coalition has been renamed into the Global Seaweed Coalition (GSC) The Safe Seaweed Coalition has evolved into the Global Seaweed Coalition (GSC). The announcement was made on a occasion hosted by its founding partner, the United Nations Global Compact. With seaweed, the world can enjoy climate-positive food, feed, medicines, materials, and fuels. To realize this potential, global standards and regulations must be based on science-based safety and sustainability. The GSC will reflect an upscaled, responsible, and restorative seaweed sector that will play a significant role in achieving Global Goals by contributing to food safety and security and helping respond to climate and environmental crises. “The potential of seaweed production has the rare combination of the scalability of local production, nature-based climate action and supporting local communities and economies over time,” said Erik Giercksky, UN Global Compact Head of Oceans. The Coalition is changing its name to reflect the global scale-up we envision. Seaweed International's mission is to facilitate the emergence of an international seaweed sector based on global safety standards. Four pillars will be implemented to achieve it: funding, advocacy, science, and policy. Lloyd's Register Foundation (the Foundation), co-founder and inaugural funder of the Coalition identified aquaculture and blue food industries as means of meeting the world's looming food safety challenges in its Foresight Review on Food Safety. The Foundation recognized the importance of seaweed. By supporting Safe Seaweed Coalition, it has helped industry and regulators work together to scale up this industry safely and effectively. “We look forward to seeing the Global Seaweed Coalition continue the good work of the Safe Seaweed Coalition, tackling the need for a safe and sustainable food source for a growing population, as well as other major benefits, and helping to advance the Foundation’s charitable mission,” said the Foundation’s Tim Slingsby. The Coalition's work was initially supported by the French National Research Centre (CNRS) enabling a deeper engagement with the UN Global Compact. In addition to Compact's global reach, its strong local network enables it to engage governments, local producers, the private sector, and other UN entities. Leveraging a unique network of global stakeholders will improve access to various public and private fundraising opportunities and support new partnerships. Seaweed has gained tremendous momentum in the past two years through the Safe Seaweed Coalition, which has strengthened the representation of the value chain and its main drivers. UN summits on food systems, climate change, and biodiversity have led to unprecedented recognition of seaweed's sustainability potential, allowing it to take its rightful place in policy conservation. The Coalition directly backs the sector’s growth: to date, we have granted €1.2 million in seed funding to 24 projects in 26 countries and attracted a further €2 million to support this work. GSC has built partnerships and created alliances to mobilize seaweed support. It collaborates with the Aquatic Blue Food Coalition, a follow-up to the UN Food Systems Summit. The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Oceans, Ambassador Peter Thomson, recognizes seaweed as a powerful nature-based solution. The Coalition will be overseen by a Leadership Committee composed of representatives from the UN Global Compact, the Foundation, and CNRS. Two new bodies will provide complementary guidance to the Coalition's governance structure: a Scientific Council and a Strategic Advisory Council. Independent academic researchers will make up the Scientific Council.  “Their unique expertise in the seaweed value chain will ensure our actions and funding priorities stay grounded in the most up-to-date seaweed science,” said Coalition Scientific Director Philippe Potin, who will chair the Scientific Council while continuing as Research Director at CNRS. The Strategic Advisory Council will provide perspectives and guidance on seaweed and its role in the global economy, society, and environment. Experts drawn from fields such as economics, finance, the environment, climate, and food systems will serve alongside representatives of seaweed stakeholder groups such as value chain organizations (including organizations representing small-scale and Indigenous actors), international organizations, academia, governments, and Coalition financiers. The Secretariat will support the Leadership Committee and the two advisory bodies. To strengthen the Secretariat, Senior Advisor Nichola Dyer will lead its work. A dedicated Science Officer will be recruited. These changes will enable our Coalition to deliver an even greater impact and better position us to achieve our mission. This will help the seaweed sector scale up safely for workers, consumers, and the environment. Check out our website and social media for future developments announcements ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/855/csiro-to-lead-safe-trade-project-on-biosecurity-challenges-in-australia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/855/csiro-to-lead-safe-trade-project-on-biosecurity-challenges-in-australia.html Thu, 27 Apr 2023 11:49:58 +0530 Under four-year safe trade project, researchers will develop and refine a fit-for-purpose ‘toolkit’ that can be used to improve state-level decision-making about biosecurity risks. CSIRO will lead four-year safe trade project, thanks to funding from Hort Innovation, on pest and disease management measures for inter-state trade. It will develop a toolkit to improve decision making on biosecurity risk, working closely with Australia’s domestic biosecurity regulators across all states and territories. While Australian produce is renowned for having stringent biosecurity practices along all stages of the production and supply chains, State and Territories have differing phytosanitary, or pest and disease management, requirements for inter-state trade. Australia’s reputation for delivering high-quality produce is set to get even better following a $9.5 million injection into pest and disease risk management measures for safe trade. This investment, being delivered through Hort Innovation in partnership with all Australian States and Territory Governments and led by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, will work closely with Australia’s domestic biosecurity regulators to strengthen our science-backed approach to managing phytosanitary risks, making it easier for growers to conduct safe cross-border trade. Hort Innovation Chief Executive Officer Brett Fifield said the program would also facilitate international market access by demonstrating to our trading partners Australia’s commitment to, and confidence in our biosecurity system. “Domestic and international trade is essential to the horticulture industry,” Fifield said. “By working with some of the country’s top scientists, the process for reaching market access agreements will be made easier. Improved risk science tools can support biosecurity measures that may be more cost effective and less time prohibitive for growers without compromising our already great reputation for delivering quality, safe produce," he said. CSIRO project lead Dr Rieks van Klinken said strong scientific tools will help Australia’s horticulture sector by underpinning new and existing market access opportunities and supporting our robust biosecurity system. This work contributes to the CSIRO Trusted Agrifood Exports mission’s goal to improve market access for Australian growers. “Our researchers are improving the tools available to industry to streamline phytosanitary risk management by demonstrating and quantifying the contribution of commercial supply chain and production practices to risk reduction,” Dr van Klinken said. “The tools will make it easier for biosecurity regulators to incorporate commercial practices into biosecurity system processes and ultimately will enable industry to deliver high-quality, low pest-risk consignments into treatment facilities or directly into domestic and international markets," he said. Australian Fresh Produce Alliance Chief Executive Officer Claire McClelland said that trade and market access are a key priority for the horticulture sector. “Improving pest management and developing risk-based approaches will support domestic and international trade, which is essential for the future growth of the sector. Harmonised interstate trade regulations will improve the commercial operating environment for all fresh produce growers and suppliers," Ms McClelland said. Apple and Pear Australia Limited Chief Executive Officer Phil Turnbull said that this program would enable industry to better understand and measure the impacts of in-field pest management and packhouse practices to manage phytosanitary risks in apple exports. The project is supported by CSIRO, Federal and all State Governments with additional funding contributions from CSIRO, the apple and pear levy, Apple and Pear Australia Limited, and Fruit Growers Tasmania. This project is being delivered through Hort Innovation’s Hort Frontiers strategic partnership initiative. Hort Frontiers facilitates collaborative, transformation research and development to support horticulture to 2030, and beyond. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/853/skretting-and-cargill-join-100-mn-initiative-of-sustainable-fisheries.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/853/skretting-and-cargill-join-100-mn-initiative-of-sustainable-fisheries.html Thu, 27 Apr 2023 11:39:57 +0530 WWF and Finance Earth launch Blue Finance Innovation for fisheries improvement Skretting and Cargill have joined a new initiative, launched by World Wildlife Fund and Finance Earth, which aims to provide over $100 million to ensure the transition to more sustainable fisheries worldwide. The innovative financing model focuses on reversing the trend of fisheries decline and scaling global fisheries improvements toward nature-positive outcomes for healthier marine ecosystems, thriving fishing communities and a sustainable blue economy. Finance Earth, a leading impact investment advisory and fund manager will establish and manage this new mechanism – called the Fisheries Improvement Fund (FIF). The ambition is to catalyse more than $100 million in investment in fisheries improvement by 2030. Feed companies Cargill and Skretting brought their expertise and unique insights to the development of the concept and have agreed to participate in a pioneering pilot project to showcase and prove the new model. Large-scale seafood buyers and philanthropic foundations including Mars, Incorporated, Costco Wholesale, Sodexo, and Walmart Foundation are also supporting the launch of the Fund. “Through this blue finance mechanism, sustainable financing will be ensured for projects that are critical to scaling fishery reform over the coming decade for people and nature, through an efficient, equitable, and cost-effective model. Our vision is that this fund, under the management of Finance Earth, revolutionises fisheries finance, driving game-changing environmental and social impact,” said Johan Bergenas, senior vice president of oceans at WWF US. WWF and FE worked with the industry to conceptualise and design a model that is impactful, scalable across fisheries, and supported by companies working to transition fisheries in their supply chains to more sustainable resources. “At Finance Earth, we believe in advancing the improvement of global fisheries by providing innovative solutions. We are thrilled to have worked with WWF and prominent feed and buyer companies on this breakthrough initiative and to be launching this new model to provide finance for fisheries improvements. At scale, this approach has the capacity to attract a range of investors from the public and private sectors to support fishery improvement worldwide. This is a unique opportunity for all of us to protect our oceans and invest in a sustainable blue economy,” explains James Mansfield, co-founder and managing director at Finance Earth. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/854/vietnamese-shrimp-tech-platform-tepbac-receives-funding-to-digitise-shrimp-farming.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/854/vietnamese-shrimp-tech-platform-tepbac-receives-funding-to-digitise-shrimp-farming.html Thu, 27 Apr 2023 11:34:59 +0530  Tepbac will use funding to  scale its suite of technologies – known to reduce risk, simplify farming operations, and save costs – enabling better farming decision-making and quality of life. Founded by Phong Tran, whose family has farmed shrimp for over 25 years, Tepbac began as a media company and has grown into one of the leading aquaculture news websites globally. Now, with investment from the Netherlands-based global aquaculture investment fund Aqua-Spark*, global agrifoodtech VC AgFunder, and Vietnam-focused VC fund Son Tech Investment, the company is focused on digitising shrimp farming. Its mission is to help shrimp farmers improve performance, resulting in a better quality of life. Its primary innovation is Envisor, a remote water cleaning and monitoring device, which keeps track of water conditions such as pH, oxygen, temperature, and salinity. Phong also built the framework for the Farmext mobile app, which provides farmers with software and hardware to help automate farming operations. "I started Tepbac to help shrimp farmers, first in Vietnam, and later around the world," says Lam Nguyen, co-founder of Tepbac. "With better tools, increased production, and improved quality, we can develop a more sustainable global aquaculture industry. The support of these investors signals the strength of our model and an important shift in the industry." Shrimp farmers in Vietnam using Tepbac's Farmext mobile app Farmext provides farmers with software and hardware to help automate farming operations Vietnam is one of the world's largest shrimp production countries with a country wide goal of tripling production. Yet, Vietnamese farmers struggle with growing environmental and sustainability challenges. With its product readiness, existing media brand, and strong relationships with farmers in Vietnam, Tepbac is well-positioned to address these issues across the shrimp value chain through better data and digitisation. To date, Tepbac is serving 1,500 farms, with its clientele ranging from small and large-scale farmers, to shrimp processing plants and the government. With this infusion of funding, Tepbac will scale its suite of technologies – known to reduce risk, simplify farming operations, and save costs – enabling better farming decision-making and quality of life. Already, Tepbac has proven valuable for farmers by reducing costs by 20 percent and increasing profits by 30 percent. A Farmext cabinet installed on a shrimp farm in Vietnam Tepbac's innovative technologies help shrimp farmers improve performance, reduce costs and increase profits "Tepbac's platform captured our attention because it has incredible potential to improve market access for small farmers and enable more sustainable practices, all while growing and protecting one of the largest shrimp markets in the world," explained Lissy Smit, CEO of Aqua-Spark, in a press release. Angela Tay, senior investment associate at AgFunder Asia, continued: "Tepbac's unique platform – its media assets, e-commerce platform, and comprehensive suite of software and IoT devices – positions them to become the leader in a blue ocean market.” Tung Tran, investment manager at Son Tech, added: "Together with Aqua-Spark and AgFunder, Son Tech hopes to support Tepbac in their journey to truly transform aquaculture end-to-end. This, if executed correctly, can generate rippling benefits across the whole industry – to name a few: train more agri-tech talents, create the first agri-infrastructure and platform, and set a powerful example of executing an agri-playbook.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/851/uaes-egft-expands-export-blueberries-to-asia-pacific.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/851/uaes-egft-expands-export-blueberries-to-asia-pacific.html Thu, 27 Apr 2023 11:02:47 +0530 EAG is the first and biggest producer in the UAE to grow blueberries Elite Global Fresh Trading (EGFT), a subsidiary of Yas Holding’s agriculture division Elite Agro Holding (EAG) and a leading UAE trader of fresh produce, has expanded its international footprint by exporting highly in-demand blueberries to the new destinations of Japan, Cambodia, Thailand and India, adding to its existing export markets of Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. EAG is the first and biggest producer in the UAE to grow blueberries, and the first Emirati company to export to markets like Japan that have a tough requirement for high-quality certifications is an important milestone for EAG and the UAE and a testament to its agricultural capabilities. Exports of the popular Elite Berry brand began in April and will continue until the end of May. Next year, the company plans to extend the export season from January to May and continue to add new export markets, backed by expanding production at EAG’s local farms that leverage sustainable farming capabilities.  “We’re proud to see the expansion of the international distribution network for our high-quality and popular blueberries. This is a strategic move that supports the UAE’s food security and its vision for economic diversification while placing the country among elite agricultural exporting countries,” said Dr Abdulmonem Almarzooqi, Elite Agro Holding Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board. Last year, EGFT debuted locally-grown blueberry exports to the international markets of Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. EGFT will be exporting the Mountain Blue Orchards (MBO) varieties of blueberries that have premium qualities, such as jumbo size, long shelf life, increased sweetness, great firmness and texture. The farm employs a two-hand picking technique and ensures less than 24 hours between picking and shipping to deliver maximum freshness. It implements special temperature control requirements in the post-production process at its packing facility to ensure its high-quality produce stays fresh for longer until it reaches its final international customers. All exports will be by air freight. EAG grows five exclusive MBO varieties of blueberries at its Al Foah Farm in Al Ain, where the company has doubled its blueberry production capacity by adding 14 hectares of greenhouses dedicated to growing an additional 72,000 plants for the 2023 harvest. Its output capacity has risen over the past two years, from 205 to 280 tons of blueberries in 2022, and from 280 to almost 400 tons in 2023. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/846/singapores-nutrition-technologies-signs-mou-with-sumitomo-corporation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/846/singapores-nutrition-technologies-signs-mou-with-sumitomo-corporation.html Wed, 26 Apr 2023 14:49:41 +0530 The MoU allows Sumitomo to distribute Nutrition Technologies' products into the Japanese market for use in a range of sectors Nutrition Technologies, a Singapore-based insect farming startup, has signed a $100 million MoU with Sumitomo Corporation. The MoU allows Sumitomo to distribute Nutrition Technologies' products into the Japanese market for use in a range of sectors, including pet food and aquafeeds. The MoU will enable them to extend their commercial reach in Japan, thanks to Sumitomo Corporation’s extensive distribution network and aligned companies within their group. "This distribution agreement not only secures supply for our existing customers and the strength of demand we have for future production, but emphasises our commitment to the success of Nutrition Technologies, and underlines the strategic alignment between the two companies. We envisage a bright future where the two businesses can grow together," said Masahito Uno, general manager life sciences division of Sumitomo Corporation. Nutrition Technologies manufacture and supply insect protein meal, oil and frass (insect manure) to help feed the growing agriculture and feed industries around the world. The company uses a combination of beneficial microbes and BSF larvae in a low-energy, zero-waste production model, in which the larvae are reared on clean and traceable agro-industrial by-products. The company currently ships industrial volumes of material throughout Europe, Asia and South America, from a two-hectare factory in Malaysia that it completed in 2021. It plans to build several similar size facilities across Southeast Asia in the next five years. “We have been working with Sumitomo for a number of years, and this is another rewarding step forward in our shared journey towards a more sustainable future. Japan represents a very exciting market for us, and as we already work together, Sumitomo are the perfect partners to continue this development,” said Nick Piggott and Tom Berry, co-CEOs and co-founders of Nutrition Technologies. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/831/philippines-launches-affordable-agri-fishery-commodities.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/831/philippines-launches-affordable-agri-fishery-commodities.html Tue, 25 Apr 2023 10:33:36 +0530 Awarded interventions amounting to P15.793 million for several farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Bulacan province Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. has launched second outlet in Bulacan Province to provide affordable agri-fishery commodities and a ready market for farmers and fisherfolk. The President, who concurrently serves as Agriculture Secretary, added that the Kadiwa is one the administration’s programs to manage food inflation and provide more income opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). President Marcos also awarded interventions amounting to P15.793 million for several farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Bulacan province. The Dulong Bayan Farmers Association based in San Jose Del Monte City received Php5 million from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-National Rice Program for the construction of warehouse with mechanical grain dryer. It also received Php5.5 million from the DA-National Livestock Program for the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) implementation. Government assistance were distributed to Bulacan residents by President Marcos, to the Biyaya ng Matangtubig Irrigators Association, Inc. of Baliuag town, the Sta. Catalina Matanda Bata Irrigators Association of San Ildefonso, and the Magmarale Farmers Field School Marketing Cooperative of San Miguel each received Php1.764 million worth of rice combine harvester from the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/830/australia-grants-108m-to-timber-manufacturing-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/830/australia-grants-108m-to-timber-manufacturing-industry.html Tue, 25 Apr 2023 10:17:10 +0530 Funding of $1 million to $5 million will be provided under the Wood Processing Innovation grant program to 34 successful applications from 2022-23 to 2025-26. The Australian government has granted more than $108 million to the timber manufacturing industry in order to encourage more value-adding and further innovation. Funding of between $1 million to $5 million will be provided under the Wood Processing Innovation grant program to 34 successful applications from 2022-23 to 2025-26. Under the program, recipients are required to provide at least 60% of the total project costs. This brings the total new investment, including public and private sector funding, to $361 million. The funding will be allocated among the members of Accelerate Adoption of Wood Processing Innovation grant program. These grant recipients will undertake a wide range of projects which will see the implementation of upgraded and innovative work practices across various industries, including production of activated carbon, housing and construction, packaging, and culturally significant timbers to higher end markets. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt, made the announcement that "a total of 34 grants will be made, selected by an independent panel, including funding for 4 projects involving First Nations organisations, enabling the use of sustainably sourced timber from traditional lands. These grants are about creating more long-term jobs in the forestry sector. In the October budget, we committed more than $300 million to support Australia’s forest industries to innovate and improve the capacity and capability of the sector". In addition to this, the Australia is establishing the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation and has committed support for specific training for the forestry and wood products industries. MP Brian Mitchell said the grant program will support wood processors by stimulating investment in upgrades to existing manufacturing lines and innovation to diversify domestic products. Enabling wood processing facilities to use innovative technologies in their production will enhance the forestry industry’s ability to supply more of Australia’s wood demands into the future”. “Here in Tasmania that includes projects that improve production processes, and value add to existing operations. More than $15 million in government funding will be spent across five projects, with the total value of new investment set to reach over $45 million.” he added. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/828/adb-and-acwa-power-sign-deal-wind-power-plants-in-uzbekistan.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/828/adb-and-acwa-power-sign-deal-wind-power-plants-in-uzbekistan.html Tue, 25 Apr 2023 09:31:18 +0530 Each power plant consists of 79 wind turbines, for a total of 158 turbines that will generate 3,235 gigawatt-hours The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ACWA Power Company (ACWA) signed $174 million worth of loans to develop the Bash wind power and Dzhankeldy wind power plants, both located in the Bukhara region in Uzbekistan.  The financing comprises loans amounting to $40.5 million for Bash and $46.5 million for the Dzhankeldy funded through ADB’s ordinary capital resources. ADB will also administer $40.5 million for Bash and $46.5 million for Dzhankeldy from Leading Asia's Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP), administered by ADB.  Each power plant consists of 79 wind turbines, for a total of 158 turbines that will generate 3,235 gigawatt-hours and displace nearly 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. Together, Bash and Dzhankeldy will be the largest utility-scale wind power development in the Central West Asia region. The loans will also fund the construction of 282.5 kilometres of 500-kilovolt, single-circuit overhead transmission to connect to the power grid. “Uzbekistan is one of the fastest-growing economies in Central Asia, and with it comes a growing demand for energy. This brings a unique opportunity to invest in decarbonisation and expansion of renewables in the country’s energy mix,” said Suzanne Gaboury, ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations. “Bash and Dzhankeldy are landmark greenfield wind power projects which have a significant demonstrative impact of private sector participation across the region’s energy sector.” ADB has supported approximately 2,500 megawatts of renewable energy in Uzbekistan since 2019 after the country opened up the sector to private sector participants. The total cost of ADB’s latest collaboration with ACWA is approximately $1.35 billion.  Parallel lenders include the Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, OPEC Fund for International Development, and Proparco.  LEAP is an ADB-managed fund capitalised with a $1.5 billion commitment by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Established in 2016, LEAP focuses on delivering high-quality and sustainable private sector infrastructure projects that reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and offer accessible and affordable health care, education, and communication services to ADB’s developing member countries. Bash and Dzhankeldy are special-purpose vehicles owned by ACWA Power, a regional leader in renewable energy. ACWA was established in 2008 and is a developer, investor, and operator of power generation and desalination plants, with 67 assets in operation, construction, or advanced development across 13 countries. ACWA’s portfolio has a capacity of 43.4 gigawatts of power and 6.4 million cubic meters per day of desalinated water. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/823/adb-study-to-identify-clean-energy-transition-opportunities-in-kazakhstan.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/823/adb-study-to-identify-clean-energy-transition-opportunities-in-kazakhstan.html Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:22:43 +0530 ADB has provided a $225,000 grant for the study, which will analyse the current policy and regulatory environment in the Central Asian nation The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has begun exploring opportunities to accelerate the retirement of coal and other fossil fuel plants in Kazakhstan and replace or repurpose them with clean energy under the bank’s Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) program. Following a request from the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, ADB has initiated a pre-feasibility study to help the government identify coal-fired and combined heat-power plants that could be potential candidates for accelerated retirement. ADB has provided a $225,000 grant for the study, which will analyse the current policy and regulatory environment in the Central Asian nation. Kazakhstan is a major consumer of coal with some 25 billion tonnes of reserves estimated to be the eighth largest worldwide. About 70 per cent of the nation’s electricity is produced from coal while energy-related activity, including heat and electricity production, accounted for more than 80 per cent of the country’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In February, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev approved Kazakhstan’s long-term decarbonisation strategy wherein the government aims to reduce GHG emissions by 15 per cent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. “As Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, we are pleased to support the government’s commitment to fulfilling its nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060,” said Yevgeniy Zhukov, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia. “ETM could help to significantly reduce the country’s GHG emissions, ramp up much-needed clean energy investments, and expand access to reliable, sustainable energy.” ADB’s ETM is a scalable, replicable program that uses concessional and commercial capital to retire or repurpose existing coal and other fossil fuel plants on an accelerated schedule, replacing them with clean power capacity. ETM is one of many ADB initiatives that can help Asia and the Pacific mitigate the worst impacts of climate change such as extreme sea level rises and destructive weather events. Kazakhstan becomes the fifth country to begin working with ADB on ETM, following Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/821/export-of-pepper-and-spices-to-reach-2-bn-by-2025-vpa.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/821/export-of-pepper-and-spices-to-reach-2-bn-by-2025-vpa.html Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:04:51 +0530 The pepper and spice industry contributed to a total of over $1.4 billion in export revenue in 2022 Hoang Thi Lien, President of the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) stated that the current export revenue of pepper and spices has reached $1.4 billion. Although this figure may be slightly ambitious under current conditions, the growth rate of this industry is quite good when the market returned to pre-COVID conditions. Pepper exports have previously reached $1.1 billion. When demand is high and supply is limited, there will be pressure on prices, and the expected figure of $2 billion is feasible. In addition, the production process of products is increasingly standardised, and organic production is increasing, so the price will be better. Le Viet Anh, Head of the Office of Vietnam Pepper Association, believes that the pepper season in Vietnam in 2023 is relatively optimistic, with an estimated harvest output of 200,000 tonnes, up 9.3 per cent compared to last year. Meanwhile, according to the International Pepper Community (IPC), the harvests from other producing countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, and India are all expected to decrease compared to 2022. The total global pepper production in 2023 is estimated to reach 526 thousand tonnes compared to 537.6 thousand tonnes in 2022. Vietnamese cinnamon production in 2023 is forecasted to increase compared to 2022 and reach around 45,000 tonnes. The pepper and spice industry contributed to a total of over $1.4 billion in export revenue in 2022. In the pepper and spice industry, pepper accounted for 69.4 per cent, cinnamon 20.6 per cent, Star Anise 5.1 per cent, nutmeg and mace 2.3 per cent, ginger and turmeric 1.6 per cent, and chilli peppers 0.8 per cent. According to the report of the Vietnam Pepper Association, in Q1/2023, Vietnam exported 76,727 tonnes of pepper, with export revenue reaching $235.9 million, up 40.5 per cent in quantity but down 7.3 per cent in value compared to the same period last year. In addition, cinnamon exports reached 18,685 tonnes with $54.8 million, up 45.8 per cent in quantity and 13.8 per cent in value. Star Anise exports reached 3,369 tonnes Worthing $21.6 million, up 261.9 per cent in quantity. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/820/fao-and-uk-launch-5-year-aim4forests-programme.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/820/fao-and-uk-launch-5-year-aim4forests-programme.html Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:43:42 +0530 UK provides £24.5 million of International Climate Finance to accelerate innovative monitoring of forests To celebrate Earth Day, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Kingdom launched AIM4Forests, a five-year programme designed to accelerate country capabilities in forest monitoring as a part of global efforts to stop deforestation and forest degradation, and restore forests. More than 420 million hectares of forest have disappeared since 1990. And although deforestation rates have slowed down significantly, 10 million hectares are still being lost every year. Through the pledges made at the UN's climate talks in Glasgow in 2021, world leaders committed to working collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, sustainable land use, and the conservation, protection, sustainable management and restoration of forests, and other terrestrial ecosystems. One barrier to progress has been a lack of information. Those that are responsible for forests need accurate data to inform the right course of action. In this regard, countries urgently need national forest monitoring systems (NFMS) embedded in government institutions that deliver high-quality data and provide the critical information needed for domestic forest-related priorities and policies, including land-use decisions. Well-designed NFMS enable governments to report emission reductions internationally through Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) processes. This is a key step towards accessing climate finance and raising levels of ambition of international commitments under the Paris Agreement. To address such challenges, the AIM4Forests programme (Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests) will support domestic forest monitoring based on modern technologies and technical innovation, and also leverage UK expertise in academia, research & development and in the use of space data and remote sensing. “FAO welcomes the partnership with the United Kingdom, which will be fundamental in supporting Member countries’ efforts to sustainable forest management and restoration, supporting the achievement of their commitments such as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Forest and land use data are critical for overall land use planning in an integrated manner, to transition to sustainable production, address biodiversity loss and climate change,” said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General. She added, “This contribution from the United Kingdom will support key areas of FAO’s strategies on climate change and biodiversity.” The role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) in forest management and conservation is increasingly recognised. The programme, therefore, supports IPLC efforts to monitor forest areas, further strengthening their role as forest stewards. The new £24.5 million programme is part of the UK’s International Climate Finance commitment to spend £11.6 billion between 2021/22 and 2025/26, including at least £3bn on solutions that protect and restore nature. The programme will run until 2028 and work with 20 countries across Africa, the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America. The new programme will be implemented by the National Forest Monitoring team of FAO’s Forestry Division working in collaboration with UN-REDD and GFOI to coordinate country technical assistance on MRV and NFMS. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/804/japan-becomes-vietnams-biggest-seafood-export-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/804/japan-becomes-vietnams-biggest-seafood-export-market.html Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:03:50 +0530 The United States has lost its position as the top importer of Vietnamese seafood due to the sharpest decline of 50 per cent to $290 million Japan has surpassed the US to become the biggest export market of Vietnamese seafood, although exports to this market decreased by 11per cent reached just over $310 million in the first quarter of 2023, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Seafood exports to Japan dropped sharply in a number of key products such as white leg shrimp down 35 per cent, salmon down 4 per cent and octopus down 6 per cent. The United States has lost its position as the top importer of Vietnamese seafood due to the sharpest decline, with a decrease of 50 per cent to about $290 million. Seafood exports to China in the first quarter only reached nearly $255 million, down 22 per cent; Korea decreased by 13 per cent, EU market decreased by 29 per cent. VASEP said that in the coming time, it will be difficult for exports to major markets such as the EU, the US, Japan and South Korea to break through because inflation causes consumers to tighten their spending and the average export price decreases compared to the previous year. South Korea and Japan are both major consumption markets for Vietnam’s value-added processed products and are also markets for supplying seafood raw materials for Vietnamese enterprises to take advantage of processing capacity and create stable jobs for workers. With the EU market, Vietnam’s seafood exports to this market also decreased by 29 per cent in the first quarter, reaching only $210 million. Exports of shrimp and seafood products to the EU all decreased by 7-50 per cent, especially Tra fish remained stable thanks to increased exports to the German market. According to Vasep, China will become the biggest export market of Vietnamese seafood, but the competitive pressure is great because exporters in other countries also focus on this market after opening. Exports to major markets such as the EU, the US, Japan and South Korea are difficult to break through because inflation causes consumers to tighten their spending and the average export price decreases compared to the previous year. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/797/chinas-durians-imports-via-south-port-to-exceed-160000-tonnes.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/797/chinas-durians-imports-via-south-port-to-exceed-160000-tonnes.html Tue, 18 Apr 2023 12:06:18 +0530 An international cold-chain logistics project has been established to improve the inspection capacity of imported cold-chain goods A cargo ship loaded with more than 4,000 tonnes of durians from Thailand arrived at the Nansha Port in south China's Guangdong Province, according to Xinhua news agency. This year, over 160,000 tonnes of durians are expected to enter the Chinese market through the Nansha Port, according to the Guangzhou Port Group. It took only four days to transport these durians from Thailand to Nansha Port, according to China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, the ship operator. After being unloaded, the durians will be sent to the Guangzhou Jiangnan fruit and vegetable wholesale market, which serves as the largest agricultural product distribution centre in south China, within just two hours. Through this market, durians are then distributed to supermarkets and fruit markets across China. In recent years, the demand for durian among Chinese consumers has been rising. Nansha Customs has taken a series of measures to improve the efficiency of customs clearance for durians. An international cold-chain logistics project has been established to improve the inspection capacity of imported cold-chain goods. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/790/china-lays-focus-on-asean-countries-for-agri-imports.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/790/china-lays-focus-on-asean-countries-for-agri-imports.html Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:25:02 +0530 China was a significant importer of Taiwanese products but China imposed a ban in March 2021 China is importing durian from Thailand, bananas from the Philippines, passion fruit from Vietnam, longan from Cambodia and coffee from Malaysia. Agricultural products from ASEAN countries are being sold in the Chinese market. This is because of China-ASEAN cooperation in agriculture.  Once China accounted for the vast majority of Taiwanese fruit exports, but China banned pineapples, sugar apples, wax apples, citrus and other fruits since March 21. Japan became the largest market for Taiwanese fruit exports accounting for 46.2 per cent in 2022, meanwhile, China accounted for only 1.6 per cent. As a result, Taiwan’s agricultural product exports to Japan in 2022 reached $850, a year-on-year increase of 11 per cent. China focused on ASEAN countries for fruit import. According to Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN general secretary, China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for the past 13 years, China's agricultural investment in ASEAN countries accounts for 40 per cent of its total overseas investment in the sector. The trade volume of agricultural products between China and ASEAN reached $61 billion in 2022, topping other countries and regions worldwide, according to Sui Pengfei, director-general of the international cooperation department under China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.  According to China's General Administration of Customs, around 1,500 kinds of agricultural and food products from ASEAN have been exported to China. High-quality agricultural varieties and technologies from China have also boosted the development of agricultural industries in ASEAN countries.  The Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences has cooperated with ASEAN countries to carry out projects such as new variety breeding, green and efficient cultivation technology demonstration, and intensive processing of tropical agriculture products, said Xie Jianghui, deputy director of CATAS.  The academy has signed cooperation agreements with 25 scientific and educational institutions in ASEAN countries, such as Kasetsart University in Thailand and the Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia.  A total of 50 agricultural technology training courses have been held in ASEAN countries by CATAS. Eight cassava varieties cultivated by the academy have been promoted in Southeast Asia, with a total planting area of more than 10 million mu (67,000 hectares).  South China's Hainan province is building several cold chain logistics and trading centres to process and store tropical agricultural products for ASEAN to strengthen connections between the two tropical-product markets.  In recent years, Hainan and ASEAN countries have jointly carried out research and development and utilisation of excellent tropical fruit and vegetable resources while deepening cooperation in the planting and processing trade, seeing a steady increase in imports and exports of tropical agricultural products.  Hainan will make good use of the free trade port system and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to promote the deep integration of industrial chains, supply chains and value chains between China and ASEAN countries, said Xie Jing, vice-governor of Hainan province.  China mainly exports fish, garlic, citrus, apples, condiments and other products to ASEAN and imports fruits, vegetable oils, aquatic products, grains and other primary agricultural products from ASEAN. If the two sides keep improving their trade level, the related trade volume in agrarian products may reach $100 billion in the next five to seven years.    ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/784/pwaf-pledges-to-transform-pacific-agriculture-and-forestry-sectors-through-research-partnerships.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/784/pwaf-pledges-to-transform-pacific-agriculture-and-forestry-sectors-through-research-partnerships.html Mon, 17 Apr 2023 09:10:00 +0530 SPC and the Australian Government, including Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), CSIRO, DAFF and DFAT graces the event to discuss collaboration for Pacific resilience and sustainability The Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) was recently held in Nadi, Fiji in presence of Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) members. The PWAF was a valuable opportunity for ACIAR to discuss topics with Pacific partners on transforming Pacific agriculture and forestry sectors through research partnerships to achieve a more resilient and sustainable region. The PWAF event series provides an opportunity for Pacific member countries to drive the conversation and guide partners working with the region on their goals and work priorities for the following 2 years.  The Fiji Government hosted these meeting with support from SPC and the FAO. The third Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and The Pacific Community (SPC) Joint Agriculture and Forestry Ministerial Meeting was also held. SPC and the Australian Government, including ACIAR, CSIRO, DAFF and DFAT hosted the event. Pacific food systems were the topic of the side event, which aimed to advance the conversation. Traditionally and fundamentally, Pacific food systems rely on agriculture and fisheries (coastal food systems), but are all-encompassing and include processing, trade, and consumption as well. Thus, the agricultural and forestry sectors have played a crucial role in the transformation of Pacific Island food systems.  A number of common themes emerged throughout the discussion of Pacific food systems. The panelist emphasized that to improve nutritional outcomes, the most prominent component is systems thinking. This involves looking at the bigger picture and linking the agricultural sector, health, and education. The panelist found it essential to have useful, relevant, and easily accessible data for decision-making and influencing behavioral and community changes regarding improved nutritional choices. Data collection related to food systems should also include gender and social issues.   Group topics for the workshop were drawn from Pacific Island national pathways and represented common goals and high-level actions articulated across multiple pathways.   The following topics were discussed across the groups:  Nutrition: Improving access, affordability, and consumption of healthy local foods  Blue-green sustainability: Increasing the sustainability of blue and green food production/harvesting and the links between them  Value-adding: Encouraging value-adding to local products to reduce imports and grow exports  Resilience: Using traditional knowledge and nature-positive production to improve resilience to shocks and stressors   Governance: Aligning and coordinating across government entities to govern food systems links and relationships Discussions within the group focused on the theme “value-adding: encouraging local product value-adding to reduce input costs and increase exports.” This discussion focused on what was working well, any important connections relating to this part of the network, and possible solutions. A number of important connections were made between the food system and other systems, including tourism, education, transportation, and research. These included processing, production, and distribution, food policy and environment, as well as technology. In this context, solutions could include switching from main production to processing, resulting in value-add within the country, rather than exporting raw materials. In order to facilitate this, the policy could be linked to logistics, labor, business environment, and other socioeconomic factors to accommodate this increase in processing.   The event fostered the relationships between countries and organizations, including SPC and Australia. It was also an excellent opportunity to facilitate the exchange of ideas and thoughts among a number of nations about food systems. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/773/basf-groups-preliminary-figures-reports-13-4-drop-in-sales-in-q1-fy2023.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/773/basf-groups-preliminary-figures-reports-13-4-drop-in-sales-in-q1-fy2023.html Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:57:14 +0530 Sales declined by 13.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 to €19,991 million (Q1 2022: €23,083 million). Germany based BASF has released preliminary figures for the first quarter of 2023. Sales declined by 13.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 to €19,991 million (Q1 2022: €23,083 million). This was mainly driven by considerably lower volumes. Sales were considerably lower than average analyst estimates for the first quarter of 2023 (Vara: €21,819 million). EBIT before special items of BASF Group amounted to an expected €1,931 million in the first quarter of 2023, a decline of 31.5 per cent compared with the prior-year quarter (Q1 2022: €2,818 million) but considerably above the analyst consensus for the first quarter of 2023 (Vara: €1,599 million). In particular, EBIT before special items in the Agricultural Solutions segment considerably exceeded average analyst estimates. Chemicals, Materials and Surface Technologies were also considerably above the respective average analyst estimates for EBIT before special items in the first quarter of 2023. In the Industrial Solutions and Nutrition & Care segments, EBIT before special items missed average analyst estimates slightly and considerably, respectively. In Other, EBIT before special items was weaker than expected by analysts on average. The BASF Group’s EBIT amounted to an expected €1,867 million in the first quarter of 2023, considerably below the figure for the prior-year quarter (Q1 2022: €2,785 million) but considerably above the analyst consensus (Vara: €1,533 million). Net income reached €1,562 million, considerably above the figure in the prior-year quarter (Q1 2022: €1,221 million) and considerably above average analyst estimates for the first quarter of 2023 (Vara: €1,081 million). In the prior-year quarter, impairments on the participation in Wintershall Dea had burdened net income of BASF Group. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/768/australias-honey-exporters-to-benefit-from-digital-reforms.