https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/industry/agri%20biotechnology agri biotechnology https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4740/biographica-and-hudson-river-biotechnology-partner-to-take-on-traits-breeding-has-not-cracked-.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4740/biographica-and-hudson-river-biotechnology-partner-to-take-on-traits-breeding-has-not-cracked-.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:31:21 +0530 Biographica and Hudson River have announced a partnership, enabling breeding companies to take their trait ambitions all the way to commercial-ready edited plants. Biographica, an agricultural biotech company that identifies the causal genetics behind better crops, and Hudson River, a plant genome-editing technology company that turns trait ambition into edited executable crop-development programmes are combining target discovery with editing and regeneration to address the traits that conventional routes have been unable to reach. Both companies will be at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London from the 22nd to the 23rd of September, where they will be taking first trait challenges from breeders. Within the partnership, Biographica identifies the causal genes behind a desired trait, ranks them by how likely they are to work in the customer’s crop – with the evidence behind each ranking made explicit – and designs the DNA change to unlock new value for breeders. Hudson River deploys these changes using their proprietary editing and single-cell regeneration platform, BioMaas, at the scale and reliability their customers already rely on. The partnership brings together two sets of capabilities which rarely sit under the same roof: identifying which gene to act on and what changes to make, and turning that decision into a plant crop breeders can commercialise. For breeding companies, the result is one conversation instead of two. Biographica's customers gain a partner that can put a target into a plant. Hudson River's customers keep the route they already use for established traits, and gain target discovery, prioritisation and edit design for complex trait challenges where literature offers no answer.“By bringing those capabilities together, we want to move genome editing beyond the obvious targets and unlock traits that breeding has not yet been able to crack.” said Lotte Westerhof, CSO of Hudson River Biotechnology. Whereas Hudson River’s R&D already identifies targets from published literature on well-studied traits, many trait ambitions go beyond what is on offer – either because the gene has not yet been found, or because obvious targets are protected by prohibitive patents. This is where Biographica’s computational biology and proprietary models come in, finding the causal genes behind a trait and designing the DNA change that confers it. Hudson River then translates that change into a physical plant that is transgene-free, genetically uniform, and delivered in a single generation, ready for breeders to use in their own varieties reliably in their commercial programmes. “Hudson River is one of very few companies that can edit crops as difficult as strawberry, transgene-free and at a scale our clients depend on. Put those together and a customer can bring us a trait problem and get the whole way to a plant, which is not something either of us could offer alone," said Dominic Hall, CEO of Biographica. “Biographica is using the rapidly expanding body of biological and trait data to improve target discovery and predict which genetic changes are most likely to deliver commercially relevant phenotypes.” said Lotte Westerhof, CSO of Hudson River Biotechnology. Work for the collaboration will begin with tomato, where both companies already have experience, with vegetables and soft fruit crops to follow. The two companies have also begun exploring advanced forms of editing together, including changes to the regulatory DNA that controls when and where a gene is active, for traits where switching a gene off entirely would carry a yield penalty – a field where Hudson River already has extensive experience. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4722/symbiomics-valeouro-partner-to-bring-genome-edited-biologicals-to-brazil.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4722/symbiomics-valeouro-partner-to-bring-genome-edited-biologicals-to-brazil.html Wed, 23 Sep 2026 16:33:41 +0530 Brazil's fast-growing biologicals market is becoming a proving ground for a new layer of agricultural biotechnology: using genome editing to improve the microorganisms that underpin biological crop protection. Symbiomics and Valeouro Biotec are joining forces to develop disease-management solutions based on proprietary microorganism discovery and genome-editing technologies, with the companies targeting commercialisation within the next two to three years. Under the partnership, Symbiomics will contribute its microorganism discovery and genome-editing platform, while Valeouro will bring its knowledge of Brazilian agriculture, market access, technical capabilities and industrial infrastructure. The companies' objective is to shorten the route from microorganism discovery to a commercial biological product while improving the consistency and performance of microbial solutions under field conditions. Brazil's biologicals market is moving into a new phase The partnership comes as biological products gain scale in Brazil's agricultural economy. According to data cited from CropLife Brasil, the country's biologicals market generated R$6.2 billion in 2025, representing a 15 per cent increase from the previous year. The area treated with biological products grew 28 per cent to 194 million hectares. Soybean, corn and sugarcane account for more than 90 per cent of biological technology use in Brazil, while biocontrol products—including bioinsecticides, bionematicides and biofungicides—generated approximately R$5.4 billion in 2025. The market already has more than 700 registered biological products, raising the competitive bar for companies seeking to introduce the next generation of microbial solutions. The opportunity is therefore shifting from simply adding more biological products to developing products with measurable differentiation, consistency and performance. Genome editing moves into biological crop protection That is where Symbiomics is positioning genome editing. The company combines a proprietary collection of thousands of isolated microorganisms with microbiome analysis, genomic sequencing, machine learning and genome-editing technologies. The objective is to identify microorganisms with agricultural potential and then enhance specific characteristics that could improve their performance as biological crop protection agents. Potential advantages include greater robustness, efficiency and stability, as well as more consistent performance across different soil and climatic conditions. The technology could also allow developers to explore microorganisms that may not otherwise meet the performance requirements of commercial agriculture. “To develop a product that truly differentiates itself from what is already available on the market, it is necessary to expand the diversity of microorganisms explored and use technologies capable of enhancing their characteristics,” said Rafael de Souza, CEO and co-founder of Symbiomics. He said Symbiomics' objective is to convert its microorganism and genome-editing capabilities into products with clear differentiation and consistent field performance. The bottleneck is not discovery alone The partnership is also designed to address one of the biggest challenges in agricultural biologicals: moving promising science from the laboratory into reliable industrial production and commercial distribution. Discovering an effective microorganism is only the first step. Developers must subsequently demonstrate efficacy, establish manufacturing processes, navigate registration requirements and build a route to market. Valeouro is bringing that commercial and industrial dimension to the partnership. Founded in 2021, the company already has more than 20 products marketed in Brazil and has been expanding investment in research and development, including with support from Finep. Its planned biomanufacturing facility is intended to provide additional capacity to scale new technologies from development into industrial production. “Our biomanufacturing facility, scheduled to begin operations in the coming years, was designed to provide the industrial capacity required to scale up and manufacture new technologies,” said Luciano Galera, CEO of Valeouro Biotec. The company expects the facility to help move technologies emerging from the Symbiomics alliance towards industrial scale. Shortening the path from microbe to product For Symbiomics, the value of the partnership is also about development speed. Biological product development can involve long cycles of screening, testing and optimisation. The company says its platform is designed to make earlier decisions more precise by combining microbiome studies, genomic sequencing, machine learning and genome editing. “In biologicals, gaining speed does not mean eliminating steps, but making better decisions earlier,” said