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/768/australias-honey-exporters-to-benefit-from-digital-reforms.html Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:04:00 +0530 This eCert connection with the EU enables a government-to-government exchange of Australia’s honey export certification Australian honey exporters will benefit from new digital reforms that streamline the export certification process to Great Britain and the EU. Since March certification for honey and apiculture exports for human consumption became available via NEXDOC for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the European Union. For honey exports to the European Union’s members and markets, they will benefit from moving to a digital electronic certification exchange (eCert). This is the first time the department has moved from a completely manual process to eCert, allowing a paperless exchange of certificates to make trade arrangements simpler, more efficient and more secure. Under the new system, honey exporters will no longer have to submit lengthy paper applications to the department for their export certification, which will significantly reduce processing times says Matt Koval Acting Deputy Secretary. “The move to eCert is part of the department's digital reforms to modernise ag export trade systems, streamline processes and provide significant benefits to our honey exporters,” Koval said. “More than fifty overseas markets have their export certification issued via NEXDOC for honey and apiculture products, and this will ensure that Australia's high-quality agricultural products continue to meet the needs of trading partners around the world. “In using NEXDOC, honey exporters can use the new self-service functionality to digitally lodge, amend and replace their export certificates with minimal department intervention.” “This eCert connection with the EU enables a government-to-government exchange of Australia’s honey export certification. All countries part of the EU TRACES NT digital platform will now receive their certification electronically. The transition to a digital certification process is expected to benefit honey exporters and contribute to the forecast record value of $75 billion for ag exports in 2022-23. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/764/jica-signed-a-project-with-ethiopia-for-horticulture-farmer-empowerment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/764/jica-signed-a-project-with-ethiopia-for-horticulture-farmer-empowerment.html Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:40:07 +0530 The project will expand the target areas from two to four regions, adding Sidama Region and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Record of Discussions with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa for the Project for Smallholder Horticulture Farmer Empowerment through Promotion of Market Oriented Agriculture Phase 2, a technical cooperation project.In Ethiopia, almost 80 per cent of the population lives in rural areas, and agriculture is the main source of income for approximately 70 per cent of all people. Agriculture is achieving steady growth every year at an annual rate of about seven per cent and is one of the most important industries in the country. Recently, the Ethiopian government has identified the promotion of horticultural crops (vegetables, fruits, and flowers) as one of the highest priority agendas for long-term economic development, and, by promoting horticulture, the government is aiming to achieve enhanced agricultural competitiveness and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. However, a specific extension method to promote horticulture has not been well established, and the majority of government extension workers need to learn more about agricultural technology as well as the concept of market-oriented agriculture. This lack of an effective agriculture extension service reflecting the needs of the market has been one of the major factors hindering the improvement of farmers’ livelihoods.In response to such a situation, the ‘Project for Smallholder Horticulture Farmer Empowerment through Promotion of Market-Oriented Agriculture’ (Ethio-SHEP Phase 1) was conducted from January 2017 until January 2023 in the regions of Amhara and Oromia. The target of the first phase of the project was smallholder farmers, who, through the project, were taught to become sensitive to market needs, including having knowledge of which crop variety is in demand and the appropriate timing of sales for enhancing their production, as well as marketing and farm management skills. This phase of the project brought remarkable results, on average doubling the horticulture income of the target farmers. During the second phase, the project will expand the target areas from two to four regions, adding Sidama Region and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region, and intends to introduce a sustainable horticulture extension system in wider areas.Through the promotion of market-oriented horticulture agriculture, this project will contribute to the improvement of smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in Ethiopia and to the achievement of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Goals 1 (No poverty) and 2 (Zero hunger). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/758/fao-secures-34-4m-grants-from-japan-to-boost-food-security-and-strengthen-resilience.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/758/fao-secures-34-4m-grants-from-japan-to-boost-food-security-and-strengthen-resilience.html Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:08:38 +0530 The contribution will fund 17 country and regional projects including four in Asia and Oceania (Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka) The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has secured a $34.4 million contribution from the Government of Japan to deliver a wide range of assistance to improve the food security and nutrition of people in emergency settings, including internally displaced people, refugees and others affected by insecurity and natural hazards. The contribution will fund 17 country and regional projects including; Four in the Near East and North Africa (Lebanon, Palestine, Türkiye and Yemen) Six in sub-Saharan Africa (Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Somalia and a multicountry project aimed at mitigatingthe impact of drought for the most vulnerable pastoral and agropastoral communities in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda) Four in Asia and Oceania (Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka) Three in Europe (one in Republic of Moldova and two in Ukraine) Interventions range from emergency livelihood assistance to support conflict-affected communities in Ethiopia and Yemen as well as flood-affected communities in Pakistan; support to vulnerable herding populations in Afghanistan facing multiple climatic and economic shocks; recovery efforts in drought-affected East African contexts; support to fishers in Gaza, among various other initiatives. “We are grateful to the Government of Japan for this generous and time-critical contribution,” said Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO's Office of Emergencies and Resilience. “In countries prone to weather extremes, natural resource limitations and conflict, rural people’s capacities to cope with multiple threats are being increasingly stretched, undermining their agricultural productivity and exacerbating their acute food insecurity levels. This contribution will help us to keep agriculture-dependent families on their feet by meeting their immediate needs, reducing their vulnerability to shocks and stresses and to build resilient agrifood systems.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/757/first-batch-of-philippine-durian-weighing-28k-kg-shipped-to-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/757/first-batch-of-philippine-durian-weighing-28k-kg-shipped-to-china.html Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:08:16 +0530 The deal is expected to gain $260 million or P14.3 billion in revenue for the local durian industry The first batch of Philippine durian shipped to the People’s Republic of China from the Davao International Airport. The 28-ton durian cargo, which approximately weighs 28,000 kilograms, was sourced from producers and processors in Mindanao, particularly in Region XI, that passed the stringent requirements of the General Administration Customs of China (GACC). Prior to the first batch of export, the GACC released the list of qualified facilities and farms that received the green signal from the Chinese government. This consists of five packaging facilities and 58 durian farms. Following the signing of the ‘Protocol of the Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Durian from the Philippines to China’ on January 4, the Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has commenced the preparatory measures including the extension of support to durian growers and processors that enabled them to meet the protocol requirements. The DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) also assisted in the accreditation and PhilGAP certification of the industry players. The deal is expected to gain $260 million or P14.3 billion in revenue for the local durian industry. Another shipment of 28 tons was sent off via airfreight, while 10 container vans loaded with a total of 7.2 tons were transported via sea vessel. The DA continues to provide assistance to durian growers including logistical and financial support under the Enhanced KADIWA Grant. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/751/sfa-fines-28000-for-failing-to-arrange-inspection-of-meat-products.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/751/sfa-fines-28000-for-failing-to-arrange-inspection-of-meat-products.html Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:16:44 +0530 For failing to arrange for SFA to do the proper checks, the company was fined $15,000 The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) fined $ 28,000 a food importer company Orca Marketing for failing to arrange inspection, examination and certification by SFA for food imports.   According to the SFA, Orca Marketing Pte Ltd had imported consignments of chilled whole lamb carcase and beef tenderloin in Jan 2021 and Jun 2021 respectively. On both occasions, the company failed to arrange for SFA to inspect, examine and certify the consignments and proceeded to sell the products.   For failing to arrange for SFA to do the proper checks, the company was fined $15,000, while its director Christopher John Moore was fined $13,000 for failing to prevent the offence from being committed. In Singapore, upon import of meat and fish products, importers must arrange for these products to be inspected, examined and certified by an authorised examiner before it is sold, distributed or exported. Meat or fish products which are found to be unfit for human consumption will be seized and disposed of. Those found guilty of failing to arrange for the required checks for products before they are sold can be jailed for up to 12 months, fined up to $10,000, or both. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/739/adb-masdar-to-build-3-solar-power-plants-in-uzbekistan.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/739/adb-masdar-to-build-3-solar-power-plants-in-uzbekistan.html Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:24:22 +0530 Power plants will be able to generate 897 MW, making them the region’s largest solar power development The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) have signed three loans to build three solar power plants in Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya (Sherabad), Samarkand, and Jizzakh regions. Together these power plants will be able to generate 897 MW, making them the region’s largest solar power development. The financing package is composed of three loans from ADB’s ordinary capital resources amounting to $36.7 million for Sherabad, $13.5 million for Samarkand, and $14.3 million for the Jizzakh power plant. Additionally, ADB mobilised much-needed private institutional capital for the three power plants. This was achieved through the arrangement of an aggregated B-loan syndication of $37.5 million. The B-loan participant is ILX Fund I, an Amsterdam-based SDG-focused emerging market private credit fund. ADB is joined in the financing of the three projects by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the European Investment Bank as parallel lenders. "Uzbekistan has tremendous potential to generate clean energy through its abundant solar and wind resources, and ADB’s financing plays a part in Uzbekistan’s journey towards a carbon-neutral economy. ADB strives to promote an enabling environment through these transformative projects,” said Suzanne Gaboury, ADB Private Sector Operations Department Director General. The Sherabad power plant project development, the largest of the three projects, was led by ADB through its public-private partnership transaction advisory services role to the Government of Uzbekistan which consisted of assisting in its preparation and structuring of the successful tender. ADB also provided a $9.1 million partial credit guarantee to support the tariff payment obligations of the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan, the off-taker. The three power plants will offset more than 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions annually on average, and power over one million households. “Reaching this milestone for all three projects is a proud moment for Masdar and a key stage for Uzbekistan’s clean energy journey. Masdar is already playing a significant role in supporting the Government of Uzbekistan’s ambitious renewable energy objectives, and we look forward to continuing to grow our portfolio of projects in this key strategic market,” said Niall Hannigan, Masdar Chief Financial Officer. “This achievement would also not have been possible without the support of the Government of Uzbekistan as well as our financial partners, who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to driving sustainable economic growth for the people of Uzbekistan.” The solar power plants will improve the affordability and accessibility of reliable and clean energy for all the people of Uzbekistan, including households and businesses. Moreover, the borrower committed to implementing a gender action plan that will benefit women’s standing in the energy field, facilitate their access to jobs and economic opportunities in Uzbekistan’s clean energy transition, and encourage women’s overall participation in the renewable energy sector. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/737/philippines-france-to-strengthen-cooperation-for-agricultural-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/737/philippines-france-to-strengthen-cooperation-for-agricultural-development.html Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:30:24 +0530 Both sides agreed upon the finalisation and signing of the Implementation Agreement on the Promotion of Geographical Indications The governments of the Philippines and France will continue to partner towards the development and strengthening of the agri-food sector, particularly involving the local livestock and dairy industry.  This was decided during the 3rd Philippines-France Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on Agricultural Cooperation held at the Philippine Coconut Authority.  The JSC was co-chaired by Noel A. Padre, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Research and Development of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) and Françoise Simon, Head of the International Affairs Division of the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty (MAFS). Michele Boccoz, French Ambassador to the Philippines was also present.  In an administrative arrangement signed between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of France in 2017, one of the implementation cooperation is the conduct of dialogues such as the Joint Steering Committee on Agricultural Cooperation every two years to strengthen areas of cooperation and open new doors for partnership.  During the meeting, both sides agreed upon the finalisation and signing of the Implementation Agreement on the Promotion of Geographical Indications, confirmed the planned activities on strengthening the management of African swine fever, and continued further discussions on ASF vaccine development.  In addition, France supports the proposal of the NMIS on the fellowship visits to reference labs specialising in the analyses of veterinary drug residues in pig meat. The Philippines also raised proposed scholarship grants and agricultural education.  Both sides have agreed on furthering dairy cooperation and on expediting existing projects.  The Farm and Fisheries Consolidation and Clustering (F2C2) shared their priorities from the Agriculture Forum which transpired the previous day and discussions arise about the exchange of experts to help with the priorities.  Possible areas of partnership with France include the development of wholesale markets, improvement of the Peking duck industry, and strengthening the resilience of the seaweed industry. The possible creation of an SPS working group was also raised.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/735/vietnams-70-regions-to-export-sweet-to-potatoes-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/735/vietnams-70-regions-to-export-sweet-to-potatoes-china.html Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:08:57 +0530 70 growing areas and 13 packing facilities of sweet potatoes are allowed to be exported to China China’s General Department of Customs (GACC) granted permission to 13 packing facilities, and a list of 70 sweet potato growing areas eligible for export to China Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department received a Note Verbale announcing the results of the online inspection of Vietnamese sweet potato enterprises exporting to China. Accordingly, except for 3 enterprises that were examined during the risk analysis process, Chinese experts conducted an online inspection of 20 packing facilities on the proposed list of Vietnam. Through online inspection and technical exchange, Chinese experts confirmed 13 out of 23 packing facilities meet the requirements of the Protocol on quarantine requirements for sweet potato products. The remaining 10 packing facilities still have some problems to overcome such as the management system is not up to standards, equipment is not complete, specifications are not good or facilities not fully meeting the requirements by the protocol requirements. Previously, from March 7-10, with active coordination and support of the Plant Protection Department and embassies of the two countries, Chinese experts conducted an online inspection of Vietnam’s sweet potato enterprises to obtain approval for export to China. In the coming time, China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam to further promote the development of trade in sweet potatoes in particular and agricultural products in general between the two countries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/722/world-avocado-congress-opens-in-auckland.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/722/world-avocado-congress-opens-in-auckland.html Wed, 05 Apr 2023 12:51:28 +0530 The Congress brings together growers, scientists, researchers, marketers, retailers, tech innovators, and investors from 32 countries around the world New Zealand’s avocado industry represents a bright future for the sector, says Meka Whaitiri Associate Minister of Agriculture Minister. Speaking at the opening of the World Avocado Congress in Auckland, Minister Whaitiri acknowledged the resilience of local growers, despite recent challenging weather events. The four-yearly congress is the largest global event for the avocado industry, with over 800 delegates from 28 different countries registered to attend.  This makes the 2023 Congress the largest horticultural event New Zealand will have hosted in the last four years. The Congress brings together growers, scientists, researchers, marketers, retailers, tech innovators, and investors from 32 countries around the world. This includes around 200 avocado delegates from Mexico, 80 from the United States, 130 from Australia and nearly 50 from South Africa. Congress delegates will spend two days visiting avocado operations in Glenbrook, Tapora, Whangarei and the Bay of Plenty to see innovation in the New Zealand avocado industry. The Government continues to support the avocado sector through the work of the Ministry for Primary Industries, and partnering with the avocado sector on the $11.4 million New Zealand Avocados Go Global programme.  This delivered best practices across the value chain and boosted capability and productivity to ensure consumers have access to Aotearoa New Zealand’s premium avocados.   NZ Avocados Go Global has enabled the avocado industry to pivot its supply into alternative markets such as Asia.  The work undertaken to open new markets and maintain existing Asian markets has helped boost the industry’s resilience. Export volumes to Asia more than doubled from last season to reach $32.9 million in value (around 42 per cent of export revenue for 2021/22). “I also want to acknowledge the innovation of the Tiaki Promise in the context of this industry,” said Meka Whaitiri. “Tiaki means caring for people and place – now and for future generations. Our New Zealand avocado industry demonstrates tiaki through its focus on economic and environmental sustainability, and a commitment to the people working in the industry,” said Meka Whaitiri. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/720/chinas-textile-industry-needs-midas-touch.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/720/chinas-textile-industry-needs-midas-touch.html Tue, 04 Apr 2023 13:51:23 +0530 China’s textiles and garment export declined by 14.7 per cent to $ 21.677 billion, in the first two months of 2023. The Chinese textile industry is struggling with the challenges such as lack of raw materials, design and development and brand. To mitigate these issues the Chinese government should encourage firms to integrate raw materials, brands, research and development and brands with the global fashion industry for equity mergers and asset acquisitions.  China’s textile industry is facing serious challenges due to a crackdown from the US government and other countries. At the same time, there is growing market competition in China from Southeast Asian countries.  China’s textiles and garment export declined by 14.7 per cent to $ 21.677 billion, in the first two months of 2023 from a year ago according to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China. Textile exports including yarn, fabrics and other things also declined by 22.4 per cent to $19.164 billion during January and February from the same period last year.   China’s import of textiles, yarn and fabric also fell by 33.2 per cent to $1.395 billion in the first two months from the corresponding period of last year.  China’s textile export and import data shows, US’s Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act has seriously affected China’s cotton from entering the international market.  China’s textile and garment production reached $300 billion with a trade surplus in 2022. According to the General Administration of Customs, China’s textile and garment export hit $340.95 billion in 2022, which increased by 2.5 per cent from a year ago. Export remained above $300 billion for a third consecutive year and China was the world’s largest textile and apparel exporting country.  But China’s textile and garment export to the US fell by 5.4 per cent, to the EU by 1.1 per cent and to Japan by 0.2 per cent. On the other hand, exports to the Belt and Road (BRI) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECP) partners hit 11.3 per cent and 9.7 per cent respectively.  The US imposed a ban in June 2022 on cotton and cotton products from China’s Xinjiang region. The US said Chinese companies have to prove imports from China’s Xinjiang region are not produced using forced labour. Since 2017 China has detained millions of Uyghurs and Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. China has made it necessary to detain minorities to work. The US put restrictions under the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA).  China’s 90 per cent of cotton grows in Xinjiang or Uighur Autonomous Region. In 1950 China set up the first military-run cotton farm in Xinjiang. In 1990 cotton farms expanded because the region was pests free. In 2000 China introduced pest-resistant varieties which boomed cotton production in China. In eastern and central China, which are traditional cotton-growing regions, cotton production reached five million metric tons in 2006. In Xinjiang, cotton production reached 3 million metric tons. In 2021, cotton production in traditional cotton regions fell to 602,000 metric tons and Xinjiang cotton output hit five million metric tons.  “China's textile export to the USA and western countries has dropped. It means that China's textile and garment industry will face headwinds in the time to come. As these countries are the primary market for Chinese textiles and garments, China may now have to shift its focus on BRI and RCEP countries to keep its inflow of foreign currency unhampered. As countries in BRI and RCEP are developing, there are high chances they may not be able to afford Chinese textile and garments”,said Gautam Bumbawale, India's former ambassador to Beijing. The Chinese textile industry is struggling with the challenges such as lack of raw materials, design and development and brands. It seems there is a threat to the Chinese textile industry. To overcome the threat China needs to promote the industry. The Chinese government should encourage firms to integrate raw materials, brands, research and development and brands with the global fashion industry for equity mergers and asset acquisitions.  Shi Weidong, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and president of Nantong University proposed measures to enhance China’s textile and garment industry. He suggested the government needs to encourage Chinese enterprises to carry out win-win cooperation via joint ventures and provide financial support for key investment projects of textile and garment enterprises. China’s textile industry is facing serious challenges due to a crackdown from the US government and other countries. At the same time, there is growing market competition in China from Southeast Asian countries.                                                                                                  By Shraddha Warde                                                                         shraddha.warde@mmactiv.com ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/716/australia-releases-atmac-grant-for-pest-control-to-boost-fresh-apple-trade.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/716/australia-releases-atmac-grant-for-pest-control-to-boost-fresh-apple-trade.html Tue, 04 Apr 2023 12:16:21 +0530 Awards $450,000 Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) grant to APAL Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) has been awarded a $450,000 Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) grant by the Australian Government, to investigate the combined effectiveness of orchard and packhouse practices in managing pests that restrict trade in fresh apples. The Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) program provides grants for projects that harness opportunities to access new markets and strengthen market presence through existing channels for agricultural commodities affected by market disruptions and which have restricted access to key destination markets. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said that by quantifying the effectiveness of Australia’s best-practice farming methods, our growers will be able to produce a premium product for export with fewer chemical treatments. The funding announcement was made in the Huon Valley which is home to some of the most innovative growers in the country. “This grant will enable APAL to improve export opportunities for Australian apples to premium markets across Asia by ensuring we can sustainably deliver the highest quality fruit to the highest-paying markets in the world. By looking at how farming methods control pest presence along the export pathway, this research could also be used to improve trading opportunities for other industries” Minister Watt said. Minister for Small Business Julie Collins said unlocking new markets will help Australian businesses grow. Apple and Pear Australia Limited Chief Executive Officer Phil Turnbull said the ATMAC grant would enable industry to better understand and measure the impacts of in-field pest management and packhouse practices to reduce phytosanitary risks in apple exports. “This grant will not only improve the processes in export pathways, but it will also increase export opportunities for Australian growers while delivering higher quality fruit to consumers. Together with the CSIRO, the Australian apple industry will invest in world-leading science that will create export pathways not currently available to Australian growers, including the potential removal of the use of methyl bromide in export practices” said CEO Turnbull. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/715/singapore-to-import-chicken-eggs-from-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/715/singapore-to-import-chicken-eggs-from-indonesia.html Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:58:22 +0530 Indonesia is a new source to export chicken eggs to Singapore The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has approved egg import from Indonesia to mitigate egg demand in Singapore.  According to the SFA, Indonesia is a new source to export chicken eggs to Singapore. SFA has accredited 18 countries to export eggs to Singapore including Indonesia. In December SFA approved egg import from Brunei. In 2019, 12 countries were exporting eggs to Singapore. Recently many countries were affected by bird flu outbreaks, which impacted egg and poultry production. At that time Singapore government temporarily imposed a ban on the import of poultry products from five countries. Singapore’s egg supply accounts for about 70 per cent. Singapore is developing its fourth egg farm, after getting fully operational, local egg farms will fulfil 50 per cent of Singapore’s egg demand. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/713/philippines-to-strengthen-livestock-disease-surveillance.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/713/philippines-to-strengthen-livestock-disease-surveillance.html Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:41:09 +0530 The new One Health research project in the Philippines aims to create a more sustainable animal industry and health system that are risk-informed, adaptive, and responsive to the country’s agriculture sector. A new One Health research project in the Philippines will strengthen animal disease surveillance capacity against health security threats that severely impact the country’s livestock industry. Led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the project will improve policy and governance support for disease detection of African swine fever (ASF), avian influenza (AI) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). These diseases are some of the most prevalent animal health threats in the Philippines. Recent outbreaks of ASF and AI have disrupted food supply and increased production costs for smallholder communities dependent on livestock for food and income security. The 3-year project is funded through a new One Health co-investment between ACIAR and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The project will utilise current socio-economic and socio-ecological system (SES) assessment approaches to One Health. Recognising the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment, One Health is a framework that helps to provide a better understanding of the integration between agrifood systems and human and animal health. Other applications of One Health include public health threats such as zoonotic diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which occurs when microorganisms that cause diseases no longer respond to standard treatments and adversely impact humans and animals. Project leader from UPLB, Dr Yusuf Sucol, said the research team will work with government agencies, the livestock industry, farmers, and local communities to analyse the links, gaps and effectiveness of disease surveillance, control, and emergency measures against these three priority areas for the Philippines to inform better practices. ‘Scientific data and research from this project will serve as evidence and inputs to decision-making to support ASF, AI and AMR management and programs. The findings will assist in improving animal husbandry practices, farm operation standards, and compliance standards to protect and promote animal, human and environmental health,’ said Dr Sucol. The data gathered will also contribute to developing a One Health Innovation Framework in the Philippines, which will include formulating and testing a One Health algorithm or One Health biosecurity measure for ASF, AI and AMR. ACIAR Research Program Manager, Livestock Systems, Dr Anna Okello, said the diseases being studied in the new project are priorities for the Philippines and many other countries in the South-East Asia region. The project is one of 4 new research initiatives supported through the ACIAR/​IDRC Research Program on One Health (AIRPOH), a new program rolling out across South-East Asia that will promote a collaborative and multi-sector approach to benefit the health of humans, animals, and the environment. The AIRPOH initiative is funding leading researchers throughout East and South-East Asia to demonstrate and promote the benefits of how a One Health approach can improve agrifood systems and overall health security. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/709/vietnams-export-of-agro-forestry-and-fishery-drops-by-14-4-in-march.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/709/vietnams-export-of-agro-forestry-and-fishery-drops-by-14-4-in-march.html Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:31:41 +0530 In the first three months of 2023, China, the United States and Japan are the three biggest importers of Vietnam’s agro-forestry and fishery products. Vietnam’s export turnover of agro-forestry and fishery products in March 2023 was estimated at $ 4.66 billion down by 6.5 per cent compared to March 2022, bringing the total export value of the first 3 months of this year reached $11.19 billion, down 14.4 per cent over the same period in 2022, According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The export value of main agricultural products was estimated at $ 5.73 billion, up 3.8 per cent; livestock export value was estimated at $ 114.9 million, up 46.5 per cent, Seafood export value was estimated at $ 1.79 billion, down 29 per cent export value of main forest products was estimated at $ 3.11 billion, down 28.3 per cent, the export value of production inputs was estimated at $ 458 million, down 26.8 per cent salt export value was estimated at $ 0.9 million, down 31.3 per cent. It was estimated that the total export value of Vietnam’s agro-forestry and fishery products in the first three months of 2023 to Asian markets reached $ 5.46 billion, up 9 per cent, America reached $ 2.27 billion, down 35.8 per cent, Europe reached $1.44 billion, down 3 per cent, Oceania reached $156 million, down 25 per cent, Africa reached $138 million, down 50 per cent. The share of Asia, America, Europe, Oceania and Africa in the total export value of Vietnam’s agro-forestry and fishery products in the first two months of 2023 was 48.8 per cent, 20.3 per cent, 12.8 per cent, 1.4 per cent and 1.2 per cent, respectively. In the first three months of 2023, China, the United States and Japan are the three biggest importers of Vietnam’s agro-forestry and fishery products. Export value to the Chinese market accounted for 21.5 per cent, up 2.9 per cent over the same period in 2022. The US accounted for 18.2 per cent dropped by 37.3 per cent and Japan accounted for 8.4 per cent increased by 10.1 per cent. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/691/provectus-algae-expands-carbon-negative-biomanufacturing-ingredients-platform-in-australia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/691/provectus-algae-expands-carbon-negative-biomanufacturing-ingredients-platform-in-australia.html Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:40:40 +0530 Provectus Algae is set to introduce a non-GMO, red and natural colorant for meat alternatives that changes color when cooked, as well as new ingredients for cosmetics market Sugar-eating organisms such as yeast and bacteria dominate industrial fermentation today. According to Australian food and cosmetic ingredients startup Provectus Algae, organisms that consume more sustainable feedstocks will be the 'predominant biomanufacturing platforms of tomorrow'. Nusqe Spanton, the CEO and founder of Nusqe, has developed a "carbon negative" growth platform that he claims can unlock the potential of algae as a source of high-value ingredients. The innovative start-up advocating decarbonizing supply chain has just secured a strategic investment from CJ Bio, part of Korean biomanufacturing giant CJ CheilJedang. Provectus Algae is set to introduce a non-GMO, red and natural colorant for meat alternatives that changes color when cooked, as well as new ingredients for cosmetics market from two demonstration plants in Australia. “Our production technology allows us to deliver a more stable red color at a price over the next two years that will be able to compete with beetroot powder. We’re expecting regulatory approvals this year in Australia, New Zealand, the US and potentially moving forward into Singapore next year. And then we’ll look at the European market” he adds. By contrast, yeast, fungi, and bacteria rely on sugar as a feedstock, an agricultural product with an environmental footprint that is also subject to pricing fluctuations that could make the economics of precision fermentation increasingly challenging. “A 200,000-liter precision fermentation facility using Pichia [yeast] making 50 tons of product generates about 250-300 tons of carbon dioxide. Whereas our facilities are carbon negative. We pump air into our reactors and the microbes capture the carbon dioxide, convert it into carbon and release oxygen and clean water. We need lighting, but if facilities run on renewable energy, you’re looking at an extremely low cost of operating and a carbon negative positioning, which we must move towards if we want to decarbonize the supply chain. But yeast cells are not well equipped to produce some of the more complex molecules found in nature, which is prompting renewed interest in algae and plant cells, which have different internal machinery” adds Spanton. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/692/green-climate-fund-approves-new-projects-worth-145-3-million-for-climate-action.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/692/green-climate-fund-approves-new-projects-worth-145-3-million-for-climate-action.html Thu, 30 Mar 2023 08:40:00 +0530 The initiatives in partnership with FAO are focused on fostering climate adaptation and resilience for smallholder farmers in Bolivia, Cambodia and The Philippines The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) decision to approve funding for three new projects in Bolivia, Cambodia and the Philippines, valued at $145.3 million. The national initiatives, supported by FAO, are focused on fostering climate change adaptation and resilience for smallholder farmers, local communities, and other value chain actors in three nations facing increasing weather and climate-related threats to their agricultural practices and livelihoods. “Innovation in climate finance can trigger transformative change towards more inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems”, said FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo. “The approval of these three projects shows how, by leveraging global partnerships, FAO can help strengthen adaptation and resilience capacities of rural communities, especially women and Indigenous Peoples. This contributes to the implementation of the FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022-2031.” The funding announcement was made during the thirty-fifth meeting of the GCF Board held in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea from 13-16 March. “These projects in Cambodia, Bolivia and the Philippines demonstrate how partnerships can deliver innovative climate solutions for some of the world’s most vulnerable countries”, said Yannick Glemarec, GCF Executive Director. “Supporting efforts to transition to climate-resilient food and agriculture systems is a key priority for GCF.” Over five years, $63.3 million co-financed by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Federation of Municipalities, will be destined to improve the management of agroecological zones, agricultural land, and priority micro-watersheds to build resilience and increase food and water security. The project activities are expected to benefit more than one million people, or 53.7 per cent of the total population of Valles, including nearly 82,000 families, mostly from Indigenous Communities. The initiative, which is the first high-impact GCF project in Bolivia, also includes a well-defined gender action plan to reduce women’s vulnerability to climate change, given that at least 48 per cent of the national agricultural production systems are managed by women. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/688/chinas-trout-fish-soars-overseas-demand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/688/chinas-trout-fish-soars-overseas-demand.html Wed, 29 Mar 2023 15:42:37 +0530 The rainbow trout breeding industry reached over 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) a year China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is becoming a hub of trout farming and soaring demand from overseas. While it is less commonly known that trout fish raised in snow and glacier meltwater in this vast region have become a world-renowned delicacy. According to the Xinhua news agency, in Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, where the brooks meander, are filled with the hustle and bustle of a rainbow trout breeding industry reached over 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) a year. Rainbow trout, a fish native to the rivers and lakes of North America, is famous for having few bones and a lot of meat, which makes it ideal for raising as food. Relying on its abundant water resources, Ili, in recent years, has invested heavily in the fishery industry. The prefecture aims to increase the annual output of aquatic products to about 30,000 tonnes by 2025. "Xinjiang-bred trout has growing recognition in Russia, owing to its geographical proximity and high quality," said Wang Yuan, deputy manager of Xinjiang Zungui Fresh Food Technology Co., Ltd. "Deep-processed trout products are also exported to Malaysia and many other destinations. This year, we will work to open up more markets, including Israel and Kazakhstan," Wang added. Its parent company, Xinjiang Tianyun Organic Agriculture Co., Ltd. is a local fish farming, processing and retail leader. The company now produces a series of trout products, ranging from trout fillet, segment, and steak to minced and smoked trout. "In contrast to last year when we ran about looking for customers, this year we've already received lots of orders and production is at full capacity every day. We estimate the annual processing capacity can reach 2,000 tonnes this year," Wang said. Farmers have also seen a steady rise in incomes through the innovative use of the region's rich natural resources. At present a total of 156 local residents have taken on various positions at the company, taking up more than 60 per cent of the company's staff.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/677/grubmarket-expands-supply-to-ukraine-romania-and-opens-office-in-egypt.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/677/grubmarket-expands-supply-to-ukraine-romania-and-opens-office-in-egypt.html Tue, 28 Mar 2023 08:07:28 +0530 These developments represent GrubMarket's underlying commitment to building a robust, global supply chain for high-quality, fresh produce GrubMarket announced that it has expanded its supply of fresh produce to Eastern European countries Ukraine and Romania, and also opened a new office in Egypt through its Salix Fruits business. Based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Salix Fruits is a global fresh fruit importer and exporter of a wide portfolio of produce items, including apples, lemons, oranges, tangerines, pears, grapes, and more. Salix Fruits works with hundreds of growers across 20 countries and serves over 450 business customers in 50 countries worldwide, with operations in Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Spain, India, the U.S., and now Egypt as well. These developments represent GrubMarket's underlying commitment to building a robust, global supply chain for high-quality, fresh produce. By expanding the supply of fresh produce to Ukraine, Romania, and other Eastern European countries, GrubMarket has positioned itself to help address challenges like worldwide food shortage crises and geopolitical disruptions to the global food supply chain. The expansion of the supply of fresh produce to Ukraine also signifies GrubMarket's support for the Ukrainian people to have continued access to fresh and healthy food, even under challenging circumstances. In 2022, despite significant logistics and transportation challenges, the company supplied a variety of fresh fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, sourced from Argentina and South Africa, to most regions around Ukraine. Over the course of 2022, GrubMarket grew the total volume of products supplied to Ukraine by nearly 20 per cent and is on track for over 50 per cent growth this year. GrubMarket also plans to diversify both the variety, adding commodities such as avocados, and the sourcing, adding imports from countries like Spain, of the products it supplies to Ukraine and Romania. In another significant expansion milestone for GrubMarket, Salix Fruits has opened a new office in Sadat City, Egypt, which will primarily source high-demand Egyptian citrus for GrubMarket's end customers. Salix's Egypt operation will be led by Haydy Shaheen, a foreign trade expert with over a decade of experience in the fresh produce industry in the Egyptian market. With the addition of the Egypt office, GrubMarket now operates in both Northern and Southern Africa, with plans to expand further across the African continent. "We are thrilled to be expanding our operations through key markets like Egypt," said Mike Xu, GrubMarket CEO. "Egypt is a key emerging market for food production and agriculture, and having an office there allows us to further execute our strategy to source the highest-quality fruits and vegetables from premier growing regions around the world for our end customers throughout the U.S. and beyond. We sincerely look forward to building stronger relationships with local farmers and growers in this area, as we continue to expand our presence across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the rest of the world." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/676/australia-negotiates-on-wine-agreement-proposed-by-eu.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/676/australia-negotiates-on-wine-agreement-proposed-by-eu.html Tue, 28 Mar 2023 07:47:35 +0530 The Australian Government is running a public objections process on wine geographical indications (GIs) Australia is negotiating amendments to the Australia-European Community Agreement on Trade in Wine (Wine Agreement). As part of the negotiation, the Australian Government is running a public objections process on wine geographical indications (GIs) proposed by the EU. A public objections process provides stakeholders with an opportunity to have their say and formally lodge an objection to the protection of specific wine GIs proposed by the EU. This process is required under Australia’s international obligations and will enable the government to take into account the full range of Australia’s interests in considering the EU’s requests. It does not indicate the government has made a decision to protect or amend the protection of any specific EU wine GIs. Joanna Stanion, First Assistant Secretary for Agricultural Policy encouraged the Australian wine industry and other stakeholders to put forward any submissions regarding these GIs. “This is an open and transparent process for all interested stakeholders to provide their views,” Stanion said. “The government will use this information to help inform Australia’s negotiating positions in the finalisation of the Wine Agreement.” The EU is seeking protection for 50 new wine GIs under the Wine Agreement, as well as updates to existing wine GIs. As part of this request, the EU is again seeking protection for Prosecco and Vittoria. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/675/vietnams-dragon-fruit-export-turnover-reaches-47-mn-in-jan-feb.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/675/vietnams-dragon-fruit-export-turnover-reaches-47-mn-in-jan-feb.html Tue, 28 Mar 2023 07:32:24 +0530 In the first two months of 2023, vegetable and fruit exports to the Chinese market reached $320.5 million, up 25.3 per cent Vietnam’s total dragon fruit export turnover has reached more than $47 million this year, down 48.7 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Vietnamese dragon fruit is being exported to more than 40 countries and territories. Which, China, India, the US, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Japan are the biggest importers of Vietnam's dragon fruit. However, in the first 2 months of 2023, the number of Vietnam's dragon fruit import markets decreased sharply; specifically, export turnover to Korea decreased by 25.9 per cent and Japan by 35.4 per cent over the same period last year. Despite difficulties in the first months of the year, it is forecasted that dragon fruit exports will be more favourable in the coming time because China which is the biggest market for Vietnamese dragon fruit has reopened its door. The Chinese market is accounting for about 60-70 per cent of Vietnam's total dragon fruit export turnover. In 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development aims that dragon fruit exports worth more than $1 billion. The Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) quoted statistics from the General Department of Customs as saying that in the first two months of 2023, Vietnam’s export value of vegetables and fruits reached $564.95 million, up 12.4 per cent compared with the same period in 2022. Specifically, in the first two months of 2023, vegetable and fruit exports to the Chinese market reached $320.5 million, up 25.3 per cent over the same period in 2022, accounting for 56.7 per cent of the total export value of vegetable and fruit. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/662/australia-to-inject-2-54b-to-prevent-african-swine-fever-asf-away.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/662/australia-to-inject-2-54b-to-prevent-african-swine-fever-asf-away.html Fri, 24 Mar 2023 15:58:00 +0530 Minister Watt presented ongoing combined industry and government preparedness with reference to ABARES analysis report indicating the potential concerns of ASF while Australian Ministry is set to invest $2.54 billion to avoid African swine fever (ASF) becoming endemic in Australia’s feral pig population. A new economic analysis by the experts from Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) as an reminder of the risks diseases like African swine fever (ASF) would have on Australian agricultural industry. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the report was a timely reminder of the importance of keeping Australia’s biosecurity system strong. In early 2022, it was estimated that there is 21% chance of an African Swine Fever detection in Australia in the next five years. ASF is a contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs that has established itself in Asia and parts of Europe and continues to spread. ASF has no vaccine and kills about 80 per cent of the pigs it infects but poses no threat to human health. Australia is committed to prevent pest and disease incursions by allocating $134 million in funding in the last budget to bolster Australia’s biosecurity system. Australia is now developing a model for sustainable biosecurity funding to maintain a strong biosecurity way into the future. Departments are working to minimise disease entry into Australia, by regularly screening and testing meat and animal products at the border. "We’ve seen from ABARES the potentially devastating cost of an outbreak of ASF in this country. While Australia is free of ASF, this work underscores the importance of our biosecurity system and why it needs to be resourced appropriately. A small-scale outbreak in domestic pigs would cost the Australian pig industry between $117 million and $263 million to manage and eradicate. The worst-case scenario, where ASF becomes endemic in our feral pig population, would cost the industry between $439 million and $2.54 billion over 30 years. This would mean lost trade for our exports and higher costs for farmers as they manage biosecurity" iterated Minister Watt. Meanwhile, Australian Pork Limited Chief Executive Officer Margo Andrae welcomed the Government’s ongoing commitment to protecting not only the Australian pork industry, but the broader agricultural community from the threat of African Swine Fever. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/654/mayanmar-launches-national-pulses-roadmap.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/654/mayanmar-launches-national-pulses-roadmap.html Thu, 23 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0530 Under IFAD funded project 'ATMI-ASEAN' and in collaboration with SEARCA Myanmar stives to develop of agricultural value chains and support farmers in Myanmar and Southeast Asia The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation (MOALI) of Myanmar has launched its national pulses roadmap for Scaling Up Myanmar Pulses Value Chain (2021–25). The roadmap was developed under the recently completed International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-funded project, “Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in the ASEAN Region: Responding to Food Security and Inclusiveness Concerns” (ATMI-ASEAN). The project was co-implemented by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). U Min Naung, MOALI union minister, opened the program in presence of IFAD, IFPRI, and SEARCA, who are involved in technical assistance and capacity-building to develop the national pulses roadmap. The MOALI's the national pulses roadmap is an accomplishment of the ATMI-ASEAN project, in association with SEARCA supporting the development of agricultural value chains and elevate the quality of life of agricultural families in Myanmar and the whole Southeast Asian region. Further collaboration between the two agencies particularly in areas of human resource development, project management, and agricultural extension. Minister U Min Naung said, "Being one of the largest producers and exporters of pulses in the world, Myanmar’s development of its national pulses roadmap is essential for its economy and sustained prosperity". The roadmap is in line with the country’s existing policies and strategies. The roadmap aims to foster a demand-driven pulses sector that is  propelled by modernization, diversification, intensification, and value-addition. Also, Minister U Min Naung encouraged all pulses value chain actors to work together to achieve the goal of having a globally competitive pulses industry that could support the livelihood and socioeconomic wellbeing of smallholder farmers in Myanmar. The roadmap envisions a “progressive and productive pulses sector through a more inclusive, integrated, resilient, and globally competitive and recognized pulses value chain to contribute to rural economic growth of Myanmar,” said Director General U Kyaw Swe Lin of the Department of Planning of MOALI. Myanmar has been continuously producing 7.28 million metric tons of pulses annually. With this, MOALI intends to focus more on value addition rather than the export of raw pulses. Myanmar is one of the five Southeast Asian countries that were supported by the ATMI-ASEAN project in developing and implementing policies and programs that would help the integration of smallholders in the regional agricultural and food markets. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/644/australia-approves-drought-resilience-grants-for-six-projects-to-rejuvenate-livestock-profitability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/644/australia-approves-drought-resilience-grants-for-six-projects-to-rejuvenate-livestock-profitability.html Tue, 21 Mar 2023 11:52:34 +0530 Grants for six innovative projects to rejuvenate the Rangelands agriculture landscape and improve livestock profitability Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt has announced drought resilience grants for six innovative projects to rejuvenate the rangelands landscape and improve livestock profitability. The $2 million grants program is backed equally by the Agriculture Climate Resilience Fund and the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund – Resilient Soils and Landscape program. In Southern Rangelands Revitalisation Pilot, various projects were collectively launched to develop pathways to revive rangeland condition, increase livestock profitability and build business resilience. Grant support for pastoralists to enhance landscape condition, capture carbon opportunities and improve their businesses by embracing new technology and management strategies to boost livestock production. Grants can be uses for various upgrading tasks such as installing virtual fencing, trap yards and biodiversity monitors to improve groundcover and biodiversity through regenerative grazing and many more. The grant will also be invested in earthworks and a native seed nursery to improve perennial vegetation and rehabilitate degraded areas. Grant beneficiaries are deploying the funds also in decentralising watering points and to establish a grass nursery, erect exclusion fencing for revegetation, install trap yards and remote water monitoring to reduce grazing pressure and explore the use of lick feeders to aid feed management. A cutting-edge project using ag-tech and data to rehabilitate the landscape and strengthen a Mount Magnet pastoral business is among six recipients to receive inaugural Southern Rangelands Revitalisation Drought Resilience Grants. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/643/vietnams-coffee-export-to-spain-reaches-287-mn.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/643/vietnams-coffee-export-to-spain-reaches-287-mn.html Tue, 21 Mar 2023 11:15:26 +0530 In 2022 Spain imported 376,450 tons of coffee, worth 1.37 billion euros ($1.46 billion), a year-on-year increase of 11 per cent in volume and 47.5 per cent in value. Vietnam is the largest supplier of coffee for Spain, reaching 113,550 tons, worth approximately 269 million euros ($287 million), up 21.6 per cent in volume and 78.9 per cent in value compared to 2021. According to Vietnam's Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), citing data from the European Statistics Agency, in 2022 Spain imported 376,450 tons of coffee, worth 1.37 billion euros ($1.46 billion), a year-on-year increase of 11 per cent in volume and 47.5 per cent in value. The average import price of Spanish coffee is up to $3,650 per ton, up 32.9 per cent compared to 2021 and the highest level in the period 2018-2022, in which, the average import price of Spain’s coffee from most sources increased, except for the Netherlands. In 2022, the supply of coffee to Spain in 2022 is mainly from markets beyond the EU, the volume reached 275,770 tons, worth 911.82 million euros ($ 973.18 million), an increase of 11.5 per cent in volume and 77.8 per cent in value compared to 2021. Vietnam's coffee market share in Spain's total imports from the world market increased to 30.16 per cent. In contrast, Spain decreased 23.2 per cent of coffee imports from Indonesia in volume but increased by 12.5 per cent in value compared to 2021, reaching 20,500 tons, worth 46.95 million euros ($50.11 million). According to the Import-Export Department, Spain is the 8th largest trading partner of Vietnam in the EU, the 7th largest export partner and the 8th largest import partner of Vietnam. In 2022, two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Spain reached $3.54 billion, up 13 per cent compared to 2021 (the highest growth rate ever). Vietnam's export turnover to Spain reached $ 2.96 billion, up 16.34 per cent and Vietnam's import turnover from Spain reached $572.69 million, down 1.59 per cent compared to last year. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/641/albaugh-acquires-corteva-agrisciences-glyphosate-business.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/641/albaugh-acquires-corteva-agrisciences-glyphosate-business.html Tue, 21 Mar 2023 10:47:59 +0530 With this latest acquisition, the company will expand its coverage of straight glyphosate DMA salt formulations and registrations globally US based Albaugh, LLC., largest privately held supplier of crop protection products in the world, has announced the acquisition of Corteva Agriscience’s straight-goods glyphosate business. The purchase includes intangible assets only, including trade names, registrations, regulatory data, formulations, patents, and know-how, used in Corteva's straight-goods glyphosate business throughout the world, with the exception of Argentina. Albaugh previously acquired Corteva’s glyphosate business in Europe. With this latest acquisition, the company will expand its coverage of straight glyphosate DMA salt formulations and registrations globally. All glyphosate DMA salt registrations will be integrated into Albaugh’s existing regional sales structure, and Albaugh's sales teams in each region look forward to working with all existing glyphosate DMA salt customers on continuing this business together. “This latest acquisition of Corteva Agriscience’s glyphosate business is a perfect fit for Albaugh,” said Jens Thorsen, Chief Marketing Officer. “This will expand our direct access to glyphosate markets in areas where we have not previously had a strong presence, including such countries as Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia, as well as supplementing our existing glyphosate offerings in the U.S., Canada and Brazil.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/639/crocodile-farming-in-asia-needs-a-push.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/639/crocodile-farming-in-asia-needs-a-push.html Mon, 20 Mar 2023 15:32:31 +0530 According to a report, the global crocodile farming market is projected to grow at 5 per cent CAGR during the forecast period of 2022-2030. But on the other hand,Crocodile farming, which is one of the growing industries in Asia and Australia, is facing challenges due to the export restrictions in many countries. Amendments in export policy and better infrastructure will give a big push to the crocodile farming industry in Asia. Recently 22 freshwater baby crocodiles were seized in Thailand, a man was selling baby crocodiles on Tik Tok. Phuket Provincial Fisheries office took action against the man and found crocodiles in a small pool. The farmer was selling baby crocodiles on social media due to restrictions on crocodile exports.  Crocodile farming is a popular business in Asia. Countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Bangladesh are having crocodile farming companies. The purpose of crocodile farming is to get meat, skin, oil, medicine and other things. Crocodile meat is known for low cholesterol and high protein. Luxury brands use crocodile skin to make expensive fashion products. In Malaysia, Thailand and Papua Guinea crocodile related events are getting popular. The farming and breeding of crocodiles are also beneficial for the growth of tourism in these countries. But due to trade restrictions farms are suffering losses.   In Thailand, there are many crocodile farms across the country, but the crocodile farm business is dwindling due to the regulations on cross-border trade. Crocodile farmers in Thailand have demanded relaxation in regulations. During the pandemic, there were tight regulations on the export of crocodile meat and skin. Thailand’s crocodile industry’s $ 200 million annual sales plunged which is around 90 per cent.   In Cambodia, farmers are seeking help from the government to find more international markets for export. Cambodian farmers export crocodiles to Vietnam and Thailand. During the pandemic price of crocodiles has dropped drastically. Previously farmers were selling per crocodile for $500 to $800, but now the price of the crocodile has dropped to $30 to $40 per head.   Bangladesh’s first commercial crocodile farm suffered serious losses during the pandemic, as many crocodiles died due to food shortages and a complete halt in the export of crocodiles. The Reptile's Farm is located at Hatibeer of Mymensingh's Bhaluka upazila and it shipped 1507 skins between 2014 and 2019. The farm has been exporting skin to Japan for the last five years. The farm is now having more than 2,500 crocodiles out of 93 at the breeding stage and 500 are ready to shed skins that could be processed and exported. The farm is waiting to relax export restrictions and plans to export 1,000 skins annually. A piece of skin can bring $600 to $700. Vietnam’s crocodile farming is also facing heavy losses as the pandemic affected meat export. Vietnamese traders were dependent on China. HCM City in Vietnam is a crocodile hub of the country. The city is farming 2 lakhs animals every year. City also developed eco-tourism but during covid 19 outbreak city’s revenue dropped by 80 per cent. Vietnamese farmers are expecting planning and investment for the development of the industry.  According to a report, the global crocodile farming market is projected to grow at 5 per cent CAGR during the forecast period of 2022-2030. According to a United Nations Environment report in 2017 more than two million crocodile skins are traded annually across the world.  There are around 27 species of crocodile in the world, all species are listed under Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) but most of them are used for trade. Nine species are used for meat across the world. Nile crocodiles and New Guinea crocodiles are two species considered to have stable wild populations and low-concern conservation status by the International Union for Conservation status. There are three other species which are having stable populations and low conservation concerns mugger, saltwater crocodile and Morelet crocodile. These three types of crocodiles are raised for fashion and accessories purposes. Species like the American alligator, spectacled caiman, and broad-snouted caiman are raised for meat purposes.   Crocodile farming is one of the growing industries in Asia and Australia, Due to the export restrictions many of the crocodile farms in Asia are in problem. On the other hand, luxury brands are also entering into crocodile farming. French fashion brand Hermes built one of the biggest crocodile farms in Australia, which can hold 50,000 saltwater crocodiles.  Crocodile farms in Asia  Sriracha Farm Asia is one of the oldest crocodile farms in Thailand, supplying fresh and processed crocodile meat. The company also supplies crocodile skin. For more than three decades the company has been into crocodile farming. Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo is one of the oldest and largest crocodile farms in Thailand, the Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo is a popular tourist attraction that is home to over 100,000 crocodiles.Pattaya Crocodile Farm is located in the coastal city of Pattaya, this crocodile farm offers daily crocodile shows and other attractions for visitors.Koorana Crocodile Farm is from Australia and has operations in Indonesia, this company breeds and raises saltwater crocodiles for meat, skin, and other products. It has operations in both Australia and Indonesia.CROCODYLUS PARK is also from Australia and has operations in Indonesia CROCODYLUS PARK breeds saltwater crocodiles for meat, skin, and other products. Park also offers tours and educational programs to visitors. Malindo Feedmill Company is a leading producer of animal feed in Indonesia, including feed for crocodile farming.Taman Buaya Indonesia is a crocodile farm, and the zoo is located in the city of Medan in North Sumatra and is one of the largest crocodile farms in Indonesia.Langkapuri Crocodile Farm in Malaysia located in the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo, this crocodile farm breeds and raises saltwater crocodiles for their meat and skin. Crocodile farming, which is one of the growing industries in Asia and Australia, is facing challenges due to the export restrictions in many countries. Amendments in export policy and better infrastructure will give a big push to the crocodile farming industry in Asia. By Shraddha Warde shraddha.warde@mmactiv.com ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/636/the-ccc-grants-26-3m-to-transform-philippines-agri-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/636/the-ccc-grants-26-3m-to-transform-philippines-agri-sector.html Mon, 20 Mar 2023 10:34:53 +0530 Domestic resources amounting to $12.98 million will be used to co-finance the project, putting the total project value at $39.3 million. The “Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA)” secured approval for a grant of $26.3 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to increase the resilience of rural agriculture men and women in climate vulnerable areas and transform the country’s agriculture sector towards climate resilience. The APA project is a submission by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as executing entities. “We welcome the decision of the GCF Board to approve the APA Project, which will be instrumental in building the capacity of our farming communities, as well as of the government and private sector, to understand and manage climate risks and adopt climate resilient agriculture (CRA) practices,” said The Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chair and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. Domestic resources amounting to $12.98 million will be used to co-finance the project, putting the total project value at $39.3 million. The project will cater to at least nine provinces in five regions namely Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Northern Mindanao, Soccksargen, and Cordillera). The project will have three main outcomes: increased institutional capacities for the development and provision of climate information and CRA services; farmers (female/male) adopt CRA through CRA enterprises; and enabling environment for mainstreaming and scaling up CRA. At least 1.25 million poor farming household members (half of whom are women) are expected to directly benefit as farmers improve awareness of risks and risk reduction measures and incorporate climate-resilient and low emission technologies into agricultural practices. Over 5 million people living in the area will also benefit indirectly from enhanced information systems and strengthened institutional capacity that will create an enabling environment to promote the widespread adoption of CRA. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/622/philippines-south-africa-explores-agri-trade-opportunities.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/622/philippines-south-africa-explores-agri-trade-opportunities.html Thu, 16 Mar 2023 11:44:03 +0530 The MOU seeks to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries on capacity-building, technology advancement, agricultural trade, agribusiness, and knowledge-sharing The Philippines and South Africa have proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Technical Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture. The MOU seeks to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries on capacity-building, technology advancement, agricultural trade, agribusiness, and knowledge-sharing by conducting joint activities, projects, programs, and exchanges. Domingo F. Panganiban, Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary and Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe South African Ambassador to the Philippines discussed potential areas for agricultural cooperation that can help boost the two countries’ food production and economic success. Since establishing diplomatic ties between the Philippines and South Africa in November 1993, the two countries have had a vibrant history of cultural, political and economic relations. In 2021 alone, South Africa ranked 42 among 223 top trading partners and was the largest African trading partner of the Philippines, recording a total trade amount of $ 125.1 million. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the Philippines’ $ 85.5 million worth of export products to South Africa include desiccated coconut, tobacco, coconut oil and its fraction, mucilage and thickeners, carrageenan, preparations suitable for infants and young children, tobacco that were not stemmed-flue-cured, sauces and preparations, coffee extracts, essences and concentrates, and coconut concentrate. On the other hand, the South African government mainly exported onion seeds, dog and cat food, fruit juice mixtures, undenatured ethyl alcohol, grape wine, peaches, a variety of juices, waters including mineral and aerated with added sugar, mandarins, and apple juice amounting to $ 39.6 million. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/618/green-climate-fund-approves-151-3-mn-for-climate-action-in-bolivia-cambodia-and-the-philippines.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/618/green-climate-fund-approves-151-3-mn-for-climate-action-in-bolivia-cambodia-and-the-philippines.html Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:23:27 +0530 The initiatives in partnership with FAO are focused on fostering climate adaptation and resilience for smallholder farmers The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) decision to approve funding for three new projects in Bolivia, Cambodia and the Philippines, valued at $151.3 million. The national initiatives, supported by FAO, are focused on fostering climate change adaptation and resilience for smallholder farmers, local communities, and other value chain actors in three nations facing increasing weather and climate-related threats to their agricultural practices and livelihoods. “Innovation in climate finance can trigger transformative change towards more inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems”, said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General. “The approval of these three projects shows how, by leveraging global partnerships, FAO can help strengthen adaptation and resilience capacities of rural communities, especially women and Indigenous Peoples. This contributes to the implementation of the FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022-2031.” The funding announcement was made during the thirty-fifth meeting of the GCF Board held in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea from 13-16 March. “These projects in Cambodia, Bolivia and the Philippines demonstrate how partnerships can deliver innovative climate solutions for some of the world’s most vulnerable countries”, said Yannick Glemarec, GCF Executive Director. “Supporting efforts to transition to climate-resilient food and agriculture systems is a key priority for GCF.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/614/adb-signs-loan-for-first-cross-border-wind-power-project-in-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/614/adb-signs-loan-for-first-cross-border-wind-power-project-in-asia.html Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:37:10 +0530 The first plant in Lao PDR and the largest in Southeast Asia The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Monsoon Wind Power Company Limited (Monsoon) signed a $ 692.55 million nonrecourse project financing package to build a 600-megawatt wind power plant in Sekong and Attapeu provinces in the southern region of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) to export and sell power to neighbouring Viet Nam. Comprising 133 wind turbines, the project will be the largest wind power plant in Southeast Asia and the first in the Lao PDR. As a sole mandated lead arranger and book-runner, ADB has arranged, structured, and syndicated the entire financing package—the largest syndicated renewable project financing transaction among ASEAN countries to date. The package comprises a $100 million A loan from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, a $150 million syndicated B loan, $50 million in concessional financing, $382.55 million in parallel loans, and a $10 million grant. Cutting-edge use of concessional blended finance was critical in overcoming the project’s bankability hurdles to crowd in the commercial capital. “Developing economies in Asia and the Pacific face shortfalls in climate investments that are needed to clear a pathway to green growth. The syndication of development and commercial financing for this project bridges this gap by mobilizing private capital to develop wind resources which are translated into clean power generation that can spur economic and social advancement in the region,” said Suzanne Gaboury, ADB Private Sector Operations Department Director General.“ The financing from ADB and its partners will help unlock the Lao PDR’s untapped wind resources, providing a basis for a transition to clean energy and green growth that will have lasting benefits for the economy.” Cross-border power supply has been a pillar of the Lao PDR’s economic growth. Harnessing the country’s untapped wind resources can provide energy diversification as the seasonality of the wind resource is countercyclical to the rainy season, which supports the country’s hydropower generation. The project will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 748,867 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The B loan comprises $100 million from Siam Commercial Bank and $50 million from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation while the concessional financing administered by ADB comprises $20 million from Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP) and $30 million from the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CFPS, CFPS II). Parallel loans include $120 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, $100 million from Kasikorn Bank, $72.55 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, $60 million from the Export-Import Bank of Thailand, and $30 million from the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited. A $10 million grant from ADB’s Asian Development Fund (ADF) – Private Sector Window (ADB-PSW) will help mitigate key project risks, including potential curtailment risk, which is a key bankability issue for lenders. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/601/philippines-regains-eu-market-access-for-pili-nuts-export.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/601/philippines-regains-eu-market-access-for-pili-nuts-export.html Fri, 10 Mar 2023 12:53:52 +0530 The EU market opening will benefit local pili processors and exporters including thousands of pili farmers Dried pili nuts from the Philippines can now enter the European Union (EU) following the issuance of the European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU). The document signed authorises the inclusion of dried pili nuts in the Union's list of novel foods that may be placed on the EU market after it passed the EU’s food safety and labelling requirements. In line with the directive of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. President to boost high-value crops for export, the Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomed the EU issuance that opens market opportunities for the country’s pili industry. The export of pili nut, which is considered a novel food or those that have not been significantly used for human consumption in the EU before May 1997, has been temporarily stopped following new EU rules for novel foods in 2015. The EU market opening will benefit local pili processors and exporters including thousands of pili farmers as this opportunity enables them to gain more income from higher-value commodities such as pili. The Bicol Region is the country’s top pili producer with about 90 per cent or 1,796.38 hectares of pili production area and 84 per cent or 4,932.60 metric tons of the total volume of production based on the Philippine Statistics Authority data in 2021. The DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), and the Bicol Regional Field Office are actively involved in the pili industry development. The DA agencies provide inputs, establish facilities for production, post-harvest, processing and marketing, and conduct research for development and capacity-building activities including the adoption of good agricultural practices and food safety standards, among others. The major export markets for Philippine pili include the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada. Diversifying exports is one strategy being utilised for the Philippine economy to become more resilient against adverse global shocks. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/572/australia-to-invest-10m-in-wine-and-cider-businesses.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/572/australia-to-invest-10m-in-wine-and-cider-businesses.html Thu, 02 Mar 2023 11:34:30 +0530 More than 200 wine and cider businesses will share in $10 million of funding, under latest round of the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program Australian Government has announced funding of AU$10 million in country's wine and Cider industry. The Cellar Door Grant Program is expected to help businesses attract visitors to Australian wine regions and promote agri tourism. The grant program is administered by Wine Australia, which carries out application assessments and distributes the funding directly to wine and cider businesses. Over 200 wineries will receive grants this round, including 79 in South Australia, 45 in Victoria, 35 in New South Wales, 32 in Western Australia, 9 in Tasmania and 2 in Queensland. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said “Australia’s wine sector is a thriving example of a locally grown and manufactured agriculture industry. Wineries are an important economic driver in many regional communities across the country. This Government is committed to helping them recover from the current challenges such as trade disruptions, supply-chain issues, and natural disasters. This sector is a resilient one, but this funding will go the extra mile towards speeding up recovery.” Lee McLean, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Grape & Wine said “the benefits of cellar door tourism flow beyond grape and wine businesses to local pubs, bakeries and petrol stations across Australia’s 65 wine regions. The Australian Government’s support for this grant will help drive investment in more world-class tourism experiences, drawing visitors to regional Australia and underpinning employment and economic growth in our sector as it works through a challenging time." The program allows eligible wine and cider businesses to apply for up to AU$100,000 and the latest grants were the fourth round of the program. Through the Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation program, the Australian wine industry is being assisted with grants totalling AU$2.815 million awarded to Australian Grape and Wine to explore new markets, and a AU$500,000 grant awarded to the Food and Wine Collaboration Group, which includes Wine Australia, to assist with its programs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/554/saudi-arabias-dates-export-rise-by-5-4-in-2022.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/554/saudi-arabias-dates-export-rise-by-5-4-in-2022.html Mon, 27 Feb 2023 15:33:16 +0530 Export went up by 121 per cent over the period spanning between 2016 and 2022 Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Palms and Dates announced that Saudi exports of dates increased by 5.4 per cent in 2022 compared with 2021 to reach SR 1,280 billion. According to the official statement, export went up by 121 per cent over the period spanning between 2016 and 2022, where the annual average of exports of Saudi dates over these seven years increased by 12 per cent. The centre pointed out that the development of the palm sector has helped increase the spread of Saudi dates in the majority of global markets, with 116 countries importing it.The centre noted that what has been achieved reflects the interest of the wise leadership in enhancing non-oil revenues and developing the work system for growing and improving palm production based on the Saudi Vision 2030, which has paid great attention to the palm sector and dates through its development and sustainability. It has also worked towards the preparation and implementation of programs to develop the sector and raise its contribution to the GDP. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/520/grow-asia-business-council-welcomes-corteva-agriscience-and-east-west-seed-as-the-new-co-chairs.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/520/grow-asia-business-council-welcomes-corteva-agriscience-and-east-west-seed-as-the-new-co-chairs.html Fri, 10 Feb 2023 13:26:50 +0530 Image Credit: Grow Asia Business Council The new council to initiate ground projects through Grow Asia's Multi-Donor Impact Funds to demonstrate the viability of sustainable and inclusive business models Grow Asia Business Council has announced that Corteva Agriscience and East-West Seed will be the new Co-Chairs for 2023/24. With this, Grow Asia, the multistakeholder platform continues to build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food system in Asia. Bayer Crop Science and Charoen Pokphand Produce, are the outgoing Business Council Co-Chairs of 2022/23. The organization has established two high-level advisory councils - the Partners' Advisory Council and the Business Council which will play a vital role in guiding Grow Asia's efforts and ensuring that its initiatives align with the diverse perspectives and priorities of its stakeholders.  The Business Council is composed of members from the private sector who guide Grow Asia in developing robust and market-driven approaches. The council members invest in on-the-ground projects through Grow Asia's Multi-Donor Impact Funds and demonstrating the viability of sustainable and inclusive business models.  The initiative will bring large and small businesses together to engage in the production, distribution, or sale of agriculture, food, or forestry products. Thus, the Business Council will helps to create a positive impact on the entire food system. Grow Asia is proud to be a regional delivery partner of the World Economic Forum's Food Action Alliance Image Caption: The Business Council ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/517/the-philippines-onion-industry-receives-p326-97m-from-da-for-productivity-enhancement.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/517/the-philippines-onion-industry-receives-p326-97m-from-da-for-productivity-enhancement.html Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:57:36 +0530 Seven onion cold storage facilities will also be established this year in key production areas. To boost local food production, the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA), through its High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), has allotted P326.97 million worth of interventions for onion this 2023. From this, P69.949M is earmarked for onion production support services, including the provision of seeds, seedlings, and other farm inputs; P3.2M for irrigation network facilities; and P1.9M for extension support, education, and training. In addition, the program allotted P6.486M for farm production-related machinery and equipment distribution; P2.359M for production facilities; and P2.5M for postharvest and processing equipment and machinery distribution. Seven onion cold storage facilities amounting to P240.575M will also be established this year in key production areas. These cold storage facilities, with up to 10,000-bag capacity, will benefit the Pangasinan Onion Growers Association in Umingan, Pangasinan and the Federation of Aritao Farmers Onion, Garlic and Ginger Association in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya. Cold storage facilities with 20,000-bag capacity will likewise be awarded to the New Hermosa Farmers Association in Hermosa, Bataan; the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural MPC in Talavera, Nueva Ecija; and the Valiant Primary Multipurpose Cooperative in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. The Salvation United Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative and the Samahang Gumagawa Tungong Tagumpay Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Rizal and Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro will also receive 20,000-bag capacity cold storage facilities. A total of ten farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) from the MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) region received a financial grant totalling P40 million through the DA Enhanced Kadiwa: Sagip Sibuyas Project. More than 7,800 FCA members benefited from the project in MIMAROPA. Under the Sagip Sibuyas Project, eligible FCAs shall use the grant of up to P5M for trading capital to cover the costs of procuring onions directly from farmers, hauling and delivery to markets and cold storage facilities, and storage rental. The DA also provides market linkage services to ensure that the onion FCAs have ready markets for their produce, including fast food chains and institutional buyers. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/514/israel-to-import-40-mn-eggs-from-5-countries.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/514/israel-to-import-40-mn-eggs-from-5-countries.html Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:05:54 +0530 The Ministry of Agriculture approved the opening of import quotas for customs duty-free eggs in order to meet the growing demand for eggs prior to the upcoming festival Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture is opening quotas for the import of eggs with exemption from customs duty to authorised marketers from countries from which the Ministry has approved imports, in order to increase the supply of eggs and to meet the growing demand prior to Passover. The opening of imports at this time will allow importers to organise themselves so that they can import eggs in preparation for the increase in demand for the festival, as is the case every year.  In general, the State of Israel produces the vast majority of eggs consumed in Israel, amounting to approximately 2.2 billion eggs per year. However, as is the case every year in the run-up to Passover, as well as the Tishrei [September / October] festivals, the demand for eggs increases. Therefore, again this year the Ministry approved import quotas of an amount of 40 million eggs, with exemption from customs duty, which will supplement the local production. Currently, egg imports are approved from five countries Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Poland and Argentina. According to the estimates of professionals, the importers will only import eggs in accordance with the local demand, as is the case every year, certainly in light of the global price of eggs, which has risen significantly over recent months.  Professional echelon officials at the Ministry of Agriculture continue to monitor, and as necessary, will act to increase egg import quotas in accordance with supply and demand in the local market. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/507/philippines-issues-srp-of-p125-per-kg-for-imported-red-onion.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/507/philippines-issues-srp-of-p125-per-kg-for-imported-red-onion.html Tue, 07 Feb 2023 11:32:08 +0530 The retail price of onions skyrocketed to P600 per kilogram in the last week of December To gather all stakeholders and address the issue of overpriced red onions in the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a suggested retail price (SRP) of P125 per kilogram of medium- and big-sized imported red onions in wet markets within the National Capital Region (NCR). The SRP shall take effect immediately after its publication and remain in effect for 60 days from its approval unless revised, revoked and/or lifted. The retail price of onions skyrocketed to P600 per kilogram in the last week of December, causing the DA to issue sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) for the importation of onions to augment local supply. The DA’s regular monitoring of basic necessities and prime commodities provided the basis to set the SRP. The Price Act declares that the State shall ensure “the availability of basic necessities and prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times without denying legitimate business a fair return on investment.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/506/evonik-invests-e25-mn-in-methionine-intermediates-production-plant-in-germany.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/506/evonik-invests-e25-mn-in-methionine-intermediates-production-plant-in-germany.html Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:12:31 +0530 The investment will safeguard the long-term supply of MMP to the European methionine production hub Germany-based Evonik has invested €25 million in developing and expanding its methylmercapto-propionaldehyde (MMP) production plant in Wesseling, Germany, in the latest move to strengthen its world-scale global methionine production network. MMP is integral in the production of MetAMINO (DL-methionine) which is used in animal feed to improve the performance of livestock farming. The precursors of this essential amino acid have been produced in Wesseling for more than 50 years. Dr Gaetano Blanda, head of the Animal Nutrition business line, said, "With this investment, Evonik is strengthening the European methionine network to safeguard the long-term supply of MMP to our MetAMINO production hub in Antwerp, Belgium. The move underscores our commitment to serving and expanding the global DL-methionine market and secures the best possible supply security for our customers.” The conversion and expansion of the plant in Wesseling have been made possible by the development of a new production process, that will allow for the avoidance of the storage of chemical intermediates, such as acrolein, at the site. Commenting on the plant upgrade, Dr Jan-Olaf Barth, head of the Essential Nutrition product line, said, “Evonik is known for its innovative approach and world-class technology, and in Wesseling, we have now developed a process that increases efficiency and, with Responsible Care in mind, further enhances safety at the site." He added, “This investment is a building block of our global methionine asset strategy with the clear goal of being the cost and technology leader in all regions and the reliable partner for our customers.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/504/australian-exports-to-singapore-get-a-digital-boost.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/504/australian-exports-to-singapore-get-a-digital-boost.html Mon, 06 Feb 2023 13:18:51 +0530 Australia and Singapore committed to the Digital Economy Agreement in 2020, collaborating on digital trade to benefit our agricultural and food industries. Australian exporters will see faster export documentation and easier access to Singapore’s markets, as certification between Australia and Singapore moves towards paperless trading. Nicola Hinder Deputy Secretary said Australia and Singapore committed to the Digital Economy Agreement in 2020, collaborating on digital trade to benefit our agricultural and food industries. “Using electronic export certification (eCert) means the relevant information is sent directly to overseas government agencies almost instantly, allowing for quicker clearance times so producers can get their goods to market faster,” Hinder said. “This results in less time waiting on a rubber stamp for paperwork, a reduction in fraudulent behaviour and easier record keeping. “We have just started a process called a parallel exchange. That means we are using the paper certification alongside the eCert for consignments of edible meat exported from Australia. Our government counterparts in Singapore will have both methods of certification during the transition period. “The Digital Economy Agreement delivers a comprehensive framework for bilateral cooperation, to help businesses and consumers make the most of the digital economy. “Together with Singapore we’ve negotiated cutting-edge new rules. We’ve signed up to agreements on areas including e-certification for agricultural exports and imports, data innovation and protection, artificial intelligence, e-invoicing, and digital identity. “Singapore is our largest trading and investment partner in the ASEAN region, and this step is confirmation of the openness, collaboration and trust between our two countries. “Australia is at the forefront of digital trade. We have already moved to a paperless eCert exchange with the EU and we’ve worked with our key trading partner, Singapore, to do the same.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/503/israel-embarks-upon-a-professional-training-program-for-a-reform-of-the-overseeing-of-edible-fish-in-israel.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/503/israel-embarks-upon-a-professional-training-program-for-a-reform-of-the-overseeing-of-edible-fish-in-israel.html Mon, 06 Feb 2023 12:53:42 +0530 EU invests 250,000 euros for the development of official guidelines for the inspection of fish and fish products The European Union invested 250,000 euros in full funding of a new training program for the development of the official guidelines for the inspection of fish and fish products and the overseeing thereof, starting from the rearing stage, the entry of the fish into Israel, the laboratory tests and the marketing methods. The purpose of the program, piloted by the Veterinary Unit of the Food Service at the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, is to improve the overseeing of the safety and quality of raw fish for food and fish products, throughout the shelf life thereof, which includes importing, marketing and exporting and this in accordance with the study of the work procedures applied and accepted in the European Union. The program will commence this week. The program will last eight months, during which there will be professional training for the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture staff, the drafting of the guidelines, trainings as part of symposiums for practitioners in the field, and according to the need for legislative updates. Pnina Oren Schneider, Head of the National Food Service at the Ministry of Health, stated. “Inspecting the food products that arrive in Israel, including fish and fish products, is intended to protect public health and ensure that the imported food that reaches the consumer will be of high quality and safe for consumption. The need to draw up uniform procedures and guidelines based on internationally accepted norms, will improve the procedures for receiving shipments to Israel and make it easier for all those involved in the field, whether veterinarians or importers and marketers.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/501/philippines-allots-funds-p538-million-intervention-to-caraga-rice-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/501/philippines-allots-funds-p538-million-intervention-to-caraga-rice-farmers.html Mon, 06 Feb 2023 12:06:26 +0530 The DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute—Agusan has a target allocation of 158,630 bags of certified seeds amounting to ₱120.55 million The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies and bureaus continue to pour out more financial resources to boost the Caraga region’s rice industry. In Caraga Region, the DA Rice Program allocated ₱260.85 million worth of agriculture interventions to rice farmers for the year 2023. This is a 76 per cent increase in budget allocation compared to last year’s ₱148 million. This year, the budget is allocated to the following interventions: ₱178.95 million for production support; ₱54.48 million for extension support, education, and training; ₱6.71 million for research and development; ₱6.94 million for agricultural machinery, equipment, and facilities; and ₱13.75 million irrigation network services. Aside from the regular Rice Program, DA-Caraga is set to release ₱156.7 million in fertilizer discount vouchers (FDV) that would enable rice farmers to meet the recommended urea fertilizer requirement, and, in turn, increase their production. This is part of the additional funding of the government’s fertilizer subsidy program that covers the 2022–2023 dry planting season. In addition, the DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute—Agusan has a target allocation of 158,630 bags of certified seeds amounting to ₱120.55 million, under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund for the 2023 dry season. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/499/cambodia-offers-cheaper-rice-to-the-philippines.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/499/cambodia-offers-cheaper-rice-to-the-philippines.html Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:13:53 +0530 Cambodian rice can enter the Philippine market at a 35 per cent tariff rate.  Cambodia is exploring opportunities to directly export rice to the Philippines, offering an alternative and cheaper source of rice for the country.  Alfredo Pascual Secretary Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) met with a Cambodian delegation, led by Chan Sokty, chief executive officer of the state-owned Green Trade Company and Okhna Chan Sokheang the president of the Cambodia Rice Federation. Green Trade is the counterpart of DTI’s Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC).  The Cambodian delegates are also exploring exporting rice through a government-to-government arrangement between Green Trade and PITC. Pascual said Cambodia has a rice surplus of 50 per cent of its total rice production, and the Southeast Asian country intends to sell it directly to neighbouring countries and also in Europe. Cambodian rice can enter the Philippine market at a 35 per cent tariff rate.  Pascual added the Cambodian delegates said they can commit to supplying 3 million metric tons of rice to the Philippines, which is the level of imported rice by the country in 2022. Earlier, Joey Concepcion, Go Negosyo founder and ASEAN Business Advisory Council chair said Cambodia expressed its intention to directly export unmilled rice to the Philippines on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in November 2022. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/497/vietnams-tuna-export-turnover-reaches-1-bn.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/497/vietnams-tuna-export-turnover-reaches-1-bn.html Fri, 03 Feb 2023 13:08:55 +0530 This result contributes to the seafood industry's export turnover of $11 billion in 2022 Vietnam’s tuna exports reached the target of $1 billion in 2022, up by 34 per cent from a year ago. This is also the first time the industry’s tuna exports have reached an export value of $ billion, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep). This result contributes to the seafood industry's export turnover of $11 billion in 2022. Vietnam's tuna products have been exported to 99 markets around the world. Among them, the US, the European Union (EU), the countries in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Israel, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the Philippines and Egypt are Vietnam's largest tuna importers, accounting for 92 per cent of total export value. Notably, in the CPTPP market, exports to Japan grew continuously in the last quarter of 2022. In December alone, tuna exports to Japan increased by 131 per cent over the same period last year, contributing to bringing Vietnam's tuna to the CPTPP market to nearly $136 million, up 48 per cent compared to 2021. In the whole year of 2022, Vietnam's tuna exports to the CPTPP market reached nearly $136 million, up 48 per cent compared to 2021. The EU, Germany, Spain and Belgium were the three largest importers of Vietnamese tuna in the EU last year. Particularly in December 2022, tuna exports to Germany and Spain are increasing gallopingly at 3 digits, 161 per cent and 117 per cent, respectively. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/496/new-zealands-horticulture-sector-targets-12-bn-in-exports-by-2035.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/496/new-zealands-horticulture-sector-targets-12-bn-in-exports-by-2035.html Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:33:36 +0530 In 2023, horticulture exports are expected to top a record $7.1 billion. New Zealand’s new Government and industry strategy launched has its sights on growing the value of New Zealand’s horticultural production to $12 billion by 2035, Damien O’ConnorAgriculture Minister said. “Our food and fibre exports are vital to New Zealand’s economic security. We’re focussed on long-term strategies that build on the year-on-year record revenue earned by our farmers and growers,” Damien O’Connor said. “Since 2017, primary sector export revenue has grown by 39 per cent to a record $53 billion last year, with horticulture contributing $6.7 billion. In 2023, horticulture exports are expected to top a record $7.1 billion. “The new Horticulture - Growing Together 2035 - Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan Strategy set out the pathway to achieve an ambitious and achievable goal. “New Zealand has worked hard to build an excellent brand for quality. We’re fortunate to have one of the best climates and some of the most fertile soil in the world providing the right foundations to grow world-class produce,” Damien O’Connor said. The Growing Together 2035 Strategy’s vision is that ‘Aotearoa New Zealand is synonymous with world-leading healthy produce, which is grown with care for people and place, and is enjoyed by consumers around the world.’ “The Horticulture Strategy sets bold outcomes and actions to maximise value, boost sustainability, increase Māori participation in high-value horticulture, and attract and retain the right people,” Damien O’Connor said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/494/philippines-strengthens-production-of-high-quality-durian-export-to-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/494/philippines-strengthens-production-of-high-quality-durian-export-to-china.html Thu, 02 Feb 2023 14:17:08 +0530 China will be importing more than 5.7 million kilos of fresh durian per season The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) is taking the lead in strengthening the production of Grade-A durian through its Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP). The DA has been overseeing the ongoing registration of exporters, packing facility operators, and growers of durian, with five licensed exporters, six licensed packing facility operators, and 65 registered durian growers registered in the Davao Region. Under the DA’s Enhanced KADIWA Grant, durian growers and farmer cooperatives have also been extended financial assistance and support.     A training session for DA-BPI Plant Quarantine officers, inspectors, and other stakeholders on durian pests and diseases will also be scheduled by the DA. The training will include topics on cultural management to improve technical knowledge, further ensuring the quality of fresh durian for export to Chinese markets. President Marcos was able to secure the signing of the Protocol of the Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Durians from the Philippines to China in January, during his three-day State Visit to China. The demand for durian is estimated to be higher than the $150 million (P8.24 B) worth of exports during the first year of the implementation of the ‘Durian Protocol.’ China will be importing more than 5.7 million kilos of fresh durian per season. The bilateral venture between the Philippines and China is seen to generate at least 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/493/oman-government-confirms-safety-of-imported-agri-products.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/493/oman-government-confirms-safety-of-imported-agri-products.html Thu, 02 Feb 2023 13:59:07 +0530 Agricultural products in the country and those exported to Oman come from sources registered with the concerned regulatory Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) has confirmed the safety of all imported agricultural products. It denied rumours of Oman is stopping agricultural shipments from one country in the region. A statement issued by MAFWR said, ‘The ministry would like to clarify regarding what is being circulated in social media about Oman stopping imports of agricultural products from a country. This information is incorrect and all imports of agricultural products from all countries are subject to examination and analysis according to a food control programme of the competent authority in the ministry.’ A team from the Centre for Food Safety and Quality and the Agricultural Quarantine Department visited the country at its request to find out about aspects of export regulations there. ‘The team confirmed that agricultural products in the country and those exported to Oman come from sources registered with the concerned regulatory authorities and farms are monitored to ensure correct agricultural practices.’ ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/476/philippines-research-institute-sets-a-master-plan-for-rubber-treatment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/476/philippines-research-institute-sets-a-master-plan-for-rubber-treatment.html Mon, 30 Jan 2023 13:02:06 +0530 Under a one-year treatment plan, the rubber trees will undergo mist fogging, drone aerial spraying of fungicide, fertilisation and weed management. The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved the allocation of P110 million in additional funds requested by the Philippine Rubber Research Institute (PRRI) intended to treat infected rubber plantations in the province of Basilan in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The supplemental budget is deemed necessary following the outbreak of Pestalotiopsis disease in more than 800 hectares of plantation in the province, infecting 40-100 per cent of trees. Pestalotiopsis leaf fall disease can cause the gradual falling of leaves. If left untreated, it will cause the tree to become leafless. Leaf fall or defoliation results in a decrease in the number of canopies in the rubber plant which decreases its latex production. The Malaysian Rubber Board, in 2020, reported that the disease poses risk, which may result in defoliation of up to 90 per cent and latex yield reduction of up to 50-80 per cent. Given the degree of infection, PRRI will set out a team of experts to oversee the treatment of the affected plantations. Coordination with the provincial government of Basilan has also been undertaken for the swift execution of control measures. Under a one-year treatment plan, the rubber trees will undergo mist fogging, drone aerial spraying of fungicide, fertilisation and weed management. The fungi Pestalotiopsis sp. which causes leaf fall disease can co-infect other pathogens and may cross-infect other crops, such as mango and palms which are also massively produced in BARMM. The disease has already destroyed rubber plantations in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other rubber-producing Asian countries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/475/sfa-bans-import-of-broiler-chicken-from-a-malaysian-farm.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/475/sfa-bans-import-of-broiler-chicken-from-a-malaysian-farm.html Mon, 30 Jan 2023 12:35:09 +0530 The drug has been found in samples collected from an imported consignment of broilers from the farm Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has suspended live broiler Chicken from Malaysia’s Cab Cakaran farm due to the detection of drug residues exceeding MRLs.  According to the SFA, the drug has been found in samples collected from an imported consignment of broilers from the farm.   In June last year, Malaysia decided to ban the export of chicken up to 3.6 million live and fresh chickens. At that time Singapore government sourced alternative options for countries like Thailand and Indonesia.   In the month of October Malaysia lifted the ban on the import of live chicken and chicken products. Malaysia had said that Singapore would receive about 1.8 million Malaysian broiler chickens a month. According to the data Singapore imports chicken from Brazil, Malaysia, USA, Argentina and Denmark. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/471/adb-500-mn-loans-to-support-philippine-agriculture-reforms.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/471/adb-500-mn-loans-to-support-philippine-agriculture-reforms.html Fri, 27 Jan 2023 13:21:42 +0530 This new program supports effective rice buffer stock management for emergency situations and relief programs to ensure food security in the Philippines. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to help the Government of the Philippines expand economic opportunities in agriculture while ensuring near- to long-term food security for the population. The loan supports Subprogram 2 of the Competitive and Inclusive Agriculture Development Program, which aims to further develop the agriculture sector with trade policy and regulatory framework reforms. It also seeks to enhance public services and finance for the sector and social protection for rural families affected by the program’s reforms. “Extreme climate events and economic shocks are exacerbating the struggles of the agriculture sector to raise their productivity,” said Takeshi Ueda ADB Principal Natural Resources and Agriculture Economist for Southeast Asia. “This new loan aims to support the Philippines’ efforts to attain food security by building a competitive and inclusive agriculture sector that is characterized by improved efficiency, enhanced diversity, strengthened climate resilience, and higher farm incomes.” The second subprogram continues support for policy measures introduced in the first subprogram approved in 2020. Those policy measures are aligned with the recently launched Philippine Development Plan, 2023–2028. Building on the rice trade liberalisation under subprogram 1, this new program supports effective rice buffer stock management for emergency situations and relief programs to ensure food security in the Philippines. The new loan promotes new government initiatives, including the provision of unconditional cash transfers to smallholder rice farmers and concessional loans to agriculture- and fishery-based micro and small enterprises and smallholder farmers and fisherfolk under COVID-19 recovery and other credit assistance programs. The government provides substantive financing through the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund to strengthen the country’s rice sector. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/470/adb-dsng-sign-sustainability-linked-loan-to-support-agroforestry-in-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/470/adb-dsng-sign-sustainability-linked-loan-to-support-agroforestry-in-indonesia.html Fri, 27 Jan 2023 10:51:51 +0530 A $500,000 technical assistance grant administered by ADB will provide capacity building in climate-resilient agricultural practices. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $15 million loan facility with PT Dharma Satya Nusantara Tbk (DSNG) to help the company expand sustainable wood processing, rural livelihood development, and climate-resilient agroforestry in Java, Indonesia. The ADB proceeds will finance capital expenditure to implement energy-efficient and water-saving processes, and procurement of cultivated native Indonesian Sengon and Jabon trees. Farmed native trees can be a sustainable alternative to natural timber, preventing deforestation and supporting biodiversity.  DSNG sources timber from Central, East, and West Java. The majority of Sengon and Jabon trees are cultivated by smallholder farmers and intercropped with various other crops including coffee, corn, and rice. As well as enabling the utilisation of otherwise unproductive land, intercropping trees with food crops can reduce erosion, enhance soil health, and in many cases improve crop yields.  “The region faces increasing climate shocks, impacting livelihoods, food, water, and health for millions of people with women disproportionately affected,” said ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department Senior Investment Specialist Carine Donges. “ADB’s assistance will promote sustainable and inclusive agroforestry, preventing deforestation and supporting biodiversity, while demonstrating how the private sector can improve rural livelihoods and climate resilience through innovative sourcing models and by providing training to farmers.” A $500,000 technical assistance grant administered by ADB will provide capacity building in climate-resilient agricultural practices for complex agroforestry systems and financial literacy to about 4,000 farmers, at least 1,200 of them women.  As a sustainability-linked loan, this financing demonstrates ADB’s and DSNG’s commitment to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future. It is DSNG’s first sustainability-linked financing, with adjustments in pricing upon achieving pre-defined annual sustainability targets, including training farmers to obtain forest management certification from the Forest Stewardship Council. The sustainability-linked loan has received an independent second-party opinion, consistent with industry principles.    “Sustainability is embedded in how DSNG runs its business, and we are constantly driving ourselves to achieve value and positive impacts. This sustainability-linked loan with ADB dovetails with our vision to be a business that is responsible for our people, our planet and our common prosperity,” said Jenti Widjaja DSNG Director. “By incorporating sustainability metrics through key aspects of our business, from our supply chain and operations to financing, we aim to strengthen the alignment between creating value and delivering positive impacts for all of our stakeholders in our wood business.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/459/united-arab-emirates-consumption-of-fruit-and-vegetables-grow.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/459/united-arab-emirates-consumption-of-fruit-and-vegetables-grow.html Tue, 24 Jan 2023 12:13:51 +0530 Fresh Up Your Life, support the promotion of high-quality, nutritious and healthy fresh products in the United Arab Emirates until 2025. In the first half of 2022, the UAE recorded an import rate of over 41,000 tonnes of food per day. The figure is forecasted to grow due to a number of factors, including population growth, the strong demand for imported products by foreigners living in the country and the significant expansion of the tourism sector with a high number of new hotels and resorts opened in recent years. Consumers in the UAE have begun to include more fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet. The government's commitment to addressing the alarming rates of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease among the population and the recent pandemic, have changed the local consumption scenarios; according to research commissioned by the Irish Food Board, 50 per cent of the consumers from the UAE declared that they increasingly choose foods that help strengthen their immune system; 52 per cent agree with the importance of the traceability factor in the products they consume and 56 per cent think that quality standards are even more critical today. Fresh Up Your Life, the CSO Italy project funded by the European Union, support the promotion of high-quality, nutritious and healthy new products in the United Arab Emirates until 2025, highlighting the themes of sustainability, clarity and traceability of the supply chain. Apofruit Italia, Cico-Mazzoni, Conserve Italia, Lagnasco Group, Oranfrizer, Origine, and Unacoa also participate in the programme. Kiwis, apples, pears, blood oranges, and pureed tomatoes are the products on which the project will focus. "The increasing demand for genuine products and the healthy lifestyle trend, represent an important driving force for the growth of Italian fruit and vegetable which are recognised and appreciated by the local consumers for their high quality," said Paolo Bruni, President of CSO Italy. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/454/dmcc-and-bsaf-collaborate-to-boost-agri-commodities-trade-with-south-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/454/dmcc-and-bsaf-collaborate-to-boost-agri-commodities-trade-with-south-asia.html Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:59:30 +0530 MoU to focus on FoodTech and AgriTech projects, business opportunities, and knowledge transfer through events. The world’s flagship free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise – and the Bharat Subcontinent Agri Foundation (BSAF) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will see the two entities collaborate to advance the global agricultural (agri) commodities sector between the UAE and South Asia. The agreement was signed by Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, and Sudhakar Tomar, Chairman of BSAF, at the inaugural South Asia Agri Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal. Targeting the growth of the global agri commodities sector and solidifying agri trade ties between the UAE and the South Asian subcontinent – which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal – the MoU will see DMCC and BSAF partner in FoodTech and AgriTech projects, share prospective business opportunities and enhance knowledge transfer through exhibitions and conferences. On the signing, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, said, “DMCC has a longstanding and proud track record doing business with South Asia. Today, we are home to over 4,250 members from the region covering agri and many other sectors. The timing of this MOU with BSAF is strategically very important as trade has soared between the UAE and South Asia in recent years and will only grow further with the signing of new CEPA agreements and food trade corridors, including the recent UAE-India CEPA.” Sudhakar Tomar, Chairman of BSAF, said, “We are delighted to partner with DMCC in building the next chapter of agri-food trade between South Asia and the UAE. This is a vibrant new partnership which will provide crucial knowledge sharing in the wider efforts to grow South Asia’s connectivity and enhance food security at the regional and global levels.” DMCC has a longstanding history of driving agri trade between South Asia and the UAE. With growing awareness of global food security issues, agri goods occupy an increasingly strategic role in DMCC’s commodities mix, which encompasses tea, coffee, soya, sugar, spices and many other agri commodities. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/453/egypts-agricultural-exports-hit-a-record-high-in-2022.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/453/egypts-agricultural-exports-hit-a-record-high-in-2022.html Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:31:49 +0530 In 2022, Egypt opened 16 new markets for its agricultural products, including China, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Pakistan and the US. Egypt's agricultural exports reached 6.3 million tons in 2022, marking a new record high, with an increase of more than 624,000 tons from 2021, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture. This came “despite the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the disruption in international trade movement,” the ministry said. In 2022, Egypt opened 16 new markets for its agricultural products, including China, Japan, the US, New Zealand, Philippines, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and South Africa. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/452/china-approves-import-of-8-gm-crops.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/452/china-approves-import-of-8-gm-crops.html Mon, 23 Jan 2023 13:17:22 +0530 Bayer CropScience's herbicide-tolerant genetically modified alfalfa received its first approval after waiting as long as ten years.  The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China has approved imports of eight genetically modified (GM) crops, which includes GM alfalfa for the first time. After a decade-long wait, the Chinese agriculture ministry gave approval for five years. At the same time, Beijing pledged to speed up the approval process of genetically modified products and promote the commercialisation of genetically modified products in the market under the first phase of the trade agreement reached with the United States in 2020. This approval not only opens the door for foreign countries to supply and export markets but also paves the way for more genetically modified crops to be planted in China. China is one of the world's largest agricultural markets, but China has so far only allowed the import of genetically modified crops for animal feed and has not approved the cultivation of any major genetically modified food crops. For example, sugarcane, canola, and alfalfa for animal feed and cotton for textiles were approved. The approval process has been slow amid official wariness about GM crops. Therefore, this approval is a positive step in addressing the long-standing challenges faced by biotech developers in obtaining import approvals in China. Among them, Bayer CropScience's herbicide-tolerant genetically modified alfalfa received its first approval after waiting as long as ten years. For alfalfa growers in all continents of the United States, China's approval of the import of genetically modified alfalfa undoubtedly provides them with an opportunity to expand their planting scale and also accelerates the commercialisation process of genetically modified alfalfa in the Chinese market.   China has also approved three domestically produced genetically modified products, including 2 GM corn projects and 1 GM soybean project. The corn project is the insect-resistant and herbicide-resistant corn BFL4-2 with cry1Ab, cry1F and cp4epsps genes jointly developed by Longping High-Tech and the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the herbicide-resistant corn CC-2 with the mark ACC gene jointly developed by China Forest Seed Group and Agricultural University. The soybean project is the insect-resistant soybean CAL16 with cry1Ab/vip3Da gene transgenic developed by Hangzhou Ruifeng.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/451/egypt-to-launch-an-initiative-to-support-agriculture-with-11-interest-rate-loans.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/451/egypt-to-launch-an-initiative-to-support-agriculture-with-11-interest-rate-loans.html Mon, 23 Jan 2023 11:48:24 +0530 Egypt’s government will afford about EGP 10 billion as the interest rate spread to aid the sectors. The Egyptian government has approved an initiative to support the agricultural and industrial sector with EGP 150 billion ($5.4 billion) worth of loans at a subsidised 11 per cent interest rate, Mostafa Madbouly Prime Minister informed this in a press conference. The Prime Minister mentioned that it would replace the Central Bank of Egypt’s (CBE) initiative that backs industries with an interest rate of 8 per cent. Madbouly also said that the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC) also agreed that producers and manufacturers would afford an interest rate of 11 per cent under the initiative, with the government to bear the remaining. Egypt’s government will afford about EGP 10 billion as the interest rate spread to aid the industrial and agricultural sectors. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/444/chinas-shandong-agricultural-exports-reach-20-62-bn.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/444/chinas-shandong-agricultural-exports-reach-20-62-bn.html Thu, 19 Jan 2023 15:14:45 +0530 It accounts for 21.3 per cent of the total value of China's agricultural exports. The agricultural exports of east China's Shandong Province hit a record high in 2022, ranking first in the country for 24 consecutive years, according to the Xinhua news agency. In 2022, Shandong's agricultural exports reached 139.4 billion yuan ($20.62 billion), up 12.6 per cent from the previous year. It accounts for 21.3 per cent of the total value of China's agricultural exports, according to data. Last year, the agricultural products in Shandong were mainly exported to Japan, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the European Union. The export value of aquatic products, vegetables, and edible fungi accounted for 45.5 per cent of the total export value of agricultural products in Shandong. Data showed that the value of Shandong's foreign trade reached 3.33 trillion yuan in 2022, another record high, with a year-on-year growth of 13.8 per cent. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/440/japan-becomes-the-largest-market-for-taiwanese-fruits.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/440/japan-becomes-the-largest-market-for-taiwanese-fruits.html Wed, 18 Jan 2023 15:40:38 +0530 Japan became the largest market for Taiwanese fruit exports accounting for 46.2 per cent in 2022 Japan has surpassed China as the largest market for Taiwan’s fruit exports according to data from Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA). China was a major importer of Taiwanese fruit exports, but it imposed a ban on pineapples, sugar apples, wax apples, citrus and other fruits recently. According to the local media, Japan was the focus of the Taiwan response as it joined exporters in exploring other channels. As a result, the value of Taiwan’s agricultural product exports to Japan in 2022 reached $850, an increase of 11 per cent from a year ago. Japan became the largest market for Taiwanese fruit exports accounting for 46.2 per cent in 2022, meanwhile, China accounted for only 1.6 per cent.  The value of Taiwanese pineapples exported to Japan reached $ 24.05 million in 2022, an increase of 5.8 per cent over the previous year.  The COA has connected fruit distributors in Taiwan and Japan and announced in December 2022 that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese produce chain Wismettac Foods to import at least 3,500 tonnes of Taiwanese pineapples, 1,500 tonnes of bananas, and 100 tonnes of frozen pineapples. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/431/asian-producers-would-stop-palm-oil-export-to-eu-after-a-new-law.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/431/asian-producers-would-stop-palm-oil-export-to-eu-after-a-new-law.html Tue, 17 Jan 2023 12:34:21 +0530 The EU is a major palm oil importer and the law agreed to in December, has raised an outcry from Indonesia and Malaysia. Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producers, have decided to jointly deal with the latest EU act on deforestation affecting palm oil exports. The European Union previously announced that it planned to restrict the import of palm oil products involved in deforestation in the production process. Malaysia is actively discussing with Indonesia the feasibility of completely stopping the export of palm oil to the EU. The EU is a major palm oil importer and the law agreed to in December, has raised an outcry from Indonesia and Malaysia, the top producers. According to the local media, if both countries need to engage experts from overseas to counter whatever move by the EU, they will do it. Or else Malaysia and Indonesia could just stop exports to Europe and will focus on other countries. Environmental activities blame the palm oil industry for the rampant clearing of Southeast Asian rainforests, though Indonesia and Malaysia have created sustainability certification standards mandatory for all plantations. Malaysia urged the members of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) to work together against the new law. Allegations made by the EU and the United States about the sustainability of palm oil are baseless said the Malaysian Government. CPOPC, which is led by Indonesia and Malaysia, has previously accused the EU of unfairly targeting palm oil. Responding to Malaysia, the EU’s ambassador to Malaysia said it was not banning any imports of palm oil from the country and denied that its deforestation law created barriers to Malaysian exports. The EU is the world’s third-largest palm oil consumer, according to Malaysian Palm Oil Board data. It accounts for 9.4 per cent of palm oil exports from Malaysia, taking 1.47 million tonnes in 2022, down 10.5 per cent from a year earlier. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/429/philippines-seizes-4000-metric-tons-of-smuggled-sugar.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/429/philippines-seizes-4000-metric-tons-of-smuggled-sugar.html Mon, 16 Jan 2023 17:33:35 +0530 The smuggled goods were intercepted by a combined team of the Philippines Customs Police Division-Enforcement and Security Service and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service. Philippines Customs authorities seized 80,000 bags or 4000 metric tons of smuggled imported sugar from Thailand worth at least P240 million. According to the local media, the sugar shipment was consigned to Stone Int'l. Co. Ltd. The cargo manifest identified the shipper as The Thai Sugar Trading Corp. The smuggled goods were intercepted by a combined team of Philippines Customs Police Division-Enforcement and Security Service and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service personnel with the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard in the vicinity of Bauan and Mabini breakwaters in Batangas. The operation was launched following intelligence information that vessel VOI MV Sunward was carrying the sugar without filing the required Notice of Arrival with the Bureau of Customs. The Port of Batangas issued the corresponding Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the vessel and sugar shipment. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/427/urgent-long-term-investment-needs-in-rural-development-to-prevent-food-crises-ifad.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/427/urgent-long-term-investment-needs-in-rural-development-to-prevent-food-crises-ifad.html Mon, 16 Jan 2023 16:13:12 +0530 At least an additional $30 billion per year in investments are needed according to pre-COVID-19 estimates. Ahead of the annual gathering of world leaders in Davos, Alvaro Lario, President of the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), warns of the urgent need to invest at speed and scale in long-term rural development to prevent recurring food crises and end hunger and poverty. "We cannot continue to go from food crisis to food crisis. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," said Lario. At Davos, Lario will be calling for a massive scale-up of investments in agriculture, and long-term rural development from governments, investors and companies with the view to ensure food sovereignty, an issue that has become critical for developing countries.  At least an additional $30 billion per year in investments are needed according to pre-COVID-19 estimates, now the costs are even higher. Donor support for agriculture has been stagnant at just 4 per cent of total ODA for at least two decades, far from what is needed. "Only long-term investments in rural economies can provide long-lasting solutions to hunger, undernutrition and poverty. This is what will enable small-scale farmers to increase local production, adapt to climate change, build local food chains, sustain local markets and commercial opportunities, and create small rural businesses," said the IFAD President. The world is experiencing an unprecedented food crisis due to high food, energy and fertilizer prices linked to the war in Ukraine, and climate shocks. Key drivers of hunger remain conflict, climate change and the global economic slowdown. The number of people facing acute food insecurity soared to 345 million in 2022. Currently, 49 million people live on the edge of famine. About 828 million people are undernourished. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/425/new-zealand-announces-100000-funds-for-farmers-in-flood-damage-districts.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/425/new-zealand-announces-100000-funds-for-farmers-in-flood-damage-districts.html Mon, 16 Jan 2023 15:49:25 +0530 This funding will help in the clean-up, enable one-on-one mentoring support, and strengthen local connections through gatherings and events to support the region’s recovery. New Zealand’s Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor has classified Cyclone Hale which caused significant flood damage across the Tairāwhiti, Gisborne District as a medium-scale adverse event, unlocking Government support for farmers and growers. “We’re making up to $100,000 available to help coordinate efforts as farmers and growers recover from the heavy rain and subsequent flood damage across the Tairāwhiti region,” Damien O'Connor said. “The effects of Cyclone Hale follow hard on the heels of other recent storm clean-ups in the region, compounding stresses for those involved. “It’s important to help those farmers and growers now facing a big clean-up effort after the storm dumped over 200mm of rain over 24 hours in some parts of the district,” Damien O’Connor said. The Ministry for Primary Industries will continue to work closely with adverse event networks and sector groups to monitor the storm’s impact and determine where the need is and how the funding will be allocated. A state of emergency remains in place across the district and many roads remain closed. “This funding will help in the clean-up, enable one-on-one mentoring support, and strengthen local connection through gatherings and events to support the region’s recovery,” Damien O’Connor said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/423/new-zealands-wool-project-aims-to-put-money-back-in-farmers-pockets.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/423/new-zealands-wool-project-aims-to-put-money-back-in-farmers-pockets.html Fri, 13 Jan 2023 13:19:35 +0530 The project will predominantly focus on working out the right components and blends to create a range of woollen knops for different products. New Zealand’s strong wool could bring a sustainable bounce back into soft upholstery – and woolgrowers’ bank accounts – through a new project seeking an alternative to synthetic fillers. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI's) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund is committing $790,000 over three years to a project led by Wisewool aimed at increasing the market potential of woollen knops – the small, light fluffy balls used as a filler ingredient. "This project has the potential to improve returns to our strong wool producers and provide an environmentally friendly alternative to existing products made from synthetic materials," says Steve Penno, MPI’s director of investment programmes. "Wisewool will also conduct research and development of needle punched wool blanketing, which can be used in residential and commercial furniture upholstery, insulation for the apparel industry, bedding, and futon markets." Henry Hansen CEO Wisewool says the project will predominantly focus on working out the right components and blends to create a range of woollen knops for different products. "We’ve discovered that when used in large quantities as a filler ingredient, woollen knops increase the bounce-back and compression resilience of the fibre. "We’ll continue researching and comparing the compression resilience of both wool and synthetic fibres, and will adjust our carding machines to produce various wool knop blends. "We’ll also conduct an environmental impact analysis and in-market testing." Steve Penno says one of the main drivers for funding this project was its potential to provide an alternative, high-value use for New Zealand’s strong wool.  "The project also aligns with the goals of the sector and government Fit for a Better World roadmap, which aims to boost sustainability, productivity, and jobs over 10 years. "Through SFF Futures we’ve invested more than $14.69 million in 15 strong wool projects to date, from strong wool acoustic wall panels to strong wool-based adhesive bandages. "By working together with industry leaders and innovators, and thinking outside the box, we have the opportunity to turn our homegrown wool industry around." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/420/ottopia-announces-14-5m-series-funding-round.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/420/ottopia-announces-14-5m-series-funding-round.html Fri, 13 Jan 2023 10:51:09 +0530 Ottopia's mission is to enable autonomy in multiple industries such as agriculture, mobility, logistics, freight, and last-mile delivery. Israel-based Ottopia announced that it has raised $14.5 million in its Series a funding round. It includes participation from ComfortDelGro, one of the world's largest public transport companies, AI Alliance Fund, and existing investors such as MizMaa Ventures, IN Venture and Next Gear Ventures. This marks the largest Series A in the history of teleoperation companies. Ottopia's mission is to enable autonomy in multiple industries such as mobility, logistics, freight, last-mile delivery, agriculture, and construction. Its teleoperation software enables autonomous vehicles and machines to do things they otherwise cannot while allowing their developers to dramatically cut R&D costs, commercialise faster and comply with regulatory requirements for deployment. With Ottopia's product, humans in a remote centre can safely monitor, guide and even directly control vehicles' fleets in a safe and cyber-secure manner. Ottopia's patented technology is built upon numerous innovations in the domains of networking, video, user experience, cybersecurity, and integration with the autonomous ‘brain’. Their software has been tested and deployed in a variety of environments, making it an essential tool for enabling the widespread adoption of autonomous technology. "We've always believed in the potential of Ottopia. The team's unwavering dedication and drive have consistently impressed us, and we've been honoured to support them every step of the way," said Aaron Applbaum, Partner at MizMaa Ventures. "Ottopia's successful Series A is a triumph that showcases their hard work and vision. They are solving for a key missing link in the future of connected, autonomous everything." Cheng Siak Kian, Group CEO of ComfortDelGro said: "This investment in Ottopia is an important cornerstone of our future-proofing plans. Having teleoperation capabilities which will enable us to intervene and operate an AV remotely whenever needed, is critical in our future operational plans." With this new funding, Ottopia plans to accelerate the roll-out of its teleoperation software to fulfil its mission of enabling autonomy in all industries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/417/philippines-landbank-caps-off-2022-with-4-new-agri-hubs-for-farmers-fisher.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/417/philippines-landbank-caps-off-2022-with-4-new-agri-hubs-for-farmers-fisher.html Thu, 12 Jan 2023 13:39:09 +0530 The opening of LANDBANK’s new Agri-Hubs raises the total number of the Bank’s Agri-Hubs in the country to 16, complementing the Bank’s 607 Branches. The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) wrapped up 2022 with the opening of four new Agri-Hubs located in the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, expanding its physical touchpoints to better serve farmers and fishers in the country. The state-run bank established the four Agri-Hubs in the last week of December, which will provide combined services of banking, lending and agrarian services to the country’s top rice-producing provinces, including unbanked and underserved rice farming areas. “Our continued expansion of LANDBANK Agri-Hubs across the country forms part of our commitment to deliver responsive and timely financial services to the agriculture sector, especially to small farmers and fishers. We strive to make our banking products and services more accessible especially in underserved areas to help boost agricultural production and build stronger local communities,” said Cecilia C. Borromeo LANDBANK President and CEO. LANDBANK Agri-Hubs offer banking services such as account opening, withdrawals, and check encashments, lending services such as the processing of loan applications; and agrarian services such as processing of Agrarian Reform (AR) bonds and handling of agrarian-related concerns from landowners, bondholders, and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). The opening of LANDBANK’s new Agri-Hubs raises the total number of the Bank’s Agri-Hubs in the country to 16, complementing the Bank’s 607 Branches and 58 Lending Centers nationwide, as of end-December 2022.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/415/vietnams-agro-forestry-fishery-exports-hit-a-new-record-last-year.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/415/vietnams-agro-forestry-fishery-exports-hit-a-new-record-last-year.html Thu, 12 Jan 2023 13:00:59 +0530 Export turnover of the agro-forestry-fishery (AFF) industry reached $53.22 billion, up 9.3 per cent compared to 2021. Vietnam’s agricultural sector’s  GDP in 2022 reached 3.36 per cent, the highest increase in recent years in which, agriculture increased by 2.88 per cent (cultivation increased by 1.51 per cent, livestock production increased by 5.93 per cent), fisheries increased by 4.43 per cent, forestry increased by 6.13 per cent; forest coverage rate is over 42.02 per cent, the percentage of communes meeting new rural standards is over 73 per cent, export turnover of agro-forestry-fishery (AFF) industry reached $53.22 billion, up 9.3 per cent compared to 2021; trade surplus of over $8.5 billion. According to Nguyen Van Viet, Director of the Planning Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the production structure continues to be adjusted to be more appropriate and more effective in association with the market, increasing the proportion of the industry and agro-forestry products with competitive advantages and high value, quality assurance, food safety. The product consumption markets continue to be expanded in both categories and products, focusing on the domestic market; promptly removing many trade barriers. In 2022, AFF exports reached a record high of $53.22 billion, up 9.3 per cent compared to 2021, with a trade surplus of over $8.5 billion, in which there are seven products groups with a turnover of over $3 billion (wood and wood products reached $10.92 billion, shrimp $4.33 billion, coffee $3.94 billion, rice $3.49 billion, rubber $3.31 billion, $3.34 billion, cashew nuts $3.07 billion). In 2023, it is forecast that the economy will continue to face many difficulties and challenges such as inflation pressure and a sharp increase in production costs, climate change is more and more obvious and extreme, with changes in demand and new consumption patterns, especially the impact from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, the Agriculture and Rural Development sector still set development goals with the following targets, GDP growth rate of the whole industry reached 3.0 per cent. The total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products is $54 billion. In order to achieve the set targets, the whole agriculture and rural sector continue to promote restructuring towards the development of modern, ecological agriculture, and circular economy, focusing on solving difficulties and obstacles, diseases, minimising the negative impact of the epidemic and market fluctuations to increase exports, make good use of opportunities from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreements EVFTA, Comprehensive Partnership Agreement and Trans-Pacific Progress CTPPP for Vietnamese agricultural products. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/413/fao-supports-pakistan-to-transform-agrifood-systems.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/413/fao-supports-pakistan-to-transform-agrifood-systems.html Wed, 11 Jan 2023 15:36:22 +0530 FAO has mobilised over $25 million and has provided over 600 000 affected people with seeds and fertilizers. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) will continue to play a leading role in transforming Pakistan’s agrifood systems to make them more efficient, inclusive, sustainable and resilient, a challenge that has gained urgency following recent floods that have devastated the country’s agriculture sector, QU Dongyu Director-General told a UN conference. International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva, co-hosted by the Government of Pakistan and the UN, took place in the wake of last summer’s floods, which had a particularly destructive impact on the Asian country’s agriculture sectors and on the smallholders who rely on agriculture for their livelihood. Pakistan had already experienced devastating floods in 2010 and is considered among the top 10 countries in the world most affected by the climate crisis. “FAO will continue to provide support to the Government of Pakistan - from immediate response to long-term recovery and resilience building,” Qu told the conference, which saw interventions from a range of global leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shebaz Sharif and French President Emmanuel Macron. An estimated 4.4 million acres of farmland enough to cultivate crops for 14.6 million people were damaged, and more than 800 000 animals were lost in the most recent floods. In all, more than $9 billion in losses were incurred by the agriculture sector. What’s more, over 80 per cent of such losses were absorbed by the crop sub-sector, which means that food production will be compromised in the immediate future without substantial support. The FAO Director-General called for the protection of livestock assets – the last remaining asset for many affected families as well as for urgent support to farmers to secure the Rabi planting season. To date, FAO has mobilised over $25 million and has provided over 600 000 affected people with seeds and fertilizers. In addition, livestock vaccination campaigns have been completed in the Balochistan Province and are being finalised in Sindh, while livestock feed distribution will begin shortly, Qu said. FAO has also been leading preparations for the agriculture, fisheries and livestock section of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment and has contributed to developing the livelihoods component of the UN’s Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework (4RF). Under the 4R framework, at least $4 billion are urgently needed to facilitate the immediate recovery of the agriculture sector and to lay the foundations for lasting resilience. Other examples of FAO’s role in Pakistan include the provision of technical leadership for the Transforming Indus Basin Initiative, funded by the Green Climate Fund. Through this programme, some 1.3 million people in vulnerable areas of the Indus River basin will see improved yields and increased returns of between 30 and 80 per cent in their production. In all, about 16 million people will benefit from the programme, either directly or indirectly. More recently, FAO has begun rolling out a European Union-funded programme to revive water resources in Balochistan. This project seeks to harness the province’s limited water resources and ensure their smarter use in agriculture, alongside improved rangeland management for livestock rearing.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/409/rural-china-to-see-robust-consumption-agriculture-minister.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/409/rural-china-to-see-robust-consumption-agriculture-minister.html Wed, 11 Jan 2023 11:10:17 +0530 The ministry will work on the supply and distribution channels to expand the output of green, organic, and new agricultural products. China is unleashing the consumption potential of rural areas, Tang Renjian, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.  The minister pledged work to activate the rural market amid the country's efforts to promote rural revitalisation and build up strength in agriculture.  Along with a rising income for rural residents, rural consumption is expected to accelerate upgrading, and it is expected that about 2 trillion yuan (about $290 billion) of new consumption demand will be created annually, he said.  This year, the ministry will work on the supply and distribution channels to expand the output of green, organic, and new agricultural products, and expand the rural coverage of e-commerce and logistics, he said.  The ministry will input more on rural construction, Tang said. It is estimated that investment demand for rural construction, such as high-standard farmland and facilities, will hit nearly 15 trillion yuan in the next five to 10 years, and this will boost sectors such as building materials, cement, reinforcement, and machinery, he said.  More efforts will be made to build a number of storage and fresh-keeping facilities, cold chain distribution centres, and large cold chain logistics bases in the production areas, and further improve rural water, electricity, gas, living, and other conditions, he said.  More should be done to boost the development of rural industries in helping rural residents increase their income. He highlighted efforts to expand the agricultural product processing and circulation industry, promote the integration of agriculture, culture and tourism, develop rural e-commerce, and promote the whole-chain upgrading of rural industries.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/408/china-to-import-philippines-durian-soon.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/408/china-to-import-philippines-durian-soon.html Wed, 11 Jan 2023 09:51:28 +0530 China is the third largest consumption country of durian, importing 822,000 tons of durian worth $4.21 billion in 2021. China will allow imports of durian from the Philippines after meeting certain requirements, according to the Chinese media.The new step, which gives the Philippines the same market access as Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, comes after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's visit to Beijing last week, during which the two nations inked 14 bilateral deals spanning infrastructure investment and agricultural cooperation.Among the deals, a protocol was signed that China will import fresh durian from the Philippines. The Philippines is one of China’s important tropical fruit suppliers.  According to statistics from the Philippine Department of Agriculture, from 2014 to 2021, the Philippines' fresh durian exports have been among the top ten in the world. Major export countries and regions include China, Hongkong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Qatar and the United States. China is the third largest consumption country of durian, importing 822,000 tons of durian worth $4.21 billion in 2021. The trade volume between China and the Philippines reached $80.41 billion from January to November 2022, a year-on-year increase of 8.3 per cent. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/406/australias-grower-group-to-develop-water-planning-tools-for-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/406/australias-grower-group-to-develop-water-planning-tools-for-farmers.html Tue, 10 Jan 2023 15:47:19 +0530 The Grower Group Alliance, WaterSmart Dams received $3 million over 3 years in funding from the Future Drought Funds. A significant portion of Australia’s grain harvest is produced in Western Australia's southwest Wheatbelt, despite a drop of more than 20 per cent in annual rainfall since the 1970s. The region’s farmers are among the world's most productive but are working to better understand how their dams can function in dry years. That's where the WaterSmart Dams: Making Dams Work Again project comes in. Led by the Grower Group Alliance, WaterSmart Dams received $3 million over 3 years in funding from the Future Drought Fund’s (FDF) Innovation Grant program and $1 million from the Western Australian state government. Through the FDF South-West Western Australian Adoption and Innovation Hub, and in partnership with regional grower groups, the project is researching ways to make dams function better in drought. This includes co-designing new farm water planning tools to help farm businesses and regional communities become more water-efficient, resilient and profitable, in even the driest years. ‘The South-West Australian Hub is all about collaboration and getting important projects off the ground,’ Mark Holland hub Director told the 2022 FDF Science to Practice Forum. ‘Our core goals and project focus are exemplified by this project and its sister program WaterSmart Farms, which address farmers’ critical water security needs.’ Project partners include Compass Agricultural Alliance, Southern Dirt, Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group and the Fitzgerald Biosphere Group. Researchers are from The University of Western Australia and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/402/philippines-foils-p78-9-mn-smuggled-agri-goods.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/402/philippines-foils-p78-9-mn-smuggled-agri-goods.html Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:13:27 +0530 The Department is set to take legal charges against the illegal importers for violating the Food Safety Act Philippines's Department of Agriculture (DA) continues its intensified measures against agricultural smuggling as the Office of the Assistant Secretary for DA Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA I&E), along with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), successfully seized P78.9 million worth of illegally imported agricultural goods during separate operations at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in last few days. Following tip-offs, the team busted three container vans from Taculog J International Consumer Goods Trading with smuggled fresh red and white onions amounting to P25.3 million on December 27, 2022. The second operation, which was conducted on January 3, 2023, five containers from Taculog J International Consumer Goods Trading and Hutchison Jardine Trading Corporation yielded P27.8 million worth of contrabands—specifically fresh red and white onions, frozen pork stomach pouch cuts, and frozen boneless beef shanks. Meanwhile, P23.58 million worth of illegally imported red onions were also discovered in three container vans from Asterzenmed, Inc. during the January 4, 2023 operation. The latest reported operation, which took place on January 5, 2023, thwarted the unauthorized entry of about P2.2 million worth of fresh carrots found in an Asterzenmed, Inc. container into the country. DA Assistant Secretary for DA Inspectorate and Enforcement James Layug confirmed that intelligence operations for shipments under the three offending consignees are ongoing. The Department is set to take legal charges against the illegal importers for violating the Food Safety Act of 2013 and the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016. According to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, large-scale agricultural smuggling occurs when at least P10 million worth of rice or at least P1 million worth of sugar, corn, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, fish, and cruciferous vegetables—either raw, processed, or preserved—is illegally brought into the country.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/397/china-imports-68000-tonnes-of-corn-from-brazil.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/397/china-imports-68000-tonnes-of-corn-from-brazil.html Mon, 09 Jan 2023 13:30:36 +0530 China and Brazil reached an agreement on corn imports in 2022 The first batch of Brazilian corn with 68,000 tonnes arrived in China's Guangdong Province. According to the Xinhua News Agency, the Brazilian corn imported by China's biggest food trader COFCO arrived at a port in the city of Dongguan, Guangdong, after a voyage of more than a month from Santos Port, Brazil. China and Brazil reached an agreement on corn imports in 2022. Brazil is the world's third-largest corn producer and the second-largest corn exporter. According to the Chinese importer, Brazil in the southern hemisphere and China in the northern hemisphere complement each other in corn harvesting seasons, and importing corn from Brazil has diversified the supply channels of corn in China, thereby easing seasonal and regional fluctuations in supply. The company is expecting several more shipments of Brazilian corn and the supply will gradually become stable.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/395/philippines-china-sign-joint-action-plan-for-agricultural-and-fisheries.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/395/philippines-china-sign-joint-action-plan-for-agricultural-and-fisheries.html Mon, 09 Jan 2023 12:15:13 +0530 Manila and Beijing also had a deal on the handover certificate of the Philippine-Sino Centre for Agricultural Technology-Technological Cooperation Phase III The Philippines and China signed 14 bilateral memoranda of understanding (MoU) during President Ferdinand Marco’s Jr visit to China. These MoUs are in agriculture, infrastructure, development cooperation, maritime security, and tourism, among others. China has resulted in investment pledges of $22.8 billion from Chinese companies. Both countries signed a joint action plan for 2023-2025 on agricultural and fisheries cooperation between and alternative green technology for animal feeds and other agricultural, as well as an MOU on cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Manila and Beijing also had a deal on the handover certificate of the Philippine-Sino Centre for Agricultural Technology-Technological Cooperation Phase III (PHILSCAT-TCP III).  Among the investment deals signed in agribusiness are in coconut and food processing, development of durian production, processing and marketing, as well as an alternative green technology for animal feeds and other agricultural-related products. The Philippines and China also forged two agreements to ensure a sustainable supply of agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizers.  Last year, high prices of fertilizers contributed to the increasing costs of agricultural products.  The Agri sectors with the most considerable export potential to China include fruits, processed or preserved food products and fish and shellfish.  According to the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA), bilateral trade between the Philippines and China from January to October 2022 stood at $32.4 billion. China is one of the country’s largest trading partners with the Philippines. Exports to China in the first 10 months of 2022 amounted to $9.1 billion while imports reached $23.3 billion.  PSA data also showed that total approved investments from China in the country’s major investment promotion agencies from January to September last year only reached PHP1.17 billion ($20.96 million).  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/393/steakholder-foods-receives-grant-of-1mn-to-develop-3d-printed-structured-eel.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/393/steakholder-foods-receives-grant-of-1mn-to-develop-3d-printed-structured-eel.html Fri, 06 Jan 2023 11:35:53 +0530 The initiative is being funded by a grant from the Singapore Israel Industrial R&D Foundation. Steakholder Foods an international deep-tech food company at the forefront of the cultivated meat industry has received its first grant to develop 3D-printed structured eel and grouper products with Singaporean cultivated fish and seafood company Umami Meats. The initiative is being funded by a grant from the Singapore Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (SIIRD), a cooperation between - Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA). Steakholder Foods' partnership with Umami Meats offers a unique opportunity for market entry in the only country in the world where cultivated meat has regulatory approval. The collaboration aims to develop a scalable process for producing structured cultivated fish products. Steakholder Foods will use its newly developed technology for mimicking the flaky texture of cooked fish that was recently submitted for a provisional patent application. The project's first prototype, a structured hybrid grouper product, is expected to be completed by Q1 2023. The product will be printed using Steakholder Foods' proprietary 3D bio-printing technology and bio-inks that will be customized for Umami Meats' cells. Yair Ayalon, VP of Business Development, Steakholder Foods said, "Industry collaborations are a critical aspect of our long-term business strategy. Our partnership with Umami Meats is especially meaningful following our recent patent application for fish texture and because it is being supported by a joint Israeli/Singaporean government initiative of which we are very proud to be a part." Mihir Pershad, CEO and Founder at Umami Meats said, "We are thrilled to be combining our deep knowledge and experience in cultivated seafood with Steakholder Foods' innovative 3D bio-printing technology. We believe this partnership will help us advance our vision of a new, more sustainable food system for preserving our marine ecosystems while delivering exceptional, high quality seafood to meet growing consumer demand." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/391/seedy-concealment-in-shoes-foiled-by-biosecurity-staff-in-australia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/391/seedy-concealment-in-shoes-foiled-by-biosecurity-staff-in-australia.html Fri, 06 Jan 2023 10:02:35 +0530 Bags of pumpkin and nightshade seeds were concealed in a pair of sneakers mailed from Burundi. An attempt to sneak high-risk seeds into Australia in the heels of running shoes has been foiled by biosecurity officers conducting routine parcel checks at a facility that handles international mail and imported air cargo in Brisbane. Dr Chris Locke, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Biosecurity and Compliance said bags of pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.) and nightshade seeds (Solanaceae) were concealed in a pair of sneakers mailed from Burundi in east-central Africa. “Both seed types did not meet import conditions and are known to harbour diseases including melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) and tobamoviruses, which if spread into the community could cause widespread devastation to many of Australia’s vegetable crops,” Dr Locke said. “Some people don’t seem to understand the consequences of infected plants and plant material, including seeds, being illegally sent through the mail. MNSV and tobamoviruses put at risk many valuable vegetable crops including melons, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, and capsicum,” Dr Locke said. The parcel had been mislabelled as containing new shoes, a leather jacket and a denim outfit for a child. The shoes immediately drew the attention of the inspecting biosecurity officer because they were dirty and not new as declared. The officer found a hole in both heels of the shoes. He carefully inspected the cavities to discover the poorly wrapped seeds. The seeds were identified by a DAFF botanist and the concealment was confirmed with a new, oversized X-ray, supplied to DAFF by the Australian Border Force (ABF). Oversized X-Rays are used to screen larger packages, so we have the capability to screen small to large parcels arriving into the country. Arriving via the DHL Express centre, any mail containing imported goods below $1000 can be inspected under Self-Assess-Consignment (SAC) processes, making it subject to DAFF and ABF scrutiny. MNSV was detected in watermelons and rockmelons in isolated outbreaks in NSW (2012), Victoria (2016) and Queensland (2018), causing whole crops to be destroyed. Tobamovirus can infect some weed species including prostrate pigweed and creeping cucumber and is detrimental to the farming sector. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/390/adnoc-allocates-15bn-to-low-carbon-solutions-new-energies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/390/adnoc-allocates-15bn-to-low-carbon-solutions-new-energies.html Fri, 06 Jan 2023 09:53:36 +0530 $15 billion earmarked for landmark decarbonisation projects by 2030 including carbon capture, electrification, and new CO2 absorption technology. ADNOC, a reliable and responsible provider of lower-carbon intensity energy, announced a bold new strategy to progress the world-scale decarbonisation of its operations. ADNOC has allocated $15 billion (AED55 billion) to advance an array of projects across its diversified value chain by 2030. These projects will include investments in clean power, carbon capture and storage (CCS), further electrification of its operations, energy efficiency and new measures to build on ADNOC's long-standing policy of zero routine gas flaring. ADNOC will apply a rigorous commercial and sustainability assessment to ensure that each project delivers lasting tangible impact. Throughout 2023, a suite of new projects and initiatives will be announced, including a first-of-its-kind CCS project, innovative carbon removal technologies, investment in new, cleaner energy solutions and strengthening of international partnerships. Together with the recent formation of the ADNOC’s new Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth Directorate, these represent tangible and concrete action as the company reduces its carbon intensity by 25 per cent by 2030 and moves towards its Net Zero by 2050 ambition. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, said: “Under the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership and the ADNOC Board of Directors, ADNOC continues to take significant steps to make today’s energy cleaner while investing in the clean energies and new technologies of tomorrow. Now, more than ever, the world needs a practical and responsible approach to the energy transition that is both pro-growth and pro-climate, and ADNOC is delivering tangible actions in support of both these goals.  Building on ADNOC’s Al Reyadah facility, which has the capacity to capture up to 800,000 tons of CO2 per year, the company will announce plans to deploy technologies to capture, store and absorb CO2 by leveraging the UAE’s geological properties while preparing for its next major investment to capture emissions from its Habshan gas processing facility. Combined with ADNOC’s planned expansion of its carbon capture capacity to 5 million tons per annum (mtpa) by 2030, the UAE will be firmly established as a worldwide hub for carbon capture expertise and innovation. ADNOC’s expansion of CCS is planned to support the significant scale-up of hydrogen and lower-carbon ammonia production capabilities in Abu Dhabi as ADNOC advances a world-scale 1 million tons per annum (mtpa) blue ammonia production facility at TA’ZIZ, the industrial services and logistics ecosystem that is enabling the expansion of the Al Ruways Industrial City, as well as Abu Dhabi’s wider chemicals, manufacturing and industrial sectors. To date, ADNOC has already delivered test cargoes of low-carbon ammonia to Europe and Asia. ADNOC’s expansion of its new energy portfolio will largely be delivered through its stake in Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse with over 20 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy today and plans to increase its capacity to 100 GW by 2030. Masdar is also spearheading the UAE’s drive to develop a leading position in green hydrogen.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/387/new-zealand-and-ireland-to-cooperate-to-reduce-agricultural-emissions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/387/new-zealand-and-ireland-to-cooperate-to-reduce-agricultural-emissions.html Thu, 05 Jan 2023 13:53:40 +0530 The 2022 Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research initiative will be benefited four Irish climate and agriculture projects. New Zealand and Ireland government are jointly conducting research projects worth €7 million to reduce agricultural emissions. Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Martin Heydon Minister of State announced made the announcement, according to the local media. The 2022 Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research initiative will be benefited four Irish climate and agriculture projects. The key areas of the projects are a complex ecosystem composed of anaerobic bacteria, protozoa, fungi, methanogenic archaea and phages, microbiology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, monitoring and emission reduction technologies, animal breeding for reduced emissions and inventory improvement. In Ireland, greenhouse gas pollution accounted for 37.5 per cent of the country’s emissions in 2021. According to the Environmental Protection Agency greenhouse gases from Irish agriculture rose by 3 per cent in 2021 following an increase of 1.3 per cent in 2020. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/385/philippines-customs-sizes-php17-mn-of-onions-from-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/385/philippines-customs-sizes-php17-mn-of-onions-from-china.html Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:14:53 +0530 The shipment was from China and was declared as containing clothing items Philippines Customs authorities sized PHP17 million worth of smuggled white onions at the Port of Manila. Onions were hidden in three containers declared as clothing products from China. According to the local media, the shipment was from China and was declared as containing clothing items and plastic products. All containers are 100 per cent physically examined since 23rd December. This month Customs bureau has detained millions worth of agricultural products. Customs authorities issued an alert (AO) order before Christmas for initial investigations of the containers according to which goods have been seized.    The assigned Customs examiner and representatives from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Plant Industry, Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service witnessed the examination. Customs authorities and the Department of Agriculture are working together for the examination of containers   Aside from the containers included under this AO, the bureau holds seven other containers consigned to the same company for suspicion of misdeclaration of items. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/381/adb-bim-wind-sign-107-mn-financing-package-to-support-wind-energy-in-vietnam.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/381/adb-bim-wind-sign-107-mn-financing-package-to-support-wind-energy-in-vietnam.html Wed, 04 Jan 2023 13:08:48 +0530 The power plant will help Viet Nam reach its clean energy and climate action targets by offsetting about 215,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $107 million financing project with BIM Wind Power Joint Stock Company (BIM Wind) to support the operation of an 88-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam.  The power plant will help Vietnam reach its clean energy and climate action targets by offsetting about 215,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.  This innovative $107 million project financing is arranged and syndicated by ADB as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner, and comprises $25 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, $25 million from Japan International Cooperation Agency, $13 million from Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited, $17 million from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, $18 million from ING Bank, and $9 million from Cathay United Bank. “Energy demand in Viet Nam has grown rapidly even during the pandemic, and it is crucial that this demand be met through clean energy that will drive sustainable economic growth,” said Jackie B. Surtani, ADB Private Sector Operations Department Infrastructure Finance Division Director for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. “This project is a crucial step toward Vietnam’s resilience and ongoing recovery by further expanding the country’s renewable energy mix and contributing to its net-zero targets.”  ADB will also administer an additional $5 million grant from the Goldman Sachs and Bloomberg Philanthropies-backed Climate Innovation and Development Fund to help de-risk the investment. Specifically, the grant will be used for initiatives to mitigate environmental and social safeguards risks such as reducing shadow flicker impact on residents in the project locality and the preservation of wildlife habitat. “We have worked very hard with ADB and other lenders to meet international standards, especially in regards to Environment, Social, and Governance,” Doan Quoc Huy said BIM Wind JSC CEO. “The success of this transaction supports Viet Nam’s transition to a low carbon economy. We continue to pursue our mission toward the sustainable development of clean energy in Viet Nam."  BIM Wind is jointly owned by ACEN Corporation through its subsidiary, ACEN Vietnam  Investments Pte. Ltd., and the BIM Group through its subsidiary, BIM Energy Holding Corporation (BIMEH). ACEN and BIM Group have been developing renewable energy projects since 2019. ACEN has 3,700 MW of attributable energy capacity in operation and under construction in Australia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, with a renewable share of 93 per cent among the highest in the region. ACEN is a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. BIM Group is one of the largest private conglomerates in Vietnam with a long-established history of 30 years with interests in real estate, hospitality, agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy, and consumer services. BIMEH is among the top five renewable platforms in Vietnam with a gross operation capacity of close to 800 MW.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/380/village-farms-international-commences-shipping-cannabis-to-israel.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/380/village-farms-international-commences-shipping-cannabis-to-israel.html Wed, 04 Jan 2023 12:01:27 +0530 Sales to Israel via Pure Sunfarms Further Expand Village Farms' International Cannabis Presence. Village Farms International, Inc. has announced further progress on its international cannabis strategy. Recently, the Company's Canadian Cannabis business, through its subsidiary, Pure Sunfarms, commenced shipping cannabis products for the Israeli medical market under an exclusive three-year supply agreement with Israel-based Dr Samuelov Importing and Marketing Ltd., doing business as Better Pharma. Founded in the early 1990s, Better Pharma is a highly respected importer of pharmaceuticals and related products for the Israeli market with longstanding relationships with Israel's retail pharmacies and an extensive sales force and distribution capabilities, covering over 95 per cent of Israeli independent pharmacies, as well as retail drug stores. "Commencing shipments to Israel is another milestone in our global cannabis strategy, building on our successes in Canada and Australia," said Michael DeGiglio, Chief Executive Officer, Village Farms. "We are proud and privileged to partner exclusively with Better Pharma for the significant medical cannabis opportunity in Israel and are confident that Pure Sunfarms unique ‘Everyday Premium’ positioning, which has proven so successful in Canada and Australia, will be differentiated in the Israeli market, and well-received by patients." "Our agreement with Better Pharma marks the first time Pure Sunfarms branded flower, inclusive of Canada's top-selling Pink Kush, makes its way to consumers internationally," said Mandesh Dosanjh, President and CEO, Pure Sunfarms. "We're confident that Better Pharma, an organisation that shares our belief in a brand-led consumer approach, will help patients in Israel come to know and appreciate Pure Sunfarms high-quality, BC grown strains as much as Canadians have." "We are proud and honoured to exclusively partner with Pure Sunfarms, Canada's No.1 flower brand and market leader, for medical cannabis products," said Ran Samuelov, Chief Executive Officer, Better Pharma. "We are confident we will be able to leverage our knowledge and expertise in international brand management for Pure Sunfarms to become one of the leading medical cannabis brands in Israel. We are looking forward to delivering Pure Sunfarms unique and differentiated ‘Everyday Premium’ brand proposition to Israeli medical patients and pharmacists." Sales of Pure Sunfarms products to patients in Israel are expected to commence later this month. Initial strains offered will include Pink Kush, Jet Fuel Gelato, and Sakura Punch (sold as Black Cherry Punch in Canada). Village Farms continues to execute its global cannabis strategy, which includes accelerated sales to the Australian medical market and plans to launch in the German medical market.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/377/rcep-helps-more-asean-agricultural-products-enter-china-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/377/rcep-helps-more-asean-agricultural-products-enter-china-market.html Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:26:07 +0530 The RCEP, the largest free trade deal comprising 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), fruits and other agricultural products from Southeast Asian countries can now reach China faster and at lower prices. The RCEP, the world's largest free trade deal comprising 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, as well as China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia and New Zealand, entered into force on Jan. 1, 2022. In 2022, Vietnamese passion fruit and durian were allowed to enter the Chinese market. According to the Xinhua news agency, a company in Vietnam, which is mainly engaged in planting and processing durian and other fruits, has expanded its production, signed a new contract for 3,000 hectares of durian orchards, and built new factories. South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has become an important window for exchanges and cooperation between China and ASEAN countries. With China-ASEAN economic and trade exchanges in recent years, the TWT Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. in Guangxi has grown into a one-stop supply chain service provider, covering over 50 Chinese cities and several ASEAN countries. The company has embraced more business opportunities since the RCEP deal went into effect. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/369/philippines-landbank-backs-fisheries-sector-with-p2-8-bn-credit-support.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/369/philippines-landbank-backs-fisheries-sector-with-p2-8-bn-credit-support.html Mon, 02 Jan 2023 13:05:39 +0530 The Bank is offering the Sustainable Aquaculture Lending Program (SALP) to provide credit assistance to fishers’ associations, cooperatives or federations. State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) continues to intensify its support to the fisheries sector, with outstanding loans reaching P2.8 billion as of end-November 2022. In the fifth run of the LANDBANK AgriSenso Virtual Forum which recently gathered over 115 fishers and other stakeholders nationwide, LANDBANK shared available lending programs designed to boost the contribution of the fisheries sector in achieving food self-sufficiency in the country. Vivian M. Cañonero, LANDBANK Corporate Affairs Group Head, Vice President, Edgardo C. De Guzman Program Management Department I Program Officer led the discussions, as Abegail A. Albaladejo Chief Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Maria Fisheries Planning and Economics Division presented the National Government’s development plan to further boost the local fisheries value chain, including ramping up activities to increase the country’s fish production. The Bank is offering the Sustainable Aquaculture Lending Program (SALP) or ‘Pagsasakang Pantubig’ to provide credit assistance to fishers’ associations, cooperatives or federations, non-government organizations (NGOs), micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), large agribusiness enterprises, and countryside financial institutions (CFIs). Eligible projects under the program cover the whole value chain of the fishery, mariculture, aquaculture and supporting economic activities, such as breeding, hatchery, nursery, production, grow out, fish culture, seaweed farming, processing, trading and other ancillary services. The LANDBANK SALP or ‘Pagsasakang Pantubig’ is anchored on institutional buyers or processing and canning companies linked with fishers’ cooperatives associations or MSMEs as growers or suppliers. LANDBANK also provides credit assistance under the Commercial Fishing Vessel Financing Program to assist existing and prospective commercial fishing operators in acquiring fishing vessels for domestic or overseas use. The program caters to single proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives and corporations, for the purchase or acquisition of brand-new, second-hand or refurbished commercial fishing boats and related equipment. The LANDBANK AgriSenso Virtual Forum forms part of the Bank’s overall support to the agriculture sector, facilitated by the LANDBANK Corporate Affairs Group (CAG) together with the National Development Lending Sector (NDLS) – Lending Program Management Group (LPMG). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/366/dubai-international-chamber-supports-zimbabwean-agri-company-expand-in-dubai.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/366/dubai-international-chamber-supports-zimbabwean-agri-company-expand-in-dubai.html Fri, 30 Dec 2022 15:21:15 +0530 This is expected to create more than $150 million of exports to Dubai every year. Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has facilitated the expansion of Nhimbe Fresh Exports, one of Zimbabwe’s largest vegetable and fruit exporters. Based in Zimbabwe, Nhimbe is one of Africa’s premier exporters of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and peas. The company predominantly exports to the US and Europe and has recently entered Dubai. It currently exports strawberries to the emirate and is scaling production with the support of the Dubai International Chamber to increase the visibility of its products in the market while also benefiting from Dubai’s strategic location to expand to the Far East market.  “In addition to helping local businesses expand to global markets, Dubai International Chamber also attracts and facilitates foreign direct investment from key markets of strategic importance to Dubai to the emirate. We support companies through every stage of the international expansion journey, connecting them with trusted stakeholders and potential partners that can help them access new markets and scale their operations. We are very pleased to have supported Nhimbe Fresh Exports with their international expansion plans into Dubai and beyond,” said Omar Khan, Executive Director, of International Offices, at Dubai International Chamber. Commenting on this endeavour, Dr Edwin Moyo, Chairman of Nhimbe Fresh Exports said, “We are aggressively talking to Dubai International Chamber to see how we can be present in that market. Our choice of Dubai is based on its popularity, both as a tourist and financial centre and in our view it was befitting to add it to our destination as our food distribution centre, not only for the region but other international destinations. Of particular importance has been the role played by the chamber. Dubai International Chamber has brought strategic partners who will make it easier for Nhimbe to implement this export programme.”  “We anticipate moving 500,000 tons of produce into the UAE market through Dubai, some of which will go into supermarkets, wholesale and others as exports from Dubai to neighbouring countries. This is expected to create more than $150 million of exports to Dubai every year and Dubai itself will earn about $200 million in exports to other international markets. This win-win situation is Nhimbe’s vision of Dubai as a gateway to international markets,” added Dr Moyo. Nhimbe’s business expansion into Dubai supports Dubai’s vision to increase foreign trade from AED1.4 trillion to AED2 trillion between 2021 and 2026. Dubai International Chamber plays an instrumental role in attracting international companies to Dubai and positioning the emirate as a leading business destination for global investors and multinational companies. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/362/paving-the-way-for-meat-innovation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/362/paving-the-way-for-meat-innovation.html Fri, 30 Dec 2022 13:19:40 +0530 US and China regulatory authorities and industry dialogue on cultivated meat   The AgFood Future Centre of Excellence (AGF) and the Agriculture Food Partnership (AFP) co-organised an online event where, for the first time, regulatory experts from two of the largest potential markets for meat innovation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), conferred on the regulatory approval process and prospects for cultivated meat in these two major markets. The event was supported and attended by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and the China Meat Association (CMA), who are also major influencers in developing China's protein innovation market. The Agfood Future Centre of Excellence (AGF), the main organiser for this event, has been facilitating protein innovation development in China since 2018, including partnering with AFP to organise ongoing policy dialogues between Chinese and U.S. regulators and industry representatives. "These meetings provide opportunities for start-ups, financiers, and ultimately all players involved in protein innovation," said Ryan Xue, the Chairman of Agfood Future. Xue believes "This in-depth sharing between the U.S. and China will have far-reaching significance for governments and industries interested in seeing the adoption of food innovation that will help shape food innovation and the future of food in the U.S., China, and the world." In the words of Jennifer Lee, the Executive Director of AFP, Only by bringing together industry leaders, technical experts, investment institutions, and regulators around protein innovation can we realise food production and systems that deliver safe, quality, affordable, and nutritious food to consumers while achieving food security. Jeremiah Fasano, Senior Policy Advisor, at the FDA's Regulatory Review Office, provided a keynote at the event. Fasano played a key role in Upside's pre-market approval process and is an FDA expert on cultivated meat. He expressed FDA's ongoing support for food technology innovation, encouraging industry representatives to connect "early and often" to "discuss the development of food technology, promote industry development, and solve food safety problems together." Xiaohong Wang, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's (MARA)'s Deputy Director of China's Institute of Food and Nutrition Development, expressed that while Chinese regulatory authorities continue to attach great importance to food safety and will continue to conduct safety assessments on innovative meat products, they will also consider the contribution of the development of new technologies to meet the market's increasing demand for the supply of protein, while also comprehensively considering consumers' acceptance of cultivated meat and other products.  A platform for international collaboration, AgFood Future is a nonprofit that connects 400+ of the world's leading organisations around the common goal of agri-food sustainability for food system transformation in China and throughout global supply chains. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/360/philippines-japan-collaborates-for-market-driven-vegetable-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/360/philippines-japan-collaborates-for-market-driven-vegetable-sector.html Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:56:49 +0530 The MVC2 project will develop inclusive business models that will contribute to increasing the income of vegetable farmers in the country. The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Minutes of the Meeting to Amend the Records of Discussion for the technical cooperation project of DA and JICA on Market Driven Enhancement of the Vegetable Value Chain in the Philippines (MVC2). Domingo F. Panganiban, Senior Undersecretary (DA) and Sakamoto Takema, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative were present. The project, which commenced in early 2022, aims to strengthen vegetable value chain models in selected municipalities of Benguet and Quezon provinces, as well as in Metro Manila. The signed minutes of the meeting contained modifications, including an updated project framework based on the detailed planning survey conducted lat August to September, as well as pilot projects for implementation. According to Panganiban, the MVC2 project will develop inclusive business models that will contribute to increasing the income of vegetable farmers in the country. Aligned with the directives of Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. President, the project will focus on rebuilding value chains in order to achieve food security and sufficiency.    “With the increasing food prices and inefficiencies in the food supply chain due to the high cost of logistics and food distribution, we need to find ways by which we can lower the production costs, deliver goods to the markets, and make it more affordable to the consuming public,” Panganiban said. For his part, Sakamoto explained that the long withstanding cooperation for agriculture between the Philippines and JICA has focused on the production side of the value chain, which includes the establishment of agricultural infrastructures and irrigation systems. He added that as JICA recognises the importance of addressing the development needs in other aspects of the food value chain. “This technical cooperation is a testament to this move, as JICA considers that this market-oriented approach is also essential to address the issues related to income generation, job creation and disparity mitigation among others,” he said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/356/agricultural-products-in-taiwan-to-be-regulated-from-1st-jan.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/356/agricultural-products-in-taiwan-to-be-regulated-from-1st-jan.html Wed, 28 Dec 2022 18:53:02 +0530 Testing methods are being developed to identify the source of more agricultural and fishery products. Tea, agricultural and fishery products in Taiwan are set to be regulated from 1st Jan 2023. Taiwan Government is establishing a traceability system, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA). Domestically cultivated tea must be certificated with an indication of its origin, such as a QR code or a label listing it as organic. The measure will be introduced to fight counterfeit tea being labelled as Taiwan tea. Over 4,000 businesses in the tea industry have registered their products as required by the Agricultural and Food Agency. False or inadequate labelling will incur penalties pursuant to the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation and information about the businesses held liable will be published, according to the COA. COA Minister Chen Chi-Chung said testing methods are being developed to identify the source of more agricultural and fishery products. Oysters, garlic, and shiitake mushrooms are among those to be incorporated into the traceability mechanism. In October, Kaohsiung seized 107 tons of tea leaves that claimed to have been grown in Taiwan but were actually produced in China and smuggled via Vietnam. The products, marketed as prime Taiwan tea, were distributed by a prominent tea dealer in Gangshan District. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/354/pakistan-and-uzbekistan-to-expand-partnership-in-plant-quarantine.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/354/pakistan-and-uzbekistan-to-expand-partnership-in-plant-quarantine.html Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:50:32 +0530 The measures will help in pest control and mitigating pests’ hazards and damages. Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the Agency of the Plant Protection and Quarantine of the Republic of Uzbekistan have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the field of plant quarantine. In this regard, a ceremony was held at the Pakistan ministry. Ibrohim Ergashev, Director General Agency of the Plant Protection and Quarantine of the Republic of Uzbekistan while representing the Uzbek side agreed to improve mechanisms of pest control measures between the two countries. According to the Pakistani media, National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) of both countries will also share experiences through seminars and training, and increase coordination on the export consignments between the two countries. The measures will help in pest control and mitigating pests’ hazards and damages. Under the agreement, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research will work with the Agency of the Plant Protection and Quarantine of the Republic of Uzbekistan to create an enabling environment for enhancing the trade volume of plants and plant products between the countries. During the ceremony, parties expressed their appreciation that Pakistan has granted market access to Uzbek pomegranate, plum, persimmon, fig, grapes, and Uzbekistan has granted market access to Pakistani mango and onion. Moreover, experts from Pakistan will visit Uzbekistan for an on-spot inspection of the phytosanitary system, production sites, processing establishments and packing houses. The ceremony was also attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema, Secretary of National Food Security and Research Zafar Hassan and Director Technical Quarantine Department of Plant Protection Muhammad Shahzad Sohail. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/351/taiwan-cuts-reliance-on-chinas-fruit-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/351/taiwan-cuts-reliance-on-chinas-fruit-market.html Tue, 27 Dec 2022 18:01:33 +0530 The share of Taiwan fruit exports to China has dropped from 80 per cent five years ago to 3 per cent. Taiwan has cut its reliance on the Chinese market for its fruit exports to 3 per cent, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA). Over the past year, China restricted the import of products including pineapple and other fruits, beer and beverages, fish and seafood. As a result, the share of Taiwan fruit exports to China has dropped from 80 per cent five years ago to 3 per cent now, COA Minister Chen Chi-Chung said. After Taiwan and China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2002, and even more, after they concluded the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in 2011, Taiwan’s fruit exports became reliant on one major market. Chen accused China of discrimination, saying it had never taken similar measures against products from other countries. As a result, it was necessary for Taiwan to drastically cut its reliance on this unfriendly market and develop alternatives, the minister said. According to Chen, the government’s policy has been successful. In 2022, the United States had become the prime destination for agricultural produce from Taiwan, followed by Japan. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/350/japan-adopts-measures-to-boost-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/350/japan-adopts-measures-to-boost-food-security.html Tue, 27 Dec 2022 17:16:51 +0530 The package is designed to address growing risks to food security traced to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and natural disasters caused by climate change. Japan’s government adopted a set of measures to strengthen the country’s food security including the promotion of domestic production of fertilizers and animal feed to reduce its dependence on imports. According to the local media, in the package, adopted at a relevant meeting, the government says it will “secure with responsibility funds necessary to implement reforms for enhancing food security through the budget compilation process every year.” “We will strongly promote a structural shift of the agriculture sector to solidify the foundation of food supply, which is directly linked to people’s lives,” Fumio Kishida Prime Minister said at the meeting of the government’s headquarters on measures to ensure stable food supply and strengthen the foundations of the farm, forestry and fisheries industries. The package is designed to address growing risks to food security traced to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and natural disasters caused by climate change. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/324/fao-gets-funding-from-japan-to-boost-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/324/fao-gets-funding-from-japan-to-boost-food-security.html Tue, 27 Dec 2022 11:09:35 +0530 Resources to fund a 12-month emergency project beginning January 2023 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) receives notice of additional funding of more than $1.85 million from the Government of Japan to improve access and availability of nutritious food for vulnerable and food-insecure smallholder households in Afghanistan as well as protect their livestock. The resources will fund a 12-month emergency project beginning January 2023. It will support 42,700 people from Kapisa province (Hissa-e-Awali, Kohistan and Nijrab districts) and Panjshir province (Rukha and Darah districts) who are food insecure and depend on livestock and poultry as source of food and income. “We are pleased to announce additional funding from the Government of Japan to FAO to continue supporting the most vulnerable livestock keeping households in Panjshir and Kapisa Provinces to be food and nutrition secure,” said Takashi Okada, Japan Ambassador to Afghanistan. Livelihood protection This new project will protect key productive livestock assets and sustain subsistence production of nutritious food to ensure greater availability of dairy and meat products for households and communities as well as to mitigate the adverse impacts of recent multiple shocks including drought, floods and economic crisis, whilst enhancing household food and nutrition security and building the resilience of farmers against future shocks.   It will bolster both availability and access to nutritious food for vulnerable and food insecure smallholder households by protecting their vital livestock–based livelihoods through the distribution of nationally produced quality feed. The project will also provide farmers with key technical training and increase their access to local veterinary extension services.  Backyard poultry packages, including chicken, feed and coops, will also enable households to improve their nutritional food intake, help generate vital cash incomes, and stimulate local food markets.  “We welcome the timely and continuous support of the Japanese Government in our work to secure Afghanistan’s food future. Responding to the deep food insecurity crisis with short-term emergency assistance is vital. But at the same time, now is the time to start laying foundations for the longer-term sustainable production of nutritious food for current and future needs, enabling households to re-build productive livelihood assets and stimulate local markets,” said Richard Trenchard, FAO’s Representative in Afghanistan. In 2022, the Government of Japan contributed $14 million to FAO in Afghanistan to provide direct humanitarian assistance to over 550,000 food-insecure people in 11 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/327/iucn-and-fao-to-lead-flagship-forest-programme-in-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/327/iucn-and-fao-to-lead-flagship-forest-programme-in-southeast-asia.html Tue, 27 Dec 2022 11:00:41 +0530 IUCN and FAO selected as lead agencies for the Global Environment Facility’s Indo-Malay Critical Forest Biome Integrated Programme The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will lead the Indo-Malaya Critical Forest Biome Integrated Programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This flagship GEF programme will support countries in conserving globally critical intact forest landscapes through interventions inside and outside protected areas. The Indo-Malaya Critical Forest Biome Integrated Program will be open to Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The region’s 63 million hectares of primary forests, or intact forest landscapes that have not been influenced by human activities, are home to more than 5000 threatened species, store millions of tonne of carbon, and support millions of livelihoods, especially of Indigenous Peoples. In the past 20 years, the region lost more than 17 million hectares of primary forest due to agricultural expansion, mining, illegal logging, and infrastructure projects. “Primary forest landscapes provide unique ecosystem benefits and functions that cannot be replaced. The Indo-Malaya Critical Forest Biome Integrated Program will provide critical support to key Asian countries and subregions in protecting these vital ecosystems and contribute towards their climate and biodiversity targets”, says Dindo Campilan, IUCN Asia Regional Director. The Indo-Malaya programme is part of the GEF’s programming directions for 2022–2026, a programming period known as GEF-8. The programme will aim to secure the integrity of the critical tropical forests of the Indo-Malay Biome for the benefit of people and nature by strengthening the governance, management, investments, partnerships and capacity building for area-based conservation and sustainable forest landscapes in the region by expanding and strengthening the management of protected areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) outside protected areas, promoting alternative and improved livelihoods and creating an enabling environment. “Our primary forests are under threat, and the biodiversity, clean water, natural heritage, and healthy ecosystems they provide are under threat too,” says Sheila Wertz-Kanounnikoff, FAO Senior Forestry Officer and Forestry and Biodiversity Module Leader. “In partnership with IUCN, our joint leadership of the GEF’s Indo-Malaya Critical Forest Biome Integrated Program will help countries in the region conserve these forests and ensure they remain part of the solution to the global biodiversity and climate crises.” The 63rd Council Meeting of the GEF selected IUCN to lead and FAO to co-lead the programme for their collective leadership in protected area governance and management, rights-based conservation, forest landscape governance and management, and the agriculture, forest and other land use sectors. The programme will build on the comparative strengths of IUCN and FAO to create enabling policies for integrated planning and governance reforms, by establishing partnerships and leveraging investments to maximise global environmental benefits, poverty alleviation and improved economic development. IUCN and FAO are implementing agencies of the GEF, a partnership of 18 agencies and 183 countries which addresses the world’s most challenging environmental issues related to biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, chemicals, and international waters. GEF provides grants to countries to meet these challenges whilst contributing to key development goals, such as food security. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/342/australia-studies-heat-and-cold-stress-in-bos-taurus-cattle.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/342/australia-studies-heat-and-cold-stress-in-bos-taurus-cattle.html Mon, 26 Dec 2022 13:45:15 +0530 The review found the regulatory settings for the export of Bos taurus cattle by sea are effective in managing animal welfare. The Department of Agriculture has completed its review of heat and cold stress in Bos taurus cattle from southern Australia during long-haul export by sea. The review examined the data from 214 long-haul voyages from southern Australia over 5 years from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020, exporting more than 1 million cattle. The review found the regulatory settings for the export of Bos taurus cattle by sea are effective in managing animal welfare. While animal welfare issues were identified in some voyage reports examined in the review, changes to standards (such as stocking density decreases and new bedding requirements) introduced under the revised Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock on 1 November 2020 have addressed many of these. The review provides evidence-based recommendations for improvements to export arrangements to support animal welfare during the preparation and transport of Bos taurus cattle consignments from southern Australian ports during long-haul export by sea. The final report incorporated input from a technical expert group and stakeholder feedback received during the public consultation on the draft report in late 2021. In submissions received on the draft report, industry and welfare groups supported the key recommendation of the review: that a suitable heat stress risk assessment should be applied all year round for southern-sourced Bos taurus slaughter cattle to all destinations. The department is using the findings of this review to engage with the industry to continue to enhance the welfare of cattle in this supply chain. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/341/philippines-decides-not-to-import-onions-next-year.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/341/philippines-decides-not-to-import-onions-next-year.html Thu, 22 Dec 2022 14:52:31 +0530 The onion supply is not enough but the Department is not considering import, since farmers will begin to harvest in January and February. Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) will not import onions for the year as the harvest is expected to begin in the upcoming weeks, Domingo F. Panganiban Senior Undersecretary said during a press conference. Panganiban said the onion supply is not enough but the Department is not considering import, since farmers will begin to harvest in January and February. He added that the DA is mobilizing the Kadiwa program to stabilize the prices of onions. “We found out that there are smugglers that are keeping their stock in warehouses,” Panganiban said. James Layug assistant Secretary for Inspectorate and Enforcement reported that the DA has seized about P500 million worth of smuggled agricultural products in the previous months. Layug explained that they would file cases against five consignees for violating Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act. Based on their data, Layug said around 300 metric tons or 300,000 kilograms of onions were seized and confiscated by a composite team composed of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Manila International Container Port – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). For rice, Mercedita Sombilla, Undersecretary assured that there will be no supply shortage next year. “We don’t have a shortage of supply. What happens probably is a lower beginning stock of rice,” Sombilla said. She added that DA is making every effort to balance importation and increase local production in an effort to stabilise and even reduce the cost of commodities. The rice program will have an additional P4.1 billion for its fertilizer subsidy program. DA is still carefully determining how much will go to organic and inorganic fertilizers. The agency is working to finalise the purchase of fertilizers through a government-to-government arrangement by January, which will be distributed through fertilizer vouchers.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/340/philippines-to-import-64000-mt-sugar.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/340/philippines-to-import-64000-mt-sugar.html Thu, 22 Dec 2022 13:28:23 +0530 Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. President, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, has ordered the department to take action and stabilise sugar prices. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. President of the Philippines has ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to expedite the importation of over 64,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar to stabilise the prices of basic commodities.According to the statement by Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban on December 20, 2022, it said the summary inflation report consumer price index issued on December 6, the annual inflation increment for sugars, confectionery and desserts has reached 38 per cent. “Concerned with this very high inflation rate, Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. President, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, has ordered the department to take action and to stabilise sugar prices,” mentioned in the statement.“In this regard, you are hereby directed to immediately convene the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) Advisory Council and expedite the importation of 64,050 metric tons of refined sugar through the MAV mechanism,” it added.Marcos earlier approved the Sugar Order, which allows the importation of 150,000 MT of sugar. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/339/china-zambia-reaffirm-commitment-to-cooperation-in-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/339/china-zambia-reaffirm-commitment-to-cooperation-in-agriculture.html Thu, 22 Dec 2022 12:47:12 +0530 Du Xiaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia and Elias Mubanga Zambian Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Development made the commitment in a meeting. China and Zambia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in the agriculture sector as well as in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector. Du Xiaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia and Elias Mubanga Zambian Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Development made the commitment in a meeting, according to a statement posted on the Chinese embassy's Facebook page. China is willing to work with Zambia to innovate cooperation models in agriculture and other sectors and stimulate enterprises’ vitality by strengthening cooperation, Du said. Mubanga said the Zambian government values communication and cooperation with China and is looking forward to enhancing cooperation in agriculture and SMEs. Zambia is looking at boosting cooperation to promote the development of the entire agricultural industry chain and improve productivity through the introduction of Chinese capital and technology, Mubanga said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/337/australias-aquaculture-increases-contribution-to-seafood-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/337/australias-aquaculture-increases-contribution-to-seafood-production.html Thu, 22 Dec 2022 11:05:22 +0530 In 2020–21 aquaculture GVP increased by 9 per cent to $1.7 billion, largely due to increased production of salmonids in Tasmania and prawns in Queensland. Aquaculture has continued its steady growth within the Australian seafood industry, according to the latest edition of ABARES Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics. Dr Jared Greenville, ABARES Executive Director said the aquaculture sector has continued its recent growth, accounting for 56 per cent of the total gross value of fisheries production (GVP). “In 2020–21 aquaculture GVP increased by 9 per cent to $1.7 billion, largely due to increased production of salmonids in Tasmania and prawns in Queensland,” Dr Greenville said. “Over the last two decades, we’ve seen aquaculture grow, helping to boost overall fisheries production. “In recent years, the aquaculture sector has been broadening the composition of species produced, with an increased emphasis on prawns and finfish varieties, like barramundi and kingfish. “Aquaculture has been quite a success story for Tasmania. In 2020–21 Tasmania had the highest fishery and aquaculture GVP, accounting for 38 per cent of the national total, followed by Western Australia (14 per cent) and South Australia (13 per cent). “And Tasmania’s fishery and aquaculture GVP increased by 10 per cent in the same year to $1.18 billion. “In contrast, the GVP of wild-catch species decreased by 12 per cent to $1.4 billion in 2020–21, largely due to lower prices received for rock lobster in export markets. “Lower rock lobster production value was driven by trade and pandemic disruptions continuing to limit opportunities in export markets. “Overall, the GVP of Australian fishery and aquaculture in 2020–21 decreased by 1 per cent to $3.09 billion. “Australians consumed around 356,000 tonnes of seafood in 2020–21, equivalent to 13.9 kilograms per person. And while imports made up 62 per cent of that total, this share has declined from the peak of 69 per cent in 2013–14. “While Australians consume less fish than chicken, pork and beef, they consume more fish than sheep meat.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/335/australias-crop-export-to-increase-by-46-7-bn-in-2023.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/335/australias-crop-export-to-increase-by-46-7-bn-in-2023.html Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:18:23 +0530 The Australian government’s several initiatives are currently underway to improve conditions for exporters. After two exceptional years of harvest, the department is working hard to support the Australian grain export industry to meet increased export potential. The value of Australian crop exports is forecast to increase to $46.7 billion in the 2022–23 financial year. This is an 18 per cent increase on the 2021-22 total of $39.6 billion. Australia’s total production volume of grains, oilseeds and pulses for 21/22 was 45,362 kilo tonne and the forecast for 22/23 is 48,893 kilo tonne. Nicola Hinder PSM, Deputy Secretary of the Agricultural Trade Group, said there were several initiatives currently underway to improve conditions for exporters. “The last two years were extremely successful for the crops sector, so we are committed to doing everything we can to improve conditions for Australia’s grain exporters,” Hinder said. “While the floods have adversely impacted growers in some parts of the country, other parts of Australia are experiencing their best winter crops on record. “The department has successfully negotiated a treatment program for bulk shipments of grains to Mexico and is currently trialling the same treatment for grains and pulses to India. “In-transit treatment removes the need for grain to be treated onshore for seven to ten days, which reduces congestion at ports and lowers costs for exporters. “We’ve improved the assessment and issuance processes for export permits by automating and digitising manual certificates. So far, we have assessed and issued over 52,000 grain export permits for 2022 with such volumes every improvement we make can have positive impacts for industry. “We also approved two new mobile bulk loading operators—with two more under assessment—providing more options for exporters to move grain through the ports. “We’re doing everything we can to improve market diversification. This year we’re looking to send feed barley to the Gulf states, malting barley to Mexico, Peru and Ecuador, and lentils to India. “And we are actively pursuing market access for wheat and barley to Brazil, and wheat to Mexico and Ecuador while working to improve conditions and reduce costs for Australian grain into a number of key markets, such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/328/fao-and-ebrd-mark-25-years-of-cooperation-with-5-5-million-initiative.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/328/fao-and-ebrd-mark-25-years-of-cooperation-with-5-5-million-initiative.html Tue, 20 Dec 2022 13:17:04 +0530 EBRD and FAO officially launched the new $5.5 million package of technical assistance to improve food security in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia -as well as the West Bank and Gaza.  With the launch of a new technical assistance package for several Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  (FAO) marked 25 years of joint efforts towards more sustainable agrifood systems.  To celebrate the occasion, Odile Renaud-Basso, ERBD President, met with QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General at the FAO headquarters in Rome, where they planted an olive tree as a symbol of the long-term cooperation between both organizations.  The two heads of institutions also officially launched the new $5.5 million package of technical assistance to improve food security in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia -as well as the West Bank and Gaza.  The joint initiative, which will kick off in January, is a timely response to the crisis in grain markets, which has made global food security more precarious.  The initiative will help governments revisit some of their agrifood policies, for example, by improving long-term resilience of the grain value chain.   The package supports public and private investments in upgrading national grain import systems, including the development of more efficient procurement and better storage infrastructures.  Finally, the initiative will also help countries re-assess their own food production potential, looking at climate and environmental constraints and maximizing the value of local production, including through trade diversification. This new technical assistance package complements the EBRD’s individual financing for these countries. Tunisia, for instance, has received a $150.5 million loan to buy cereals in the face of the global markets’ crisis.  “Transforming agrifood systems calls for a range of technical solutions, enabling policies and investment. Together with the EBRD and other partners, FAO has been supporting Members to move forward on these three fronts simultaneously to ensure the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all - leaving no one behind,” underscored General Qu FAO Director. “FAO looks forward to stepping up its 25-year partnership with the EBRD for even stronger collaboration to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he added.   “We are proud of the work done together with FAO in the past 25 years and we will continue to strengthen our cooperation in the foreseeable future,” said Renaud-Basso President EBRD. “Boosting food security is one of the EBRD’s priorities and, together with FAO, we are able to put our joint expertise in finance and technical solutions to the benefit of the regions where we both operate. The new technical assistance programme in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean is the latest example,” she added. FAO and EBRD started their cooperation in 1997, which has paved the way for 200 joint technical assistance projects worth $60 million.   The joint efforts have been focusing on supporting the development of sustainable agrifood value chains in Eastern and Central Europe, Central Asia, and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, combining FAO’s technical and policy facilitation skills with EBRD’s investment capacity and expertise.  The EBRD President and the FAO Director-General reaffirmed their commitment to their long-term cooperation efforts, noting that transforming agrifood systems typically requires a combination of financing and technical solutions that both their institutions can provide together, building on their comparative strengths. Recently the EBRD and FAO have worked together on analysing and understanding the ongoing global food security challenges and their impact on specific countries and regions. The two institutions also organised several events to promote global dialogue on food security, including a panel at the EBRD’s 2022 Annual Meeting, a joint event with the World Trade Organisation and a panel at COP27 in Egypt. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/326/vietnam-to-double-the-investment-in-agri-sector-by-2030.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/326/vietnam-to-double-the-investment-in-agri-sector-by-2030.html Tue, 20 Dec 2022 12:21:24 +0530 Vietnam’s agriculture has maintained a 2.83 per cent annual growth rate on average, accounting for as much as 12 per cent of the entire world's rice export. Vietnam has decided to double the amount of foreign investment in agriculture to $34 billion by the end of 2030. From 2010-20, Vietnam’s agriculture has maintained a 2.83 per cent annual growth rate on average, accounting for as much as 12 per cent of the entire world's rice export. According to the local media, Tạ Thu Trang from the Institute for Policy and Strategy under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said Vietnam's agriculture sector had made significant progress in recent decades. Foreign investors have played an important role in the country's success to modernise its agriculture sector by introducing advanced technologies and creating thousands of jobs. However, there was still a lot of untapped potential in the sector.  During 2009-21, foreign investors only registered under 2,000 projects, just 5.7 per cent of all projects in Vietnam with $17.64 billion worth of investment, or 4.3 per cent of total investment. The vast majority of the projects were from Asian countries, which mostly went to the area surrounding the capital city of Hanoi and the Mekong Delta relatively developed infrastructure already in place. In addition, there have been incidents in which foreign projects deliberately took advantage of the numerous free trade agreements signed by Vietnam to fabricate made-in-Vietnam products without investing in production within the country. In order to bring foreign investment in Vietnam's agriculture sector to $34 billion by the end of 2030, there was an urgent need to increase collaboration with large corporations across all industries in the sectors, especially in technology transfer. However, it's important to focus on bolstering the domestic supply chains for key input, which Vietnam traditionally has been overly reliant on import, such as seeds, livestock feed, fertiliser, vaccine, medicine, pesticides, management software, slaughter lines and processing technology. In an earlier development, MARD put forward a proposal for a number of policy changes to planning larger production centres that employed state-of-the-art equipment, to filter investors to select the most suitable technology and a mechanism to purchase raw material from farmers on a large scale directly. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/322/cpec-green-corridor-records-remarkable-agro-growth.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/322/cpec-green-corridor-records-remarkable-agro-growth.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 15:35:49 +0530 Pakistan’s agricultural products exported to China from January to August 2022 reached $730 million with a year-on-year increase of 28.59 per cent. Under ‘CPEC Green Corridor’ throughout the year 2022, the agriculture sector has recorded a remarkable growth of 4.4 per cent and surpassed the target of 3.5 per cent as well as last year’s growth of 3.48 per cent during FY2022.  According to Economic Survey, the growth in the agriculture sector was recorded 4.4 per cent and surpassed the target of 3.5 per cent. This remarkable growth is mainly underpinned by China-led assistance to Pakistan of many facets relating transfer of hands-on experience in the fields of intercropping, high-yield seeds, pest control, hybrid cultivation, corporate farming, innovate irrigation technique, agri machinery training, agri research & development, the protocol for Pak agri exports to China, digital farming and agri labour skills.     According to the local media, Since Sino-Pak agriculture has continued to deepen in 2022, Pakistan’s agricultural products exported to China from January to August 2022 reached $730 million with a year-on-year increase of 28.59 per cent. Pakistan’s agricultural export to China is expected to exceed a record high of $1 billion next year.   On the back of the 2022 Agri sector’s milestone achievement, the focus of next year under CPEC Green Corridor will be continuing on improving land cultivation area, water management, better access to markets for inputs (seeds, fertilizers, farm mechanisation, credit, water) and outputs, improved infrastructure including storage and cooling facilities, reduction in post-harvest losses, greater investment in research, development and extension, improved quality and fulfilment of quarantine requirements for international markets and competitiveness, greater diversification, especially minor but high-value crops, farm input and effectiveness of markets.  The announcement of three new corridors under CPEC including the China Pakistan Green Corridor (CPGC), which focuses on the agricultural environment and food security speaks volumes about the significance of agricultural cooperation in CPEC.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/321/nasda-to-conduct-market-research-in-emerging-markets-in-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/321/nasda-to-conduct-market-research-in-emerging-markets-in-southeast-asia.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 14:53:09 +0530 NASDA will sponsor up to five members on outbound trade missions to the selected countries where they will have discussions with government officials, industry leaders and agricultural producers. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has been awarded $925,000 through the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service Emerging Markets Program. NASDA will use this funding to conduct market research in emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa and organize outbound trade missions for the state department of agriculture leaders to learn about the markets and engage in discussions with relevant parties in each country. The research will be used to develop reports on the perception of U.S. agriculture, consumer preferences and non-tariff barriers to market access. NASDA will sponsor up to five members on outbound trade missions to the selected countries where they will have discussions with government officials, industry leaders and agricultural producers. The goal is to identify non-tariff barriers, establish partnerships with groups in the region, and strengthen relationships that will increase market access for U.S. agriculture. The Emerging Markets Program helps organisations promote exports of U.S. agricultural products to developing countries with strong growth potential. "We are excited for NASDA members to engage in critical discussions to support global market development and strengthen bilateral trade relationships," Ted McKinney, NASDA CEO said.  "NASDA members understand how important it is to spread the message about the value and quality of U.S. products and the benefits of innovation around the world. The first step in earning strong trading partners is establishing open communication and stewarding international relationships," McKinney said.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/320/us-becomes-taiwans-largest-agri-importer-tsai-ing-wen.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/320/us-becomes-taiwans-largest-agri-importer-tsai-ing-wen.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 14:14:18 +0530 She promised the government would do its best to help the farmers and fishermen who had lost their market in China by finding alternatives. The United States is becoming the largest market for Taiwan’s agricultural products export, Taiwan’s agricultural export reached a record value of $5.67 billion last year, due to Taiwan’s diversification policies, said Tsai Ing-wen, President of Taiwan. She was speaking after China imposed a ban on the import of food and beverage products from Taiwan, including fish, seafood, fruit and beer. Tsai told Taiwan’s agricultural exports were no longer dependent on just one export market. According to the local media, the U.S., Japan, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and Indonesia also welcomed agricultural products from Taiwan. She promised the government would do its best to help the farmers and fishermen who had lost their market in China by finding alternatives. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/319/malaysia-imports-eggs-from-india.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/319/malaysia-imports-eggs-from-india.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 12:59:18 +0530 The first shipment of around 90,000 eggs from Namakkal district Tamil Nadu has reached Malaysia. The Malaysian government has imported eggs from India to overcome the shortage of eggs in the country. The first shipment of around 90,000 eggs from Namakkal district Tamil Nadu has reached Malaysia. Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has temporarily allowed the import of chicken eggs from other sources and the decision is to be reviewed when the domestic supply stabilises. Chicken and eggs are part of the staple diet in Malaysia. Shortage of eggs is considered a serious food security issue by the Government of Malaysia. The Malaysian Government has requested the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) the import the eggs. According to the Malaysian local media, the ministry, through the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS) and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), has implemented control on the entry of imported chicken eggs at the entry points through the Hold, Test and Release (HTR) examination. This includes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for the detection of Salmonella bacteria, Newcastle Disease virus and Avian Influenza. The exports are expected to continue once the trial shipment is approved andaccepted by Malaysians. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/315/adb-approves-93-mn-loan-for-indonesia-shrimp-farming-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/315/adb-approves-93-mn-loan-for-indonesia-shrimp-farming-sector.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 11:19:30 +0530 The project will improve smallholder farmers’ access to quality inputs, production, and post-harvest practices and traceability through investments in climate adaptive infrastructure, capacity building, and strengthening of value chains. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $93 million loan to enhance shrimp farming by smallholder farmers in seven provinces in Indonesia. The Infrastructure Improvement for Shrimp Aquaculture Project will help the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries introduce sustainable shrimp aquaculture to boost the productivity, quality, profitability, and environmental sustainability of smallholders’ shrimp farming in the provinces of Bali, Banten, Central Java, East Java, Lampung, Nangro Aceh Darusalam, and South Sulawesi. “Indonesia is a key player in the global shrimp market, ranking among the top five shrimp producers in the world with a global market share of 8.7 per cent and export markets in the European Union, Japan, and the United States,” said Eric Quincieu, ADB Principal Water Resources Specialist for Southeast Asia. “Through ADB’s assistance, we expect that sustainable aquaculture practices will help reduce pressure on the ecosystem while boosting productivity.” The project will improve smallholder farmers’ access to quality inputs, production, and post-harvest practices and traceability through investments in climate adaptive infrastructure, capacity building, and strengthening of value chains. The project will also facilitate the transfer of knowledge in producing high-quality genetic shrimp fry to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to reduce reliance on imported brood stock. About 5,200 smallholder farmers, including more than a thousand women farmers, will benefit from improved infrastructure and capacity. About 35,000 smallholder farmers, of which about 7,000 are women, will benefit from improved access to quality inputs and capacity building programs on sustainable and climate adaptive aquaculture. The project will also contribute to COVID-19 pandemic recovery by providing employment opportunities and promoting rural entrepreneurship. The project is in line with the government’s National Medium-Term Development Plan, 2020­–2024 and ADB’s country partnership strategy for Indonesia, 2020­–2024, and its Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/318/fao-welcomes-150-mn-contribution-from-the-world-bank-to-address-growing-food-insecurity.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/318/fao-welcomes-150-mn-contribution-from-the-world-bank-to-address-growing-food-insecurity.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 10:37:54 +0530 The additional funding was provided in response to a sharp deterioration in food security conditions in Yemen. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed an additional $150 million multi-agency contribution provided by the World Bank to scale up restoration of rural livelihoods, boost household food production and provide emergency assistance to vulnerable households in Yemen. Since 2021, the $127 million Yemen Food Security Response and Resilience Project (FSRRP) has been jointly implemented by FAO, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is now joining the UN agencies in the implementation of the project. The additional funding was provided in response to a sharp deterioration in food security conditions in Yemen. The Integrated Food Security Phase (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity projection update, conducted in September 2022, indicates that approximately 17 million people, or over half of the country’s population, will likely experience high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between October and December 2022. Of these, 6.1 million people are classified in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). FAO will receive $79.4 million from the additional financing. This adds to the $61.1 million initially allocated to support FAO activities aimed at increasing production of crop, livestock and fish products, including backyard and garden production; promoting climate-smart agriculture; strengthening local agrifood systems; and establishing national agricultural value chains. "We are grateful to the World Bank for this important contribution. Our long-standing cooperation helps to ensure an integrated approach to tackling the food security issues in Yemen by strengthening agriculture as both an emergency measure to produce locally and a middle- to long-term source of food and jobs,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. ”This additional financing by the World Bank is vital to building resilience among smallholder farmers in Yemen, boosting local food availability and strengthening local agrifood systems, which have been weakened by conflict, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate shocks," he added. FSRRP delivers support to vulnerable households through cash-for-work opportunities and nutrition support for mothers and children. Additionally, the project provides targeted livelihoods support that boosts agricultural production in the short term, while enhancing agriculture's contributions to food security and economic activity over the longer term and building capacity for food security management. Agriculture’s potential Agriculture continues to suffer from the effects of the conflict and the COVID-19 outbreak jeopardising its potential to become Yemen’s most important economic sector. As a result, there are limited livelihoods opportunities available and the country heavily relies on commercial imports to meet domestic demand for many agricultural products including wheat, which is the Yemen’s staple food. The food security situation has been further exacerbated by the effects of the war in Ukraine including the disruption of shipments of wheat. Currently the country's agricultural sector only meets around 20 percent of its food needs due to limited agricultural land and water resources and poor agricultural practices compounded by years of war, high fuel prices, and water scarcity. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/312/vietnams-agri-forestry-and-fishery-export-hits-49-bn-by-november.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/312/vietnams-agri-forestry-and-fishery-export-hits-49-bn-by-november.html Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:59:43 +0530 The 11-month export rose nearly 12 per cent year on year while imports increased 7 per cent. Vietnam’s Agriculture products, forestry and fishery products exports stood at over $49 billion in the 11 months of 2022, higher than last year’s record of $48.6 billion, According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The 11-month export rose nearly 12 per cent year on year while imports increased 7 per cent to around $41 billion, resulting in a surplus of nearly $8 billion increased by 48 per cent. Which made up a total trade of over $90 billion, rising nearly 10 per cent year on year. Between January and November, key agricultural products brought more than $20 billion from export, up by 7 per cent. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/311/vietnam-and-malay-chamber-sign-mou-for-cooperation-in-agri-sector.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/311/vietnam-and-malay-chamber-sign-mou-for-cooperation-in-agri-sector.html Thu, 15 Dec 2022 12:53:05 +0530 The association plans to organise a Week of Vietnamese High-Quality Goods in Malaysia on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. The Vietnam Malaysia Business Association (VMBIZ) and the Malay Chamber Of Commerce Malaysia (MCCM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the food and agriculture sector.Nguyen Thi Thanh Van Vice President VMBIZ In her remarks said the MoU marks an impressive milestone in the association's operation, opening potential cooperation opportunities between Vietnamese businesses operating in Malaysia and enterprises of the two countries.The association plans to organise a Week of Vietnamese High-Quality Goods in Malaysia on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations, she said.Soh Thian Lai President of MCCM expressed his delight at the impressive results in trade and investment promotion activities between Vietnam and Malaysia in 2022, saying that his agency will strengthen coordination with the VMBIZ to further promote trade and investment between the two countries in the coming time, especially in food and agricultural sectors. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/310/ifc-singapores-agrocorp-partner-to-improve-food-security-in-bangladesh.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/310/ifc-singapores-agrocorp-partner-to-improve-food-security-in-bangladesh.html Thu, 15 Dec 2022 12:20:33 +0530 IFC investment is in line with a new $6 billion Global Food Security Platform (GFSP). To improve food security in Bangladesh at a time of rising commodity prices amidst a global shortfall of staple crops, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is providing a $32.5 million loan to Singapore-based agricultural commodity-trading company Agrocorp International, which is a leading supplier of wheat and pulses to the South-Asian country. IFC, the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets, is providing an eight-year financing package consisting of a senior secured loan of up to $18 million as well as a concessional loan of $14.5 million from the International Development Association’s Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility. At a time when trade financing has been constrained globally amid price instability, the investment will allow Agrocorp to buy and deliver millions of tons of wheat and pulses from Australia and Canada to Bangladesh, providing safe, nutritious, and calorie-rich staples to the country at a time of heightened food insecurity. These staples are sold to millers and food processors, which depend on them to produce basic foods for the Bangladeshi population. The IFC investment is in line with a new $6 billion Global Food Security Platform (GFSP), which aims to mobilise private investment to address the deterioration in food security, particularly in the world’s most vulnerable countries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/305/cambodia-earns-funds-to-boost-blue-economy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/305/cambodia-earns-funds-to-boost-blue-economy.html Wed, 14 Dec 2022 16:17:41 +0530 The project will strengthen Cambodia’s marine fishery while supporting its contribution to shared fish stocks and ecosystems in the Gulf of Thailand. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $73 million financing package to boost the climate resilience and sustainability of coastal and marine fisheries in Cambodia. The Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project will be financed by a $41 million loan from ADB; a $22 million grant from ADB’s Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries; and a $10 million loan from the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund under its ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF). The Agence Française de Développement will also provide the cofinancing equivalent to $20 million to be administered by ADB. The fishery subsector is an important component of Cambodia’s economy, accounting for 8per cent to 10 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product. Marine fisheries account for 13 per cent of the fishery subsector; yet, overfishing and climate change have led to a substantial decline in fish stocks, which has impacted coastal communities and businesses and resulted in higher fish prices. The project will strengthen Cambodia’s marine fishery while supporting its contribution to shared fish stocks and ecosystems in the Gulf of Thailand. It will help the country’s four coastal provinces—Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong, and Preah Sihanouk—reverse the sharp decline in fisheries, promote sustainable mariculture, and enhance fish landing sites to improve seafood safety. It is expected that under the project about 40 per cent of the nearshore fishery will be regenerated into more productive and sustainable enterprise.  The project will promote private sector development by enabling coastal communities and small businesses to diversify their livelihoods, adopt sustainable practices, and grow into viable enterprises. It will also support women’s economic empowerment by scaling up women’s engagement in small and medium-sized enterprises. Overall, the project will benefit 25 community fisheries organisations and members of 15 community-protected areas, comprising nearly 20,000 households, as well as a wider coastal community of about 200,000 people. “This project is ADB’s first significant investment in marine fisheries and represents an important milestone for its Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies,” said Alvin Lopez ADB Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist for Southeast Asia. “It responds to several key government strategies, including the Strategic Planning Framework for Fisheries 2015–2024, and the Statement of the Royal Government of Cambodia on Marine Fisheries Management Key Principles (2019) for the management, conservation, and development of sustainable marine fisheries resources.”  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/304/bhutan-gets-20-million-financing-package-for-water-management.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/304/bhutan-gets-20-million-financing-package-for-water-management.html Wed, 14 Dec 2022 15:35:19 +0530 The water systems to be established will integrate climate-smart digital water management to provide real-time monitoring for early warning in case of emergencies such as floods. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $20 million financing package to improve access to drinking water, irrigation services, and strengthening of climate resilience in Thimphu and the districts of Zhemgang and Wangdue Phodrang in Bhutan. The Water Flagship Program Support Project will build gravity-fed integrated drinking water supply and irrigation systems in the Hetshosamchu area of Wangdue Phodrang district and Zhemgang town and surrounding villages, which collect surface water from upstream sources. This will include the rehabilitation of irrigation networks and drinking water treatment facilities. A new drinking water supply system, including a new water treatment plant, will be established to provide a safe and continuous water supply to benefit more than 1,300 households in the Thimphu–Pamtsho area. The water systems to be established will integrate climate-smart digital water management to provide real-time monitoring for early warning in case of emergencies such as floods. To ensure efficient operations of these systems, water service delivery and management capacities will be strengthened at the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, and municipal units and districts.  The project will support the creation of water users’ associations in Zhemgang and Hetshosamchu; train and build community awareness in water resources conservation and management, sanitation and hygiene; and improve farmers’ livelihoods and resilience brought about by climate change.   The financing package comprises a $14 million concessional loan and a $6 million grant from the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries. “ADB supports the Government of Bhutan’s Water Flagship Program and the National Integrated Water Resources Management Plan to improve climate change resilience and water sector performance,” said Luca di Mario ADB Urban Development Specialist for South Asia. “This project will strengthen the capacity of local communities in managing water resources and will boost farmers’ productivity.” An additional $2 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, financed by the Government of Japan, will support training and livelihood improvement activities, focusing on women and disadvantaged persons. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/303/adb-approves-62-9-mn-package-to-cambodia-for-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/303/adb-approves-62-9-mn-package-to-cambodia-for-food-security.html Wed, 14 Dec 2022 15:12:55 +0530 The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross-Border Livestock Health and Value Chains Improvement Project will directly benefit at least 40,000 households. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $62.9 million package to help Cambodia enhance food security and promote inclusive economic growth by improving livestock health and value chains, and the formal trade of livestock and livestock products. The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross-Border Livestock Health and Value Chains Improvement Project will directly benefit at least 40,000 households in Kampong Cham, Otdar Meanchey, Prey Veng, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Takeo provinces by boosting investments in critical infrastructure, institutional and technical capacities, and enabling policies. It will also develop infrastructure in Kandal, Kampong Thom, and Pursat provinces to meet nationwide needs for veterinary vaccines and artificial insemination. The project will enhance the productivity and resilience of the livestock subsector by reducing risks from transboundary animal diseases, zoonoses, and antimicrobial resistance; build up animal health monitoring and service delivery; improve food safety; and promote subregional cooperation in the GMS. The project will be financed by a $50 million loan from ADB’s concessional resources, a $12 million Asian Development Fund (ADF) grant, and a $900,000 grant from the Climate Change Fund (CCF). The ADF provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries (DMCs) while the CCF aims to strengthen support for low-carbon and climate-resilient development in DMCs. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will provide a $43 million loan to the project, which will be partly administered by ADB. “The livestock subsector is crucial to sustainable rural livelihoods and food security in Cambodia, and it offers many opportunities for smallholder farmers, including women, and small- and medium-sized agribusinesses,” said Ancha Srinivasan ADB Principal Climate Change Specialist for Southeast Asia. "Nearly all cattle and buffaloes are owned by smallholder farmers, although pig and poultry production is increasingly becoming commercialized. ADB’s assistance will enable the subsector to tap into high growth potential brought about by increasing domestic meat consumption resulting from economic growth, urbanization, population expansion, trade opportunities, and progressive improvement in disease control and animal nutrition.” The project is in line with the government’s national development plans and ADB’s country partnership strategy for Cambodia, 2019­–2023. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/302/taiwan-raises-issue-to-wto-regarding-chinas-trading-policy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/302/taiwan-raises-issue-to-wto-regarding-chinas-trading-policy.html Wed, 14 Dec 2022 14:05:16 +0530 Canada, Australia, the United States, Japan, and the European Union also raise concerns Taiwan’s agriculture council has raised the issue of China’s lack of transparency in trading regulations at regular committee meetings at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after China imposed a ban on fish products from Taiwan.   China continues to ban the import of pineapples, custard apples, wax apples and citrus fruits from Taiwan. Some of the bans have lasted over a year. According to the local media, Taiwan has asked China to provide reports for the ban according to international trade regulations but China did not reply officially. The council mentioned, it has already improved fruit packaging-related processes that China cites as their reason for the ban. The council has also made multiple attempts for further discussions with China but again no response from China.  The council stated that Taiwan has brought up specific trade concerns about China nine times so far. That's since the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade regular meeting in 2020. Taiwan, along with Canada, Australia, the United States, Japan, and the European Union have raised concerns about China’s lack of transparency in trade regulations.  Taiwan, a WTO member, has the right to raise specific trade concerns at committee meetings and demand fair negotiations with China. The agriculture council emphasizes China should base their trade regulations on factual data instead of bias against Taiwan.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/295/production-of-primary-crops-in-the-world-up-by-52-from-2000-to-2020-fao.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/295/production-of-primary-crops-in-the-world-up-by-52-from-2000-to-2020-fao.html Tue, 13 Dec 2022 13:42:22 +0530 Global pesticide use peaked in 2012 and began declining in 2017, reveals FAO's Annual Statistical Yearbook The production of primary crops in the world, such as sugarcane, maize, wheat and rice, grew by 52 per cent from 2000 to 2020 to reach 9.3 billion tonne, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) annual Statistical Yearbook. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) published its annual Statistical Yearbook. FAO Yearbook stated vegetable oil production increased by 125 per cent over the period, with palm oil output growing by 236 per cent. Meat output, led by chicken, grew by 45 per cent, while the growth rate for fruits and vegetables was 20 per cent or below. Sugarcane is the world’s largest crop by volume, with 1. 9 billion tonnes annually. Maize is next at 1.2 billion tonnes. Global food exports have risen to $1.42 trillion, up by a factor of 3.7 since 2000. Worldwide, the largest food-exporting countries in gross terms are the United States of America, the Netherlands and China. The largest exporters in net terms were Brazil, by far, followed by Argentina and Spain. The largest net importing countries were China, Japan and the United Kingdom. Some 4.74 billion hectare of the planet’s surface is agricultural land, including meadows and pastures as well as crops. That figure is down 3 per cent from 2000, but down six times as much in per capita terms, with Africa again in the lead. Worldwide pesticide use peaked in 2012 and began declining in 2017. The countries with the highest pesticide application per hectare are Saint Lucia, Maldives and Oman. According to the report, Dietary energy supply, a key indicator for food security, went up in all regions since 2000 and did so the most in Asia. The world average is now 2 960 calories per person per day, up 9 per cent, with the level peaking at 3 540 calories per day per person in Europe and North America. Today, some 866 million people work in agriculture, more than a quarter of the global workforce, and produced $3.6 trillion in value-added. Compared to 2000, those figures represent a 78 per cent increase in economic value, produced by 16 per cent fewer people, with Africa posting double that pace of growth. The report says the Average temperature in 2021 was 1.44 °C hotter than the average from 1951 to 1980. Europe has had the highest temperature change, followed by Asia, with Oceania reporting by far the least change. Greenhouse gas emissions on agricultural land declined by 4 per cent between 2000 and 2020, with 70 per cent of them generated within the farm gate. Cattle and sheep meat account for most carbon dioxide emissions, with cattle averaging 50 times more than chicken. The emissions intensity of cereals is much lower, although rice emits more than five times more than wheat and coarse grains. The rate of greenhouse gas emissions changes significantly across regions, reflecting large differences in efficiencies of production. For instance, the emissions intensity of cattle meat in Africa is almost four times as great as in Europe. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/292/taiwan-to-redirect-seafood-export-to-southeast-asia-after-banning-from-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/292/taiwan-to-redirect-seafood-export-to-southeast-asia-after-banning-from-china.html Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:53:24 +0530 The new import ban includes the East Asian four-finger, skipjack tuna, Pacific saury, and squid Taiwan will redirect seafood exports to Southeast Asia from China after a fresh ban imposed by China. Officials in Taiwan are criticising it as politically motivated. According to the Taiwanese media, China has imposed a new import ban on Taiwan’s fish products including the East Asian four-finger, skipjack tuna, Pacific saury, and squid, referring to registration issues. According to Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA), more than 178 items have been affected by the new measure by China. Most of the banned seafood is shipped to China for canning before being exported to other markets. The Taiwan government will help businesses hit by the Chinese ban divert goods to Southeast Asian countries. Taiwan is also boasting food processing countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam, according to COA. Earlier this year, China stopped importing fish from Taiwan over the alleged detection of prohibited chemicals. The latest ban involves more seafood and beverages like beer and sorghum liquor. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/291/japans-agricultural-fishery-export-jump-8-34-bn-in-last-10-months.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/291/japans-agricultural-fishery-export-jump-8-34-bn-in-last-10-months.html Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:08:18 +0530 Japan targets 2 trillion yen worth export for 2025 Japan's agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and food exports has hit 1.12 trillion yen ($8.34 billion) for the 10 months in October, marking the second time ever have passed the 1 trillion-yen mark. It is a record annual high, amid the adversarial situation of the yen and rebounding global demand on the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the local media, Japan’s agricultural and aquatic exports first time reached the milestone came in 2021 when exports for the full year grossed 1.23 trillion yen. Export data up till now shows that this year agricultural and fishery export will surpass 2021 export. Japan has set a goal of 2 trillion yen export for 2025. From January to October, this year export up by 148.6 billion yen or 15.3 per cent compared to last year. China was Japan’s largest buyer of agriculture products with 229.3 billion yen up by 24 per cent from the year ago. Export to the US reached 165.5 billion yen rose by 20.8 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/290/vietnams-seafood-export-hit-10-b-in-november.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/290/vietnams-seafood-export-hit-10-b-in-november.html Mon, 12 Dec 2022 15:13:02 +0530 This is considered a historical record of Vietnam's seafood industry Vietnam’s seafood export reached more than $10 billion by the end of November increased by 25 per cent. It is estimated to reach $11 billion by the end of 2022. This is considered a historical record of Vietnam's seafood industry, after more than 20 years since entering the world market, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).  Pangasius exports reached $2.2 billion, up 14.6 per cent, because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict average price of pangasius increased by 50 per cent. Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached $4.3 billion, up 30 per cent, ranking in the top 4 in the world along with Ecuador, India and Indonesia. Tuna products had an export turnover of over $1 billion for the first time. In general, Vietnam’s seafood exports grew at a double-digit rate. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/285/china-denies-permission-to-taiwanese-seafood-exporters.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/285/china-denies-permission-to-taiwanese-seafood-exporters.html Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:14:20 +0530 The Chinese authorities introduced a new customs registration system due to which the issue appeared. Chinese authorities have not given permission to more than 100 Taiwanese seafood exporters to ship their products to China. Taiwanese authorities are investigating for reasons, the Council of Agriculture (COA) said. According to the local media, due to this the affected products mainly include squid, Pacific saury and forefinger threadfin. applications from over 100 Taiwanese exporters are being held up, while only one exporter has been granted approval, the COA has asked the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration to clarify the matter with Chinese authorities. The Chinese authorities introduced a new customs registration system due to which the issue appeared. According to the new systems, exporters were required to submit the necessary documents by the end of August.  Since June, China's General Administration of Customs has gradually halted the import of grouper, large head hairtail and horse mackerel from Taiwan, a ban which was later expanded to include products of multiple Taiwanese food brands. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/283/vietnams-cashew-export-hit-80000-tons-in-november.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/283/vietnams-cashew-export-hit-80000-tons-in-november.html Fri, 09 Dec 2022 12:33:06 +0530 The three biggest export markets for Vietnamese cashew nuts in 2022 include the US, China and the Netherlands. Vietnam's estimated cashew exports reached 80,000 tons in November 2022, which is valued at $458 million, an increase of 80.6 per cent in volume and an increase of 72.4 per cent in value compared to October 2022; compared to November 2021, this is an increase of 58.1 per cent in volume and an increase of 39.1 per cent in value, according to the report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Vietnam's cashew nut exports tend to recover and increase towards the end of the year because the cashew volume and turnover rise every month. The cashew nut exports in October increased sharply in both volume and value compared to September at $44,308 tons and $265.67 million, this is an increase of 15.5 per cent in volume and 13.4 per cent in value. On the other hand, cashew nut exports in October 2022 saw negative growth compared to October 2021; however, cashew nut exports in November 2022 experienced positive growth compared to November 2021. The three biggest export markets for Vietnamese cashew nuts in 2022 include the US, China and the Netherlands. Vietnam's cashew nut exports to the US reached 119,391 tons, which is valued at $700 million, accounting for 28 per cent of Vietnam's total volume and 27.5 per cent of the total export turnover; exports to China reached 59,871 tons, which is valued at $356.18 million, accounting for over 14 per cent of the total volume and total export turnover; exports to the Netherlands reached 45,228 tons, which is valued at $ 246.21 million, accounting for 10.7 per cent of the total volume and 9.7 per cent of the total export turnover. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/282/a-bumper-crop-in-australia-despite-flooding.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/282/a-bumper-crop-in-australia-despite-flooding.html Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:02:16 +0530 While it’s impressive how resilient the agriculture sector has been, it shows how events like floods and droughts can impact regions and Australian farmers Australian agriculture is still on track for an outstanding 12 months, despite the impact of the devastating floods in the eastern states. Dr Jared Greenville, Executive Director of ABARES revealed that the release of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Agricultural Commodities and Crop Reports shows the sector setting new benchmarks in export commodities and high yields for winter crops. “The gross value of agricultural production is forecast to be a near-record $85 billion in 2022-23, just shy of the record set the previous year,” Dr Greenville said. “Meanwhile, the winter crop is forecast to be the second largest on record at over 62 million tonnes. Livestock production is expected to hold steady, contributing $34 billion to the national total. “Another bumper year combined with high commodity prices means Australia’s agricultural exports are forecast to break records at over $72 billion in 2022-23. “While the spring rain has impacted production, yields and quality in some parts of the country, some states are experiencing their best winter crops on record. “Crops in Western Australia and South Australia benefitted the most from spring conditions, with total production in both states forecast to reach new record levels. Total production in Queensland is forecast to reach the second highest on record, despite parts of the Darling Downs missing out on plantings after being impacted by the floods. "In other parts of the country, the results are mixed with both flooding and water-logging impacting winter crop production. “We saw a record amount of crop planted in Victoria this year. At the state level, high yields in the Mallee and the Wimmera will offset crop losses in central and northern border regions. However, the full picture of the damage to crops from extensive waterlogging remains unknown. “Unfortunately, New South Wales has borne the brunt of the damage from the spring rains and subsequent floods. Record spring rainfall followed above-average rain in August, which has led to losses. The total production for New South Wales has been revised down by 2 million tonnes since our last Crop Report in September. “Considerable uncertainty remains over winter crop harvest progress and grain quality in New South Wales and Victoria given ongoing high rainfall, which could lead to downgrades in production value. Harvests in Victoria and New South Wales are likely to run well into summer. “The current conditions are a reminder of the volatility of Australia’s climate. While it’s impressive how resilient the agriculture sector has been, it shows how events like floods and droughts can impact regions and Australian farmers.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/280/china-approves-2495-geographical-indications-till-october.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/280/china-approves-2495-geographical-indications-till-october.html Thu, 08 Dec 2022 15:25:02 +0530 GI has enabled consumers to buy authentic specialities, such as wine, tea and agricultural products without fear of receiving substandard. China has approved 2,495 geographical indications (GI) products and seen the registration of 7,013 GI trademarks as of the end of October, according to China’s National Intellectual Property Administration. GI sign is used to show the specific geographical origin of a product and identify its qualities or reputation due to that origin. It is an important type of intellectual property right and a quality guarantee. China has rolled out a variety of measures for GI use and fostered GI protection since 2018. In 2021, the total output value of Chinese enterprises using GIs exceeded 703 billion yuan ($98.3 billion), Zhang Zhicheng, an official with the administration, told. The international cooperation in foreign GI protection, including the China-European Union (EU) agreement on protecting GIs, which took effect last year, has enabled consumers from both sides to buy authentic specialties, such as wine, tea and agricultural products, from one another without fear of receiving substandard or counterfeit items. As a result of the deal, the total number of EU GIs receiving protection in China has grown to 134 while Chinese GIs that are protected in the EU has reached 110.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/278/malaysia-to-import-eggs-to-fulfil-domestic-need.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/278/malaysia-to-import-eggs-to-fulfil-domestic-need.html Thu, 08 Dec 2022 13:02:49 +0530 Ministry asked Agrobank to submit proposals to help suppliers and small entrepreneurs to remain competitive. Malaysia will import eggs as a short-term measure to alleviate a local supply shortage, Mohamad Sabu, Agriculture and Food Security Minister said in a statement. According to the local media, the ministry has identified a number of sources to ensure a sufficient supply of chicken eggs in the market. The ministry will also ensure that chicken eggs are safe to consume and meet the set standards. All protocols and procedures set by the government must be followed without compromise. The minister said that the initiative to import eggs was not to put pressure on the local industry players but to ensure that the supply of eggs in the country was not interrupted and the welfare of the people was looked after. He mentioned that the need to bring in chicken eggs from outside will be reviewed once the supply of chicken eggs has stabilised. He added that he has directed the ministry’s secretary general to look at the impact of importing chicken eggs from overseas on existing local players. He also asked Agrobank to submit proposals to help suppliers and small entrepreneurs to remain competitive. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/276/vietnams-fruit-export-tend-to-increase-in-december.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/276/vietnams-fruit-export-tend-to-increase-in-december.html Thu, 08 Dec 2022 12:06:05 +0530 Vietnam's vegetables and fruits export in October 2022 reached $309.7 million, up 22.9 per cent compared to last month and up 28.1 per cent compared to October 2021. Vietnam’s Agri export is recovering strongly in spite of the Zero Covid policy by China. Regardless, fruit exports tend to recover and increase in the last months of the year. According to Vietnam Customs, the export value of Vietnam's vegetables and fruits in October 2022 reached $309.7 million, up 22.9 per cent compared to last month and up 28.1 per cent compared to October 2021. The export of vegetables and fruits is continuing to recover from August until now. Previously, in July, fruit and vegetable exports still had a negative growth rate when reaching only $250 million, down 5.7 per cent compared to July 2021, and contributed to the reduction of fruit and vegetable exports in the first 7 months of the year by 15.8 per cent. In August, vegetable and fruit exports began to recover with a relatively high growth compared to August 2021 (up 19.7 per cent). In September, fruit and vegetable exports still grew, although the increase decreased significantly. By October, vegetable and fruit exports increased sharply again as mentioned above. China is the largest market for Vietnam’s fruit and vegetables. In October 2022, the export value of vegetables and fruits to China reached $151.7 million, up 44.2 per cent compared to October 2021. Generally, in the first 10 months of the year, the export of vegetables and fruits to the Chinese market reached $1.2 billion, down 25.8 per cent over the same period in 2021. Although this decrease is still large, it has improved significantly compared to the first 8 months of the year (down to 32.4 per cent). It is clear that the prospect of exporting vegetables and fruits to the Chinese market has had many positive signs. Such as durian fruit has been exported through official channels to China since September 2022. After durian, the opportunity to promote banana exports is opening when The Protocol on the export of fresh bananas from Vietnam to China was also recently signed between the two countries. The strong shift from unofficial to official export for the Chinese market will contribute to promoting the positive growth of the fruit and vegetable industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/268/oranges-from-arunachal-pradesh-launch-in-dubai.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/268/oranges-from-arunachal-pradesh-launch-in-dubai.html Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:28:10 +0530 The oranges from Arunachal have been produced by the Dambuk Organic Orange Producer Company Limited, formed under the MOVCD-NER. Organic oranges from Dambuk in Arunachal Pradesh were launched at the Lulu Group’s hypermarkets in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The oranges were launched in the presence of Bidol Tayeng, Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Department, Okit Palling CEO, of Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB), Tadu Game, Director, Agriculture Marketing, Karbom Riram, Agriculture Joint Director and a team of officials from Lulu hypermarket during a programme organised in Dubai by the APAMB, in collaboration with the Lulu Group International. Applauding the efforts of the APAMB and the APEDA, the Lulu Group’s regional manager termed the event “a milestone which will open up the market for various other organic products from Arunachal Pradesh.” Speaking at the event, Tayeng said that “organic oranges are just a lead product from the state, and in coming days, various other products from the state will find their way to these markets.” Palling informed that the oranges from Arunachal have been produced by the Dambuk Organic Orange Producer Company Limited, formed under the MOVCD-NER. He further said that agriculture and horticulture produce like pumpkin, pineapple, ginger, turmeric, and large cardamom from the state are of the best quality. Palling acknowledged the relentless support provided by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Agriculture Minister Tage Taki. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/267/israel-seizes-200-kg-smuggled-strawberries-from-gaza.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/267/israel-seizes-200-kg-smuggled-strawberries-from-gaza.html Tue, 06 Dec 2022 13:28:34 +0530 The Ministry of Agriculture strongly reiterates that marketing agricultural produce that has not been properly supervised is a violation of the law. Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture has seized 200 kg of strawberries which was smuggled from Gaza. The supervisors from the Central Investigation and Enforcement Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Israel Border Police, have tracked and prevented the sale of 50 cardboard units of strawberries, at a total weight of about 200 kg, grown in Gaza, which were intercepted at the tunnels’ crossing in the area surrounding Jerusalem. The supervisors reached the place, following a report by the crossing’s combat soldiers. The entire merchandise found was transferred for destruction under a medical decree. The initial investigation indicates that the goods were intended to be marketed in the Jerusalem region. During the initial investigation, the questioned driver admitted to the charges against him. The Ministry of Agriculture strongly reiterates that marketing agricultural produce that has not been properly supervised is a violation of the law, which jeopardizes public health and may also cause significant damage to the flora in Israel The Ministry of Agriculture invests great effort in eradicating the attempts to smuggle agricultural produce from Gaza in general, and strawberries during the winter, in particular. Accordingly, the ministry takes action from to time to raise awareness of the guidelines pertaining to signs indicating smuggled merchandise. In this instance, an attempt to smuggle and market about 200 kg of strawberry produce from Gaza has been prevented. The merchandise, which was visible inside the vehicle that was caught, was transferred for destruction under a   medical decree. During the initial investigation, the suspect admitted to the charges against him and legal proceedings have been initiated.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/263/new-zealands-food-and-fibre-export-revenue-to-grow-55-b.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/263/new-zealands-food-and-fibre-export-revenue-to-grow-55-b.html Mon, 05 Dec 2022 15:12:37 +0530 Dairy export revenue is projected to grow 6 per cent to a new high of $23.3 billion New Zealand’s record food and fibre export revenue is projected to reach new record highs, helping protect New Zealanders from the sharp edges of the global downturn says Damien O’Connor, Minister of Agriculture The Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) released by the Ministry for Primary Industries, shows food and fibre export revenue is forecast to grow to a record level of $55 billion this year. “Accelerating our export growth is a major cornerstone of the Government’s economic recovery plan, and today’s report shows further evidence that plan is working,” Damien O’Connor said. "Despite the global economic storm gathering, the latest SOPI results show our food and fibre export revenue continuing to climb. “The forecast increase of 4 per cent in the year to June 30, 2023 is on top of our record export revenue achieved last year, and $2.9 billion higher than earlier forecasts made in June 2022. “Dairy remains our largest export, with revenue forecast to grow 6 per cent to a new high of $23.3 billion. Our sheep and beef sector remains strong, with red meat and wool revenue tipped to increase to a record $12.4 billion. “Horticulture export revenue is expected to grow 5 per cent to $7.1 billion, and strong demand for our processed food and other products is expected to drive 3 per cent growth to $3.3 billion. “We also expect arable export revenue to grow 5 per cent to $265 million. “The six new trade agreements and upgrades we’ve secured since 2017, alongside the successful trade missions led by the Prime Minister across five countries, will drive growth of our food and fibre sector into the future. “We know this is a tough time for Kiwis who are experiencing cost of living pressures and rising interest rates but continuing our export growth means New Zealand is even better placed in a challenging global environment,” Damien O’Connor said.  Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker said the seafood sector’s hard work was expected to pay-off with an increase in seafood export revenue. “Seafood export revenue is forecast to increase 4 per cent to $2 billion this year, which is a new record and higher than pre-pandemic levels,” David Parker said. “Our seafood export revenue took a substantial hit at the start of the pandemic, as food service shut its doors around the world, but hard work, combined with strong demand from food service and tourism reopening, is seeing a swift and continued recovery in export revenue.” Forestry Minister Stuart Nash said forestry export revenue was expected to increase this year, despite the tough global economic environment. “Forestry export revenue is set to increase to $6.6 billion in the year to 30 June 2023,” Stuart Nash said. “This result is to be commended and the forestry sector should be acknowledged, especially over a tough year and in the face of a global slowdown in construction and corresponding lower demand for our logs.  It shows remarkable resilience.” Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri said Māori agribusinesses play an increasingly vital role in Aotearoa’s food and fibre sector. “Total exports by Māori businesses have grown by 38 per cent from $630 million in 2017 to $872 million in 2021, with the majority from the food and fibre sector. Our new Rautaki mo te Taurikura action plan will only continue to drive that growth in the years to come,” Meka Whaitiri said. Damien O’Connor said the success of the food and fibre sector was being guided by the Fit for a Better Worldroadmap, which the Government developed with the sector.  “The draft Food and Beverage Industry Transformation Plan launched for consultation will drive the long-term success and prosperity of our food and beverage producers, our rural communities, and our economy,” Damien O’Connor said. “We must also acknowledge the international cost pressures impacting our farmers and growers here at home. While they’re easing in some areas, we need to continue supporting farmers where we can, to grow the value of our exports and maintain our competitive edge. “As we head into the festive season, I’d like to acknowledge the more than 360,000 people working in our food and fibre sector and what they’ve achieved for New Zealand over the past year. Their efforts brighten our future,” Damien O’Connor said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/259/first-fruit-transportation-train-launched-from-laos-to-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/259/first-fruit-transportation-train-launched-from-laos-to-china.html Mon, 05 Dec 2022 12:19:46 +0530 This is the first direct train for imported fruits to Chinese markets on the China-Laos railway. A train between Laos and Thailand to China for fruit import has been launched. A train loaded with 25 containers of fruits from Thailand and Laos arrived at Mohan railway station of the China-Laos Railway, Southwest China's Yunnan province. This is the first direct train for imported fruits to Chinese markets on the China-Laos railway, and also the first batch of imported fruits shipped all the way by rail to Mohan before being distributed across China. According to China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co Ltd, the imported fruits, around 543 tonnes, included 351 tons of bananas from Laos, and 154 tons of longan and 38 tons of durian from Thailand. The fruits, which were loaded in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, passed through the Friendship Tunnel on the China-Laos border before arriving at the Mohan railway port for inspection and quarantine. The fruits then departed from Mohan station to other destinations across the country. The China-Laos Railway, which kicked off operation in December 2021, stretches over 1,000 km, linking Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, with Vientiane. As of Dec, this railway had transported a total of 8.5 million passengers and 11.2 million tonnes of cargo, and the total amount of import and export cargo checked and released by Kunming Customs had reached about 1.93 million tons, with the value exceeding 13.29 billion yuan ($1.88 billion). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/257/cocohub-facility-in-philippines-boosts-farmers-income.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/257/cocohub-facility-in-philippines-boosts-farmers-income.html Fri, 02 Dec 2022 15:49:43 +0530 The Cocohub project benefits over 500 farmers from Tuburan and neighbouring towns while generating employment opportunities for women. The Coconut Hub or ‘Cocohub’ facility, the first-of-its-kind in Cebu town of Philippines, commenced operations in 2020. Today, the centre processes 15,000 seed nuts a day for the production of virgin coconut oil, coco sugar, coco baskets, ropes, mats, and anti-soil erosion nets, among others.  The Cocohub project benefits over 500 farmers from Tuburan and neighbouring towns while generating employment opportunities for women in the community who work full-time in the hub.  Super Typhoon “Yolanda” devastated the Philippines in 2013, coconut farmers from Cebu town struggled with lower productivity and income. They were left with damaged coconut farms, making it even harder to earn a living for their families. This dire situation pushed the Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC) to support its farmer-members by establishing a production centre for diverse products made from coconuts, which provides farmers with higher income from selling all parts of their produce to LMPC at a competitive price, instead of relying solely on producing copra. The operations of the Cocohub are backed by financial support from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK)—a long-time development partner of the LMPC. Loans from the Bank are used as working capital for the purchase of furniture and fixtures, payment of raw materials to suppliers, and salary of the cooperative’s workers.  The Cocohub is a joint project with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), which provides the LMPC infrastructure support and essential equipment, including a decorticating machine.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/256/vietnams-agri-export-and-import-rise-in-11-months.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/256/vietnams-agri-export-and-import-rise-in-11-months.html Fri, 02 Dec 2022 15:21:15 +0530 Agricultural, forestry and fishery products export rose by 11%, import increased by 6% over the same period last year. Vietnam’s export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products in November 2022 is estimated at $ 4.27 billion, bringing the total export value of the first 11 months of 2022 to $ 49.04 billion, up 11.8 per cent over the same period in 2021. Which, the export value of agricultural products is estimated at $20.73 billion, up 6.6 per cent. Regarding imports, forecasts for the total import turnover of agriculture, forestry and fishery products in November 2022 is estimated at $4.07 billion, bringing the total import value in the first 11 months of 2022 to $ 41.2 billion, up 6.9 per cent over the same period last year in 2021. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the export value of livestock products was estimated at $361.4 million, down 8.4 per cent; Seafood export value is estimated at $10.14 billion, up 27 per cent; The export value of forest products was estimated at $15.59 billion, up 8.2 per cent; The export value of production inputs was estimated at $2.22 billion, up 38.1 per cent; The export value of salt is estimated at $4.5 million USD, up 66.8 per cent. It is estimated that the total export value of Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the first 11 months of 2022 to markets in Asia increased by 15.7 per cent, reaching $21.9 billion; America increased by 4.3 per cent, reaching $13.44 billion; Europe increased by 11.5 per cent, reaching $5.56 billion; Oceania increased by 22 per cent, reaching $848 million; Africa decreased by 4.3 per cent, reaching $820 million. The share of Asia, the Americas, Europe, Oceania and Africa in the total export value of Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the first 11 months of 2022 is 44.7 per cent, respectively. ; 27.4 per cent; 11.3per cent; 1.7 per cent and 1.7 per cent. The United States, China and Japan are the three largest export markets for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products. Export value to the US market accounted for 25 per cent, up 2.7 per cent over the same period in 2021; China accounted for 18.9 per cent, and Japan accounted for 7.9 per cent. In, the import value of agricultural products is estimated at $ 25.2 billion, up 3.9 per cent; the Import value of livestock products is estimated at $3 billion, down 3.2 per cent; the Import value of aquatic products was estimated at $ 2.5 billion, up 39.7per cent; Import value of forest products was estimated at $2.89 billion, up 4 per cent; Import value of production inputs was estimated at $7.6 billion, up 14.9 per cent; Import value of salt was estimated at $37.8 million, up 114.4 per cent. Estimated total import value of agriculture, forestry and fishery products in the first 11 months of 2022 Vietnam from markets in the Americas increased by 11 per cent, reaching $10.34 billion, Africa decreased by 27.1 per cent, reaching $1 .33 billion, Asia up 6.5 per cent, reaching $12.6 billion, Europe up 11.1 per cent, reaching $1.76 billion and Oceania up by 41.7 per cent, reaching $3.05 billion. The market share of the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania regions in the total import value of Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the first 10 months of 2022 respectively are 25.1 per cent; 3.2 per cent, 30.6 per cent; 4.3 per cent and 7.4 per cent.Argentina, China and the United States are the 3 largest markets supplying agricultural, forestry and fishery products to Vietnam in the first 11 months of 2022, with a market share in total import value estimated respectively at 8.8 per cent, 8.6 per cent, and 8.5 per cent. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/243/how-technology-helps-agri-retailers-build-a-competitive-edge.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/243/how-technology-helps-agri-retailers-build-a-competitive-edge.html Thu, 01 Dec 2022 15:05:05 +0530 By Amit Sinha, Co-Founder, Unnati Agriculture, as we all know, is crucial to our sustenance, as it forms the foundation of our lives. Today, we cannot fathom an existence without agriculture, the primary source of our food, and given the growing population, the food requirements are only increasing further. India, a majorly agrarian economy and an emerging market, is among the top four food-producing countries in the world. However, despite over half of the country’s population being involved in agriculture, the sector was one of the slowest in technology adoption compared to others. Today, with technology being an integral part of the agri ecosystem and agritech startups bringing innovative solutions, the agriculture sector has registered impressive growth in a short period. But for agri retailers, the scenario isn’t quite the same since they are plagued with challenges, and as is the case with most issues in the modern world, technology can be a game-changer. Here’s how. The gap in supply chain integration Agri retailers make up a vital cog in the agricultural ecosystem. They are the primary source of supply for farmers in terms of seeds, nutrients, equipment, and crop protection products, among others, so when retailers face challenges, it impacts the entire ecosystem. Today, there is skyrocketing demand for consistently high-quality food, alongside the growing demand for overall food production. However, this poses challenges for supply chain integration, creating inefficiencies. Lack of storage space, improper care and negligent post-harvest management are some of the factors coming into play to create discrepancies in supply chain integration. With technologies like AI, ML, IoT, and Data Analytics, we can automate and digitise processes to make them more efficient and bridge the gaps while ensuring quality control. Increasing competition and gaining a wider reach In recent years, agri retailers have witnessed cut-throat competition in the market from both online and offline players in the segment. Besides, internet proliferation is at an all-time high, especially in non-metros and rural regions, and farmers are now becoming more tech-savvy with increased awareness. They compare products from multiple retailers before purchasing. This means that agri-retailers will have to innovate, increase their reach, and gain more knowledge about complex products to stay ahead and thrive in the competitive market. To help increase their reach and network and solve these challenges at the grassroots level, agri-tech startups are offering innovative, tech-powered solutions. For instance, right from helping retailers take their business online to expanding their network of customers, farmers, and wholesale markets, data-driven analysis and AI-powered tools used by agri-tech startups are offering strong market linkages to agri retailers. Making the most of the agri season Agriculture is a seasonal business for the most part, so the adage “Make hay while the sun shines” applies to agri retailers. With tech-enabled tools and services like weather mapping, and soil quality analysis, agri-tech startups allow agri retailers to gauge how to make the best use of their inventory, drive sales, and increase their profits during the peak season. Besides, agri-tech startups even leverage technology to create awareness about climate change and encourage both retailers and farmers to follow the best practices and continue with their livelihoods in a sustainable manner. The bottomline Technology has almost become an all-encompassing, one-stop solution for agricultural challenges and gaps in the ecosystem. Especially with fintech-powered agriculture platforms, agri retailers can receive end-to-end support and create a holistic ecosystem with data-driven strategies. With startups in the sector working relentlessly to create a robust agriculture ecosystem and boost its contribution to the GDP while facilitating better living standards for farmers and retailers, change for the better is inevitable, and technology is leading that transformation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/242/singapore-based-temasek-leads-dehaats-series-e-funding-round.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/242/singapore-based-temasek-leads-dehaats-series-e-funding-round.html Thu, 01 Dec 2022 13:16:25 +0530 DeHaat aims to add more farmers on its agritech platform and broaden its service offerings  Agritech startup DeHaat has raised $60 million in a Series E funding round co-led by existing investors Singapore’s Temasek Holdings and Belgium’s Sofina Ventures as it seeks to add more farmers on its agritech platform and broaden its service offerings. Other existing investors RTP Global Partners, Prosus Ventures and Lightrock India, also took part in the round. Incorporated in 1974, Temasek is an investment company headquartered in Singapore. Supported by 12 offices globally, Temasek owns a S$403 billion (US$297 billion) portfolio as at 31 March 2022, mainly in Singapore and the rest of Asia. Prior to this round, the DeHaat raised $115 million in a Series D round led by Sofina and Lightrock India in October 2021. Temasek co-invested in the round with participation from existing investors, including Prosus, RTP Global, Sequoia Capital India and Dutch development bank FMO. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/236/singapore-imposes-ban-on-imported-meat-from-5-countries.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/236/singapore-imposes-ban-on-imported-meat-from-5-countries.html Wed, 30 Nov 2022 12:50:23 +0530 The government has temporarily imposed a ban to import meat from Japan, France, USA, Denmark and Hungary. Singapore has imposed a ban on imported meat from five countries, due to the outbreak of Avian Influenza. According to Singapore Food Agency (SFA), Government has temporarily imposed a ban to import meat from Japan, France, USA, Denmark and Hungary.   Poultry and poultry products from Japan’s Ibaraki and Hyogo prefectures, France’s department of Mayenne, Cote d’armor, Loiret and Indre, USA’s Wright County, Iowa, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, Mississippi, Slagelse city in Denmark, Bács-Kiskun and Csongrád-Csanád region in Hungary are banned for temporarily. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/234/singapore-bans-live-chicken-from-malaysian-poultry-farms.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/234/singapore-bans-live-chicken-from-malaysian-poultry-farms.html Tue, 29 Nov 2022 15:30:44 +0530 Singapore suspended live chicken due to the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis in samples. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) suspended the export of live chicken broilers from two Malaysian poultry farms, each operated by Meng Kee Poultry (M) Sdn Bhd and Sdian Hup Farming Sdn Bhd. According to the SFA's statement, Singapore suspended live chicken due to the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis in samples collected from products of Meng Kee Poultry's farm and Sdian Hup Farming's farm. The suspensions come less than a month after Malaysia lifted the export ban on live chicken broilers to Singapore in October. The Malaysian government had earlier banned the export of up to 3.6 million chickens from June amid chicken supply and pricing issues in the country. Singapore reportedly imports about 34 per cent of its chicken supply from Malaysia. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/230/vietnam-to-specify-target-markets-for-organic-farm-produce.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/230/vietnam-to-specify-target-markets-for-organic-farm-produce.html Thu, 24 Nov 2022 14:10:10 +0530 Vietnamese organic farming products are exported to about 180 countries, with an export turnover of 335 million $ per annum. Vietnam needs to specify target markets and control the implementation of standards in organic agricultural production to meet the needs of the domestic and foreign markets. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said this at a forum on the development of organic farm produces held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Organic agricultural production must be associated with the development of the consumption market. Organic products with specific characteristics must comply with strict standards and often have low yields and high costs. These products are for the high-end market segment, he added. According to Nam, organic agriculture development must be the right way to approach potential customers at home and abroad. Along with reasonable planning, standards and management for the production and certification of organic agricultural products must be strictly implemented to improve the quality of Vietnam's certified organic products. Vietnamese organic farming products are exported to about 180 countries, with an export turnover of 335 million $ per annum. The organic farming products exported are tea, shrimp, rice, cashew nuts, pepper, cinnamon, anise, essential oils, and spices. The main export markets of those products include France, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, China, Cambodia, the US, Italy, Germany, the UK, Russia, Canada, Belgium, Thailand, Malaysia, Netherlands, Hong Kong (China) and Taiwan (China). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/229/china-germany-collaborates-to-promote-smart-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/229/china-germany-collaborates-to-promote-smart-agriculture.html Thu, 24 Nov 2022 13:35:34 +0530 The trade of agricultural products between the two countries reached $4.1 billion last year. China hopes to work with Germany on smart agriculture, breeding research, and food loss avoidance as part of a broader effort to bolster global food security, Chinese vice-minister of agriculture, Ma Youxiang, said.  According to China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,  "Policy dialogues, business talks, and technology sharing" will be increased in these areas between the two countries as "all-around strategic partners" so that new technologies and better grain varieties can be applied in both nations, the minister mentioned this at a forum on Sino-German cooperation on food security.  The forum was part of the 8th Sino-German Agricultural Week held in Beijing.  The six-day event, which has been shifted online amid a recent uptick of COVID-19 cases in the Chinese capital, features a range of keynote speeches and panel discussions by some of the most famed agrarians.  It was organized by the Sino-German Agricultural Center, which was established in Beijing by agricultural authorities in both countries in 2015.  Ma said that the two countries need to consider each other's most pressing needs as they plan for cooperation in the next five years and beyond, such as China's rural vitalization strategy, as well as how to reduce climate change's impact on farming.  He hoped that both sides will take the event as an opportunity to work with each other to address the global challenges hand in hand.  China has made a series of efforts to promote food security worldwide, such as proposing the Global Development Initiative last year, which highlighted the importance of food security, and offered food assistance to countries in dire need.  The country has also worked closely with international agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme, and held a number of international events to that end, including the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste (2021), International Forum on Black Soil Conservation and Utilization (2021) and the International Conference on Salt-Affected Soils (2022).  Ma also signaled that China wants to make the trade of farm produce more liberal and convenient, and expand trade in agricultural services.  Data provided by the ministry showed that the trade of agricultural products between the two countries reached $4.1 billion last year, more than seven times the 2000 level.  The first nine months this year have already seen $3.07 billion worth of farm produce change hands between Germany and China, a year-on-year increase of 1.5 per cent, a telltale sign of the vigor and resilience of the bilateral trade.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/223/aim-for-climate-smart-agricultural-food-solutions-through-30-innovation-sprints.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/223/aim-for-climate-smart-agricultural-food-solutions-through-30-innovation-sprints.html Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:32:25 +0530 Initiative records investment commitments exceeding US$8 billion. The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a global initiative led by the UAE and the US with the support of over 275 government and non-government partners, announced commitments to channelling increased investments in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation from 42 countries and over 235 non-governmental partners with a total value exceeding US$8 billion. The announcement was made at a high-level event titled ‘From Sharm El Sheikh to the UAE and Beyond: Transforming Food Systems through Climate-smart Agriculture, organised by the UAE at its pavilion during the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. In addition, the global initiative will see 22 new innovation sprints, bringing their total number to 30. Innovation sprints provide an opportunity for non-government partners to invest in specific, impactful, expedited efforts to drive the goals of AIM for Climate. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said, “AIM for Climate is helping countries make that shift and has managed to exceed its target of securing investment commitments in climate-smart agricultural innovation worth $8 billion. In addition, we are pleased to see our partner base more than triple – from 79 partners at COP26 to 275 at COP27.” She noted that food systems innovation is a key priority of the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051. In this context, the country focuses on advancing R&D in saline agriculture and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA). Tom Vilsack, US Secretary of Agriculture, said, “AIM for Climate continues to be committed to spurring innovation in climate-smart agriculture and food systems to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and incomes, promote regenerative and sustainable practices, enable ways in which methane can be reduced and for fertilisers to be used more efficiently, and encourage us to learn, adapt, and support best practices to empower smallholder farmers around the world, especially from marginalized communities.” Officially launched at COP26, AIM for Climate galvanises support and investments for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation to enable solutions at the intersection of global hunger and the climate crisis. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/218/canada-govt-to-open-new-indo-pacific-agricultural-office-in-thailand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/218/canada-govt-to-open-new-indo-pacific-agricultural-office-in-thailand.html Mon, 21 Nov 2022 15:34:27 +0530 The new agri office will help to increase and diversify Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific, strengthening trade on both sides of the Pacific.   The Government of Canada to establish a new agricultural office in the Indo-Pacific region. The government will also provide $31.8 million in funds to the new agri office. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement in Thailand at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting.  According to the official statement, the office will form part of Canada’s larger overall Indo-Pacific Strategy, which is expected to be fully released soon. The new agri office will help to increase and diversify Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific, strengthening trade on both sides of the Pacific.   “By opening new markets and opportunities for Canadian businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs, and attracting investment to Canada in sectors like clean energy that will define the global economy, we are building an economy that works for all Canadians. I look forward to working with fellow APEC leaders to build on our success, and create even more opportunities for Canadians and all people in the Indo-Pacific region,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. The Indo-Pacific stretches from the US Pacific coastline to the Indian Ocean and is home to more than half of the world's people, and nearly two-thirds of the world's economy. It includes 24 countries, such as Thailand, the US, Australia, Bangladesh, India, and Japan.   While Canada’s cereals, canola and pulse industries already enjoy a significant export share within the region, the statement said the rise of non-tariff barriers may prevent Canada from achieving its full potential in the region. To that end, the agri office will be able to tackle sanitary and phytosanitary issues in a strategic, coordinated manner with industry, and will help maintain and build market access for Canada’s agriculture exports.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/215/us-to-help-philippines-in-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/215/us-to-help-philippines-in-food-security.html Mon, 21 Nov 2022 12:31:29 +0530 The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will issue a $20 million loan to enable Agri Exim Global Philippines. The United States will support the Philippines to achieve food security and a digital economy. Vice President Kamala Harris launches initiatives toward this end, according to the U.S. Embassy. According to the U.S. Embassy, ​​the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to establish a dialogue on food security with its counterparts in the Philippines, with the participation of USAID and the U.S. Department of State. This dialogue will allow the two countries to work together to build resilient food systems and discuss best practices for agricultural innovation and sustainability, the embassy said. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will issue a $20 million loan to enable Agri Exim Global Philippines, Inc., a local processor of organic coconuts into derivative products, to grow its processing facilities in the Philippines, helping thousands of local farmers get organic certification and connect to global supply chains and customers. Harris visited Manila recently after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Bangkok, Thailand. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/214/philippines-landbank-loans-for-onion-farmers-reach-p-1-1-b.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/214/philippines-landbank-loans-for-onion-farmers-reach-p-1-1-b.html Mon, 21 Nov 2022 11:59:08 +0530 Additional loans worth P102.9 million are in the pipeline to support the production and trading of onion and the acquisition of cold storage equipment. The Land Bank (LANDBANK) of the Philippines has released P 1.1 billion in loans to onion farmers till the end of September this year. According to the statement released by LandBank, additional loans worth P102.9 million are in the pipeline to support the production and trading of onion and the acquisition of cold storage equipment. Onion is a high-value crop that can be financed under the LANDBANK Sulong Saka Program, designed to provide credit assistance to various qualified stakeholders for agribusiness projects that support high-value crop production, processing and marketing. Under the Program, small farmers may borrow up to 90 per cent of the total project cost for a production loan, while a maximum of 80 per cent may be borrowed by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, farmers’ associations and organizations, large agribusiness enterprises and corporations, non-government organizations (NGOs), and countryside financial institutions (CFIs). Eligible borrowers may also avail of up to 80 per cent of the project cost for acquiring fixed assets, and up to 85 per cent of the commodity's market price for commodity loans. Local government units (LGUs) may likewise avail of financial support under the Sulong Saka Program, provided that the loan amount will not exceed their net borrowing capacity, as certified by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF). Loans for working capital and permanent working capital are payable up to one year and three years, respectively, while loans for fixed assets and construction of facilities are payable based on project cash flow but not more than its economically useful life. The interest is based on the market rate, while loans for smallholder farmers shall bear a concessional fixed rate of 5 per cent per annum.  According to the statement, around 20,000 onion farmers enjoy bountiful harvests and improved earnings through the cold storage facility financed by the Land Bank of the Philippines. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/206/adb-commits-14-bn-to-combat-apac-food-crisis.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/206/adb-commits-14-bn-to-combat-apac-food-crisis.html Fri, 18 Nov 2022 17:07:42 +0530 Development lender plans a comprehensive program of support to help the 1.1 billion people in the region The Asian Development Bank has announced that it will devote at least $14 billion through 2025 to help ease a worsening food crisis in the Asia-Pacific. The development lender said it plans a comprehensive programme of support to help the 1.1 billion people in the region who lack healthy diets due to poverty and soaring food prices. The Manila, Philippines-based ADB made the announcement during its annual meeting. “This is a timely and urgently needed response to a crisis that is leaving too many poor families in Asia hungry and in deeper poverty,” ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said. The plan calls for improving long-term food security by strengthening farming and food supplies to cope with climate change and loss of biodiversity. The ADB said the funds will go to both existing and new projects spanning farming, food production and distribution, water resources management and social supports. Asakawa said that in the short-term, support will be targeted at and designed to help the most vulnerable, particularly women. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/212/philippines-department-of-agriculture-will-distribute-additional-fertilizer.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/212/philippines-department-of-agriculture-will-distribute-additional-fertilizer.html Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:42:32 +0530 The Department of Agriculture targets to start the distribution of fertilizer assistance for the Dry Season 2022–2023 by December 2022. The Philippines Department of Agriculture will distribute additional fertilizer next month to support rice farmers nationwide. According to the statement, this is in line with the recent meeting of President Marcos with the top officials of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) regarding the country’s fertilizer importation requirements to boost local production. The PITC was tapped to import the required volume of fertilizer at a lower cost through a government-to-government arrangement. With a P4.1 billion fund, the Department of Agriculture will be able to buy about 2.277 million bags of urea to be given in kind to farmers. The Department of Agriculture targets to start the distribution of fertilizer assistance for the Dry Season 2022–2023 by December 2022 after the ongoing distribution of fertilizer discount vouchers funded through the allocations for 2021 and 2021 is completed. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/205/israel-jordan-and-uae-sign-mou.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/205/israel-jordan-and-uae-sign-mou.html Thu, 17 Nov 2022 18:04:02 +0530 The MoU relates to Project Prosperity, which has two components: Prosperity Green and Prosperity Blue. The governments of the United  Arab  Emirates  (UAE),  the  Hashemite  Kingdom of  Jordan,  and the  State of  Israel have signed a  Memorandum of  Understanding (MoU)  at the United  Nations  Climate  Change Conference  (COP 27)  to advance clean energy and sustainable water desalination projects announced last year. The MoU relates to Project Prosperity, which has two components: Prosperity Green and Prosperity Blue.  Prosperity Green includes a 600-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant, complemented with electric storage, which will be built in Jordan and produce clean energy for export to Israel. Prosperity Blue is a sustainable water desalination program, located in Israel, to export to Jordan 200 million cubic meters of potable water per annum. The MoU was signed in the presence of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change; and John Kerry, United State especial Presidential Envoy for Climate. The agreement was signed by Mariam Al Mheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment; Mohammad Al Najjar, Jordan’s Minister of Water and Irrigation, and Esawi Frej, Israel’s Minister of Regional Cooperation. The three countries signed an initial Declaration of Intent to explore the feasibility of both projects at the Dubai Expo in the UAE in November 2021. As per the MoU, feasibility studies for each of the projects have been ongoing and the parties affirm that both Prosperity Green and Prosperity Blue have positive potential prospects. The UAE, Jordan, and Israel will continue engaging to develop the necessary implementation plans in time for COP 28, which is to be held in the UAE next November. Project Prosperity was proposed to help address some of the challenges posed by climate change on water and energy security in the Middle East, and to promote renewable energy, sustainable water supply, and stability in the region.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/200/travelling-art-pte-ltd-fined-10000-for-importing-food-products-illegally.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/200/travelling-art-pte-ltd-fined-10000-for-importing-food-products-illegally.html Thu, 17 Nov 2022 16:40:21 +0530 Provision shop operator was also fined $4,000 for possessing unlabelled raw meat for sale Travelling Art Pte Ltd was fined $10,000 by the Court for importing seafood and meat products illegally from Myanmar. The provision shop operator was also fined $4,000 for possessing raw meat for sale which were not labelled. In November 2021, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) officers inspected the Ubi Avenue 1 minimart and seized 142.69kg of seafood and meat products, such as assorted shrimp paste and canned meat, which did not have a valid import permit. At the same time, another 39kg of raw chicken, beef and pork were also seized. The raw meats were repacked into smaller packets without affixing any labels and were intended for sale. In Singapore, food imports must meet SFA’s requirements. Food can only be imported by licensed importers, and every consignment must be declared and accompanied with a valid import permit. Illegally imported food products are of unknown sources and pose a food safety risk. Under the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act, offenders who illegally import meat or fish products, or possess meat items for sale which are not labelled in the prescribed manner shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not more than two years. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/203/vietnam-to-export-pomelo-and-lemon-to-new-zealand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/203/vietnam-to-export-pomelo-and-lemon-to-new-zealand.html Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:56:44 +0530 Many agreements between the two countries in agricultural cooperation were signed including lemon and pomelo exports and TH true Milk and Waikato Milking Systems. Vietnam to export pomelo and lemon to New Zealand after mango, dragon fruit and rambutan. Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern was on a visit to Vietnam. During the visit, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and New Zealand’s Ministry of Agriculture, Biosecurity, Land Information and Rural Affairs held an event Connecting Agriculture. New Zealand's Minister of Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor and Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan were present. Many agreements between the two countries in agricultural cooperation were signed at the event, including the announcement ceremony of Vietnam's lemon and pomelo exports to New Zealand and the signing ceremony of the MoU Partnership Priority Agreement between TH true Milk and Waikato Milking Systems. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said agriculture is not only a vital sector of the economy but also part of the cultural identity of both countries. In New Zealand, farmers are the backbone of the economy. It is therefore not surprising that agriculture has been the cornerstone of the two countries’ relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than 45 years ago. I am proud of the development cooperation in the area of ​​dam safety as well as the entire development cooperation program of the two countries, which is helping to bring commercial efficiency, resilience and sustainability to the country farmers, rural communities and ethnic minority communities” – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern emphasized. “The agriculture of the two countries is at the forefront of trends shaping the future of food production. This event marks a historic milestone in a fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship. Today is the time. This is where we launch our agricultural partnership for the next century,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. Currently, the working groups of the two countries are taking steps to test the electronic certification system. At the same time, promote market opening procedures for agricultural products. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/197/vietnamese-lobster-export-to-china-up-to-179-million.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/197/vietnamese-lobster-export-to-china-up-to-179-million.html Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:54:34 +0530 The spikes in lobster exports can largely be attributed to high consumer demand coming from China. Vietnamese lobster exports during the opening nine months of the year witnessed a seven-fold increase year on year to $179 million, with 90 per cent generated from the Chinese market, recording a three-digit growth. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the spike in lobster exports can largely be attributed to high consumer demand coming from China. The purchasing power of the aquatic product is anticipated to continue increasing in the remaining months of the year, particularly as Chinese consumers prepare for the traditional Lunar New Year holiday that falls in January 2023. At present, the export of lobster makes up over 5 per cent of the total shrimp export turnover. Phu Yen and Nha Trang are home to the largest lobster farms in Vietnam, with 90 per cent of lobsters in these farming areas purchased by Chinese traders. An enterprise operating in Ho Chi Minh City recently signed a contract to export fresh lobsters to Kunming in China, with the export volume set to reach 2,000 tonnes by April 2023. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has formulated a project aimed at developing lobster farming and exports until 2025, with a total farming output amounting to 3,000 tonnes per year and an export value hitting $200 million annually. Vietnam’s nine-month shrimp exports increased by 23 per cent year on year to nearly $3.4 billion. However, the export of the product has shown signs of slowing down in the coming months. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/188/vietnam-focuses-on-shrimp-forest-and-shrimp-rice-farming.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/188/vietnam-focuses-on-shrimp-forest-and-shrimp-rice-farming.html Tue, 15 Nov 2022 13:43:45 +0530 Farmers breed black tiger shrimp or white-legged shrimp in the dry season and grow rice in the rainy season on the same fields. Vietnam’s Ca Mau Province has expanded its area under the shrimp–forest and shrimp–rice models to farm clean products for export and ensure farmers earn sustainable incomes. The southernmost province has developed models that use advanced farming techniques and increase cooperation among stakeholders in production and consumption. Many local shrimp processing companies have signed contracts to develop value chains with cooperative teams and co-operatives with a total of 3,500 household members. The province People’s Committee has allowed the Minh Phu Seafood Corporation and Loc Troi Group to tie up with Thoi Binh District and other localities to pilot a link-up between companies and farmers adopting the shrimp-rice model.Thoi Binh district has 18,500 hectares of land under the model, the largest area in the province.  Farmers breed black tiger shrimp or white-legged shrimp in the dry season and grow rice in the rainy season on the same fields. Many have also been intercropping giant river prawns and rice for almost five years now. To improve the efficiency of the model, district authorities have trained thousands of farmers in it since 2020. The rice varieties, which include ST25 and ST24, winners of awards as the world’s best, have short maturity periods and can resist saltwater and drought. Tran Nam, who farms shrimp in a mangrove forest locally, said in the past, he had not been aware of the advantages of breeding shrimp in mangrove forests and paid little attention to the model, so the creatures on his farm were often affected by diseases.“Shrimp bred under the shrimp-forest farming model has few disease threats and offers high and steady incomes. “His family has been earning nearly VND200 million (US$8,000) a year in recent years after adopting the model. Shrimp farmed in mangrove forests can be harvested in four months. Nguyen Van Phuc, head of the Thoi Binh District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the effectiveness of the rice-shrimp model was increasing by the year, with the average yield of the grain rising from 3.8 tonnes per hectare in 2013 to 4.8 tonnes in 2021. The black tiger shrimp yield has doubled since switching from the traditional model to 320kg per hectare.Besides shrimp, farmers also breed creatures like mud crabs and fish in mangrove forests. The province has also developed cooperation chains for other agricultural products such as clean high-yield rice in Tran Van Thoi District, speciality rice and shrimp farmed alternately in paddies in Thoi Binh District and vegetables in Ca Mau City’s Ly Van Lam Commune.Many cooperation chain models have proven successful in recent years, helping shift agriculture towards commercial production and exploiting the advantages of each locality. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/187/vietnam-to-export-sweet-potatoes-and-birds-nests-to-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/187/vietnam-to-export-sweet-potatoes-and-birds-nests-to-china.html Tue, 15 Nov 2022 12:58:19 +0530 Vietnam’s 13 agricultural products have been officially exported to China. Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry now officially can import sweet potatoes and bird's nests to China. The General Department of Customs of China signed a Protocol to allow the official import of sweet potatoes and bird's nests into the country. Thus, 13 agricultural products have been officially exported to China. Since 2018, bird's nest has been one of the products that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development negotiated and submitted to the General Administration of Customs of China for official export to this country. The Vietnamese Embassy in China received a protocol (signed by the Chinese side) on phytosanitary requirements for Vietnam's exported bird's nests and sweet potato products. To China between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Administration of Customs of China. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that China's demand for importing bird's nests is very large, and while Vietnam's export potential for this product is abundant, the quality of Vietnam's bird's nests has also been confirmed. Vietnam's bird's nest industry is having many development opportunities and the potential to bring high economic value. Currently, the whole country has 22,087 houses raising swiftlets. The annual output of Vietnam's oats is currently around 120 tons, equivalent to 450 million $. According to the Plant Protection Department, sweet potatoes and bird's nests are the 12th and 13th agricultural products officially exported to the Chinese market after 11 fruits, including dragon fruit, longan, rambutan, mango, jackfruit, watermelon, banana, mangosteen, lychee, passion fruit and durian. For passion fruit, the Chinese side has agreed to test exports and only go through China's Guangxi border gate. After sweet potatoes and bird's nests, the Plant Protection Department will continue the procedures to export fresh pomelos and coconuts to the Chinese market. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/185/the-rockefeller-foundation-announces-grants-to-scale-indigenous-and-regenerative-agriculture-practices.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/185/the-rockefeller-foundation-announces-grants-to-scale-indigenous-and-regenerative-agriculture-practices.html Tue, 15 Nov 2022 11:59:24 +0530 These grants will establish the foundation to rapidly scale regenerative approaches by 2030. During the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), The Rockefeller Foundation announced more than $11 million in grants to ten organizations scaling Indigenous and regenerative agriculture practices around the world.  The evidence makes clear the central role food systems can play in mitigating climate change. The funding will help scale the development, data analysis, financing, and education around regenerative agricultural practices, which can improve global food systems and mitigate the global food crisis. Regenerative agriculture, a process with roots in Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge and food systems, takes a holistic approach to production that starts with the soil and includes the health of people, animals, and the environment. Together, these grants will establish the foundation to rapidly scale regenerative approaches by 2030 from Indigenous agroforestry in the Amazon to carbon-market financing of smallholder farmers in Africa and elsewhere. “Regenerative agriculture offers a needed alternative to dominant, extractive food systems that have threatened people and planet alike,” said Sara Farley, Vice President of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Global Food Portfolio. “Our goal is to develop the know-how, networks and innovations needed to realize the full potential of regenerative agriculture at a moment of crises and climate change.” Food systems produce about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and agricultural expansion accounts for almost 90 per cent of global deforestation. Conversely, new research finds that transitioning to more sustainable food systems could contribute about 20 per cent of the global mitigation needed by 2050 to keep temperature increases below the 1.5°C target. This change could also improve the nutrition and health of 3.1 billion people who currently cannot afford a healthy diet. The flagship grant is to the Meridian Institute, which will expand upon the work of Regen10, a global coalition galvanized to answer the question of what it would take to produce 50 per cent of the world’s food in ways that benefit people, nature, and climate by 2030. This effort will directly support food producers and landscape stewards to adopt and scale regenerative practices and work collaboratively with other organizations to better define and measure the impacts of regenerative agriculture. By bridging outcomes measurement with landscape-level demonstrations, Regen10 will support landscape leaders practising or advancing regenerative agriculture to access financing, technical assistance, and data. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/177/baac-collaborates-with-chia-tai-to-enhance-agricultural-sector-with-technology-and-innovation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/177/baac-collaborates-with-chia-tai-to-enhance-agricultural-sector-with-technology-and-innovation.html Fri, 11 Nov 2022 16:15:48 +0530 The memorandum of Understanding is in effect for three years from the date of signing until 31 March 2025. Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) joins hands with Chia Tai Company Limited to advance Thailand's agricultural sector towards sustainability under the BCG Model by supporting knowledge in production planning to meet professional cultivation demands through the introduction of leading-edge agricultural technology, innovation, and machinery to drive production towards high-value agriculture. The effort is being made to boost agricultural productivity, develop product quality to meet global standards, connect marketing activities from upstream to midstream and downstream, as well as providing financial capital to farmers through BAAC’s agricultural credit to promote innovation at an annual interest rate of 4 per cent and a total loan amount of 60 billion baht.Tanaratt Ngamvalairatt, President of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), and Manas Chiaravanond, Chief Executive Officer of Chia Tai Company Limited, signed the Memorandum of Understanding for "High-Value Agricultural Promotion and Development Project″ to support the adoption of technology and innovation in the agricultural sector, to enhance knowledge in production planning for profit generation, as well as to provide farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs with low-interest loans. This unique initiative aims to boost the value of Thai produce and improve Thai agriculture's competitiveness in the global market. Tanaratt Ngamvalairatt, President of BAAC, said that this exclusive partnership between BAAC and Chia Tai aims to offer remarkable opportunities for both farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs by advancing their cultivation knowledge to address agricultural issues with a minimum loss, while also ensuring that they make profits from investments. Additionally, the collaboration aims to make sure that farmers and agricultural professionals optimize the application of technology, innovation, and agricultural machinery to precisely resolve issues with agricultural production, improve the processing of agricultural products, and connect marketing activities from upstream to midstream and downstream, all of which are basically essential to strengthening their career and financial stability.Manas Chiaravanond, Chief Executive Officer of Chia Tai Company Limited, disclosed that, with more than a century of agricultural experience and resourcefulness, Chia Tai is ready to fully contribute to the growth of the agricultural industry and support Thai farmers in every situation. As a result, Chia Tai and BAAC have teamed up to launch cooperative projects to improve Thai farmers' capability to cultivate their land, enabling them to become professional farmers with reliable income and great pride in their career. As a solution provider, Chia Tai will provide farmers with well-rounded agricultural solutions, including cultivation knowledge sharing, building an understanding of investments in production planning and post-harvest management, as well as offering essential advice on the costs and expenses of cultivation. Chia Tai will also introduce various opportunities for farmers to increase their income by growing high-value crops like melons, which are well-liked and in high demand in the market.The collaboration of the two organizations in the Thai agricultural industry is deemed another crucial step to expand the advancement of Thailand's agricultural sector. This Memorandum of Understanding is in effect for three years from the date of signing until 31 March 2025. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/171/australia-singapore-sign-gea-for-sustainable-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/171/australia-singapore-sign-gea-for-sustainable-agriculture.html Fri, 11 Nov 2022 11:08:17 +0530 Under GEA both countries will associate with 17 joint initiatives for climate change and strengthen trade and investment in clean energy. Australia and Singapore have signed a first-of-its-kind Green Economy Agreement (GEA). The agreement targets new areas such as sustainable agriculture and green shipping corridors. Singapore’s Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong and Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell signed the agreement at the Parliament House after a delegation meeting on Tuesday. Under GEA both countries will associate with 17 joint initiatives for climate change and strengthen trade and investment in clean energy across the region. The Green Economy will become a new pillar of Australia’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Singapore, signalling the resolve of both nations to confront the challenges and seize the opportunities faced in the transition to net zero.  Australian Government has announced an initial investment of $19.6 million over four years for new cooperation under the GEA that will support job creation and strengthen supply chains, trade and market opportunities. The GEA demonstrates the Australian Government’s ambition to deliver on its trade diversification agenda, strengthen regional energy security, seize the opportunities for energy transformation and support global climate action. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/170/malaysia-lifts-export-ban-on-live-broiler-chickens.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/170/malaysia-lifts-export-ban-on-live-broiler-chickens.html Thu, 10 Nov 2022 17:58:31 +0530 Malaysia imposed restrictions on export on June 1st this year, in response to a shortage of chickens in Malaysia. Malaysia lifted the export ban on live broiler chickens in October. According to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), SFA has received an official notification from Malaysia’s Department of Veterinary Services. SFA said, “As Singapore will continue to face disruptions in our food supply from time to time, due to external factors, SFA will continue to accredit more sources of chicken and work with the industry to diversify. We encourage businesses to review their Business Continuity Plans and to diversify further. This helps the industry to spread out and reduce the risks of supply disruptions. Households and individuals too can contribute to our food resilience by being flexible with our food and ingredient choices, and switching to alternative products or sources when necessary.”      Malaysia imposed restrictions on export on June 1st this year, in response to a shortage of chickens in Malaysia. Malaysia used to supply one-third of the chicken to Singapore. In response, Singapore began sourcing chicken from other countries including Indonesia and Thailand. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/169/the-first-international-date-festival-opens-in-mexico.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/169/the-first-international-date-festival-opens-in-mexico.html Thu, 10 Nov 2022 17:40:22 +0530 17 date producers from the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, and Mauritania have participated. The first International Festival of Mexican Dates is inaugurated in San Luis Rio Colorado. Victor Villalobos Arambola, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the United Mexican States inaugurated the festival. 17 date producers from the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, and Mauritania have participated in the Festival. Minister Villalobos expressed his happiness for the valuable cooperation between the two friendly countries, the UAE and Mexico at various levels. He extended his thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Presidential Court, for his support of the festival and the development of Mexico’s agricultural date palm sector. He also expressed his hope that this festival would be the first of an ongoing fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture in Mexico and the General Secretariat of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation to enhance food security and achieve sustainable development. Al Menhali Ambassador of the UAE to Mexico highlighted the fact that the First Mexico International Festival confirmed the depth of the bilateral relations between the two countries and the close cooperation that links its people. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary-General of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, indicated that the award has achieved tangible success in organising a series of date festivals that exceeded 30 in the UAE, Arab Republic of Egypt, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Republic of Sudan, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and the Kingdom of Morocco. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/167/first-liwa-date-festival-and-auction-kicks-off-in-abu-dhabi.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/167/first-liwa-date-festival-and-auction-kicks-off-in-abu-dhabi.html Thu, 10 Nov 2022 15:49:50 +0530 The festival provides a valuable opportunity for date farmers and producers in the UAE to communicate directly with date investors, exporters and producers. The first edition of the Liwa Date Festival and Auction kicked off, in Liwa City, Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region. The festival Organised by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee aims to underscore the UAE’s rich history of palm trees and dates and provide a platform for businesses to communicate and build a stronger business network. Major General Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of the Abu Dhabi Police, and Chairman of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi said, “The Liwa Date Festival and Auction contributes to supporting the efforts made at the country level to improve date palm cultivation, production and marketing.” Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, Vice Chairman of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festival Committee - Abu Dhabi, said, “The Liwa Date Festival and Auction features specialised competitions dedicated to olive oil and honey,” he said, the Liwa Date Festival every year features competitions dedicated to various crops, like mangoes, lemon and fig, in addition to the Aldar Fruit Basket Competition, which showcases tens of various summer fruit species grown in the UAE," he added. The festival features the ‘Global Village of Dates’ that serves the public display of global varieties of date fruit from around the world and a direct sale outlet for the festival’s visitors wishing to purchase various types of fruit. The festival provides a valuable opportunity for date farmers and producers in the UAE to communicate directly with date investors, exporters and producers coming from many countries, such as India, Britain, Canada, Bangladesh, Morocco and Lebanon, which contribute to informing the participants about the UAE’s strategy for developing the dates sector and investment opportunities up for grabs in the country. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/163/chinese-company-to-export-mushrooms-to-israel.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/163/chinese-company-to-export-mushrooms-to-israel.html Thu, 10 Nov 2022 14:35:12 +0530 The company will export the Shiitake mushrooms and black fungus to Israel. Farmmi, Inc. an agricultural products supplier in China, announced the receipt of a high-volume order for its popular dried Shiitake mushrooms and black fungus. The company will export the Shiitake mushrooms and black fungus to Israel. Yefang Zhang, Farmmi's Chairwoman and CEO, commented "Israel continues to lead as one of the largest global health and wellness foods markets. With more of the population aware of the direct relationship between what we consume and our health, Farmmi is well positioned as an attractive supplier well-positioned on for high-quality agriculture products gives us a competitive advantage, which we continue to leverage in our drive to increase profitable sales." Farmmi, Inc. established in 1998, Farmmi Inc is an agricultural products supplier, processor and retailer of edible mushrooms like Shiitake and Mu Er, as well as other agricultural products. In addition to its offline sales, Farmmi sells its products direct-to-consumer. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/158/high-global-prices-boost-nz-red-meat-exports-but-challenges-lie-ahead-mia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/158/high-global-prices-boost-nz-red-meat-exports-but-challenges-lie-ahead-mia.html Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:38:55 +0530 High global prices continue to drive export growth for New Zealand red meat with the value of exports to almost all major markets increasing during September, however, there are signs of a slowdown in some key markets, according to an analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA). New Zealand exported red meat and co-products worth $777 million during September, a 21 per cent increase from last year. The top three markets were China ($286m), the United States ($149m) and the Netherlands ($29m). High export values over the last 12 months also saw the value of total red meat and fifth quarter exports (co-products) reach $11.5 billion in the year ended September, up 20 per cent from the previous year. Beef exports were worth $4.8 billion for the year (up 25 per cent), sheep meat exports were worth $4.5 billion (up 15 per cent), and fifth-quarter exports were worth $2.2 billion (up 20 per cent). MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said export volumes of both sheep meat and beef increased during September, compared to the same period last year and were the largest volumes exported in September in recent years. However, there were also challenges in some key markets with a large drop in the value of the Yen impacting consumer spending in Japan. Beef exports to Japan were worth $16m, down 23 per cent compared to last September “Beef exports to the US were also down 13 per cent by volume compared to September 2021. Drought in the US has seen an increase in domestic beef production and record levels of beef in cold storage in the US. That is continuing to impact beef exports. “The large volumes of beef that China has been importing in recent months, particularly from Brazil, also appears to be having an impact on prices. The Free on Board (FoB) value of beef exports to China in September was $9.24 a kilo, down from a record $10.54/kg in July. “Over the year to date, China has also imported less sheep meat from all markets than in 2021, which is something we are keeping a close eye on.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/157/new-zealand-beef-and-lamb-among-the-most-carbon-efficient-in-the-world.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/157/new-zealand-beef-and-lamb-among-the-most-carbon-efficient-in-the-world.html Wed, 09 Nov 2022 14:44:43 +0530 New Zealand is so efficient at the farm level, which represents about 90-95% of the total carbon footprint New research has confirmed the carbon footprint of New Zealand beef and lamb is amongst the lowest in the world. The comprehensive study by AgResearch has found that a kilo of New Zealand sheep meat has a carbon footprint of just under 15 kilograms (kgs) of CO2 equivalent emissions per kilo. Meanwhile, the carbon footprint of New Zealand beef is just under 22kgs– making the country’s red meat among the most efficient in the world. The researchers, which compared New Zealand’s on-farm emissions to a range of countries’ footprints across the globe, concluded that when New Zealand beef or sheep meat is exported, the total carbon footprint is lower or very similar to domestically-produced red meat in those nations. This is because New Zealand is so efficient at the farm level, which represents about 90-95% of the total carbon footprint. New Zealand’s on-farm footprint was about half the average of the other countries compared in the study.  Based on the research, an analysis by B+LNZ and MIA shows eating red meat 2-3 times a week over the course of an entire year is just under the carbon footprint of a single passenger’s return flight from Auckland to Christchurch. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study was commissioned by Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA). As the world's second-biggest exporter of lamb and one of the largest beef exporters, sustainable farming is a critical part of the country’s red meat sector strategy. The LCA was calculated using the standard GWP100 approach for converting methane to carbon dioxide equivalent to enable valid international comparisons. AgResearch scientists also measured the carbon footprint of New Zealand beef and sheep meat using an emerging approach known as GWP*, which determines a carbon footprint based on a product’s actual contribution to the warming of the planet over a period of time rather than the total emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that the traditional GWP100 method overstates the impact of methane when this gas is not increasing, as is the case in New Zealand. Over the last 20 years, New Zealand sheep meat has not added any additional warming. Absolute greenhouse emissions from New Zealand sheep and beef farming have decreased by 30 per cent since 1990. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/155/western-australias-great-southern-food-fine-wine-and-tourism-showcase-in-singapore.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/155/western-australias-great-southern-food-fine-wine-and-tourism-showcase-in-singapore.html Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:56:25 +0530 Trade mission set to boost international exports, develop destinations, and promote tourism products  Promoting Western Australia's Great Southern region's premium food, wine, and tourism industries while forging new international partnerships will be the focus of a trade mission to Singapore this week. Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan will spend two days in Singapore to participate in 'Discover Great Southern - Western Australia's Hidden Gem', the inaugural international Great Southern food, wine, and tourism showcase, and meet with international agricultural industry leaders wanting to partner and invest in WA. More than 50 winemakers, food producers, industry and government officials have flown into Singapore for the event from 8-10 November, which comes off the back of the Great Southern Tourism and Trade Partnership launched earlier. The Singapore series of events and activations will generate strong premium brand awareness and affinity for premium products of Great Southern provenance, and drive interest in WA and the Great Southern as a tourism destination for Singapore-based travellers. This new initiative is building the profile and strengthening the value of the Great Southern region. It has been developed by the Great Southern Development Commission, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), and Australia's South West. It is supported by Wines of Western Australia, the Great Southern Wine Producers Association, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/152/sfa-to-review-16-insect-species-for-human-consumption.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/152/sfa-to-review-16-insect-species-for-human-consumption.html Tue, 08 Nov 2022 16:43:40 +0530 In Singapore, the import and sale of insect products for human consumption and animal feed may allow soon. Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has issued a statement recently it says, after a thorough scientific review, it could allow specific species of insects with a history of human consumption to be served as food.  The commercial farming of insects for human consumption and animal feed has been promoted by the Food and Agriculture organisation. 16 insect species have been reviewed for human consumption, including some types of crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, mealworms, moths, silkworms and honey bees, SFA said. The statement also stated that, in Singapore, more than 10 companies have expressed interest in importing insect food products or insect farming. Companies intending to import or farm insects for human consumption or animal feed have certain requirements for food safety.  Those who are interested in the import and farming of insects without a history of human consumption must conduct and submit safety assessments to SFA. SFA said insect products will be subjected to food and safety testing, as with all other food available in Singapore. Food that is found to be non-compliant with our food and safety regulations will not be allowed for sale, SFA said.  The agency is seeking feedback from the public as well as from the food and animal feed industry on the import conditions and additional pre-licensing requirements for insects and insect products.  The insect sector has gathered increasing attention over the past few years, with the global insect protein market alone estimated to be worth $343 million in 2021. It is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.49 % to reach $ 1.3 billion by 2027. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/151/singapore-allocates-165-million-for-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/151/singapore-allocates-165-million-for-food-security.html Tue, 08 Nov 2022 16:23:01 +0530 The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has allocated $165 million to the second phase of the Singapore Food Story (SFS) R&D programme, known as SFS 2.0. The programme was launched to support research projects in agriculture, aquaculture, future foods and the food safety domain. According to SFA's statement, the second phase will emphasis addressing food security challenges, which include intensifying sustainability and circularity for Singapore’s climate change commitments and enhancing food safety amidst the emergence of novel food. The Singapore Food Story R&D Programme was initiated in 2019 to support the national agenda of strengthening Singapore's food security and achieving the"30 by 30" target while reaping economic benefits. A total of $144 million of research funding has been allocated for the Singapore Food Story R&D Programme as part of Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 plan, to enable R&D in sustainable urban food production, future foods, and food safety science and innovation. Since then, it has supported over 40 projects that have the potential to transform food production and enhance food security, such as the 12 proposals that were awarded over $23 million in funding through the first grant called ‘Sustainable Urban Food Production’ led by SFA in April 2011. Under the SFS 2.0, key research areas include leveraging genetics and breeding to improve the productivity and nutritional qualities of crop varieties and fish, developing future foods with improved nutrition, taste and texture, and establishing faster non-animal-based analytical methods to support the safety assessment of novel foods. We hope to enhance the adoption of productive, climate-resilient, innovative, and sustainable technologies for agriculture and aquaculture by building a strong base of R&D capabilities in local research institutions in partnership with the industry. Furthermore, cross-domain research in emerging areas of the agri-food space will promote the development of novel foods and ingredients, alongside a robust future-ready food safety system. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/135/cambodias-rice-export-up-by-10.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/135/cambodias-rice-export-up-by-10.html Mon, 07 Nov 2022 15:43:59 +0530 Cambodia exported 449,325 tons of rice to international markets in the first nine months of this year, up by 10 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF).The Southeast Asian nation made nearly $287 million in revenue from the exports of milled rice from January to September this year, the CRF said. China remained the top buyer of Cambodia’s milled rice, purchasing 198,107 tons, or 44.09 per cent. Cambodia’s 81 per cent of rice exported to the nine countries including China 44.9 per cent , France 14.83 per cent , Malaysia 5.58 per cent , Netherlands 4.65 per cent Italy 2.65 per cent Gabon 2.63 per cent , Brunei 2.44 per cent , Britain 2.25 per cent and Germany 2.08 per cent. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/130/manipur-apeda-hold-organic-pineapple-export-promo-event-in-dubai-2.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/130/manipur-apeda-hold-organic-pineapple-export-promo-event-in-dubai-2.html Mon, 12 Sep 2022 10:52:39 +0530 The Government of Manipur and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) recently organised an in-store export promotion programme in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for harnessing the export potential of naturally grown, organic certified fresh pineapples of North-Eastern Region (NER). The ‘in-store promotion show’ of organic certified fibre rich Kwe variety of pineapples from Manipur, was organised at the Lulu hyper market, Dubai’s largest supermarket in association with Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) of Government of Manipur. The event is a part of the government’s strategy to promote locally produced agricultural products in the international markets. MOMA has supported the sourcing of pineapples directly from the farmers of Manipur. They are procured from Thayong Organic Producer Company Ltd in Imphal East district, Manipur. On the occasion, APEDA chairman Dr M Angamuthu stressed on promoting processed form of value-added pineapple to sustain in the global export market for a longer time period. “We need to focus on promoting pineapple sourced from farmers in processed form in the Gulf countries through Lulu Group. It will help farmers in better price realisation of their produce,” elaborated Dr Angamuthu. The event was also graced by P Vaiphel, additional Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur. With a production of 134.82 metric tonne (MT) in 2020-21, Manipur ranks sixth in pineapple production having a share of 7.46 per cent in total production in India. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/98/satsure-acquires-farm-management-software-croptrails.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/98/satsure-acquires-farm-management-software-croptrails.html Fri, 09 Sep 2022 14:50:29 +0530 CropTrails will help SatSure expand and strengthen its international market reach into its target geographies in Africa, LATAM and SEA Bangalore based SatSure, a deep tech startup working at the intersection of spacetech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Software as a Service (SaaS) to drive decision intelligence, is pleased to announce the acquisition of SaaS application CropTrails, which was conceptualised and incorporated in the year 2018 by Indore-based startup OEPP Innovations Private Limited. CropTrails is a web and android application designed to bridge gaps in the processes of farm management. The mobile application is used as an information collecting tool by the field officers or supervisors to record and digitise information about farmers, farms and crops. The application allows the users to monitor and control the crop cycle, track input usage like fertilisers, access weather forecasts, and track farm visits by the supervisors, among others. CropTrails also doubles as a field force productivity monitoring tool with in-built role-based user management. This development comes in after SatSure raised $5 million in Pre-Series A funding in a round earlier this year. SatSure shall be transforming CropTrails into a no-code platform for IT teams of agribusinesses to rapidly prototype and build their in-house tool that can be easily integrated with SatSure Sparta’s datasets. “Farm digitisation tools like CropTrails are necessary for countries such as Nigeria and the Philippines. It forms the first digital layers on top of which other services can be rendered. Thus, this acquisition will help SatSure expand further and strengthen its international market reach into its target geographies in Africa, LATAM and SEA. SatSure will also use the collected data and feed it into its proprietary algorithms to increase its learning rate as part of this deal,” said Prateep Basu, founder and CEO of SatSure. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/97/indias-textile-exports-cross-44-bn-in-fy-2021-22.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/97/indias-textile-exports-cross-44-bn-in-fy-2021-22.html Fri, 09 Sep 2022 14:47:46 +0530 The US was followed by EU, Bangladesh and the UAE India scaled its highest ever exports tally at $44.4 billion in Textiles and Apparel (T&A) including handicrafts in FY 2021-22, indicating a substantial increase of 41 per cent and 26 per cent over corresponding figures in FY 2020-21 and FY 2019-20, respectively. The US was the top export destination accounting for 27 per cent share, followed by EU (18 per cent), Bangladesh (12 per cent) and the UAE (6 per cent). In terms of product categories, the export of cotton textiles was $17.2 billion with 39 per cent share registering a growth of 54 per cent and 67 per cent during 2021-22 over FY 2020-21 and FY 2019-20, respectively. Export of Ready-Made Garments was $16 billion with 36 per cent share showing a growth of 31 per cent and 3 per cent during 2021-22 over FY 2020-21 and FY 2019-20, respectively. Man-made textiles export was $6.3 billion with 14 per cent share which shows a growth of 51 per cent and 18 per cent during 2021-22 over FY 2020-21 and FY 2019-20, respectively. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/56/um6p-ventures-invests-in-akorn-technology-to-minimise-post-harvest-food-lossefbfbc.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/56/um6p-ventures-invests-in-akorn-technology-to-minimise-post-harvest-food-lossefbfbc.html Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:06:00 +0530 Akorn Technology will use the initial investment to scale up manufacturing and support customer trials on a broad range of crops. Morocco based UM6P Ventures announces its investment in Akorn Technology, an innovator in edible food coatings. Their multifunctional natural coating platforms are made with upcycled, sustainable, and abundant non-GMO corn by-products and other plant materials that can double or triple the shelf life of food and deliver long-lasting, safe, tasty, and nutritious produce options for modern diets and lifestyles. Akorn Technology has developed a multi-functional edible food coatings platform, leveraging a hybrid plant protein/lipid film technology, that prevents post-harvest loss and waste across a wide range of crops including tree fruits, citrus fruits, tropical fruits, stone fruits, and vegetables. This completely plant-based, patent-pending technology is already approved for use on a wide range of fruits and vegetables in both the U.S. and the European Union (EU). It substantially reduces post-harvest crop loss and food waste by slowing produce ripening speed, reducing moisture loss, maintaining firmness and color, and inhibiting bacterial and fungal growth. At the same time, it delivers superior flavor and texture and preserves the nutritional value of fresh fruits and vegetables. “UM6P Ventures’ investments are based on the fundamental thesis of strengthening the capacity of Moroccan and African ecosystems to address major issues such as the global food crisis and climate change. This partnership-investment, like our other investments in Agrobioscience, will serve to build the skills and technical expertise of local talent and will benefit other initiatives or startups in this field,” said Yasser Biaz, CEO of UM6P Ventures. Akorn Technology will use the initial investment to scale up manufacturing and support customer trials on a broad range of crops. In addition, short-term initiatives include running solution test pilots on local Moroccan crops including citrus, tomatoes, and other fruits to understand the impact, if any, of local climate conditions on their produce coating solution. Furthermore, Akorn Technology will leverage the surface coating expertise of UM6P and their labs to conduct these tests. They also intend to work with UM6P Ventures’ Agrobioscience industry partners to scale their manufacturing capabilities. “Partnering with UM6P Ventures will allow us to bring this innovative technology platform to regions that could benefit most from our food coating solutions. By testing our products in unique regional climate environments and leveraging state-of-the-art UM6P nanotechnology labs, we hope to accelerate our time to market in regions that suffer disproportionately from food supply shortages globally,” said Anthony Zografos, CEO of Akorn Technology ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/55/sharda-cropchem-posts-consolidated-profit-of-rs-22-6399-cr-in-q1-fy23.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/55/sharda-cropchem-posts-consolidated-profit-of-rs-22-6399-cr-in-q1-fy23.html Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:04:03 +0530 The company has posted net profit / (loss) of Rs.22.6399 crores for the period ended June 30, 2022 as against net profit / (loss) of Rs.38.0630 crores for the period ended June 30, 2021. Sharda Cropchem Limited has reported Consolidated financial results for the period ended June 30, 2022.The company has reported total income of Rs. 844.7811 crores during the period ended June 30, 2022 as compared to Rs 1437.1536 crores during the period ended March 31, 2022.The company has posted net profit / (loss) of Rs. 22.6399 crores for the period ended June 30, 2022 as against net profit / (loss) of Rs. 176.9742 crores for the period ended March 31, 2022. Financial Results (Q1 FY2023) – YoY Comparison The company has reported total income of Rs 844.7811 crores during the period ended June 30, 2022 as compared to Rs 629.1410 crores during the period ended June 30, 2021.The company has posted net profit / (loss) of Rs.22.6399 crores for the period ended June 30, 2022 as against net profit / (loss) of Rs.38.0630 crores for the period ended June 30, 2021. The company has reported EPS of Rs 2.51 for the period ended June 30, 2022 as compared to Rs.4.22 for the period ended June 30, 2021. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/54/agri-genomics-start-up-piatrika-biosystems-secures-1-2-mn-in-seed-funding-2.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/4/54/agri-genomics-start-up-piatrika-biosystems-secures-1-2-mn-in-seed-funding-2.html Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:01:35 +0530  Seed funding was led by Ankur Capital to build a platform for the discovery of new sustainable crop varieties. India/UK-based Agri-Genomics start up, Piatrika Biosystems has raised $1.2 million in a seed round led by Ankur Capital. The company is bringing sustainable seeds and agri chemicals to market faster and cheaper. The investment will be used to build a strong Product Development team, also for more profound research, and to accelerate the productionising and commercialization of MVP. ​ Piatrika Biosystems is incubated out of NIAB (Cambridge, UK) & ICRISAT (Hyderabad, India) and working with Researchers, Seed companies & Research institutes. Founded in 2019 by Vasudev Kumanduri and Phani Yarlagadda, Piatrika Biosystems is also building a new innovative cloud-based enterprise Platform-As-A-Service (PAAS) for agri-genomic discoveries and plant breeding decision support, program designing, and monitoring. The seed discovery platform is supported by novel technologies in computational biology and data science, integrating this with autonomous phenotypic, temporal, and spatial data capture for more accurate analysis helps enhance the discovery process. The company aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial enterprise solutions. Vasudev Kumanduri, Co-Founder & CEO, Piatrika Biosystems, said, “There remains a significant disconnect between state-of-the-art research and its practical implementation. This means that while there has been ground-breaking research in recent years in computational biology / genomics, data science, cloud and instrumentation, this important knowledge has not been applied in a timely practical manner in agriculture. There is an urgent need to translate these research advances into practical benefit for the agriculturist, the consumer and ultimately the planet through modern, sustainable and ethical food production.” Ritu Verma, Partner, Ankur Capital said, “We are excited to partner with Piatrika on their journey to enable and create new seeds through computational biology. With the challenges that agriculture faces both from climate and increased food demand, innovation in the seed sector is critical. With advances in computational biology, we see this as a critical tool to bring new seeds to market quickly.” ]]>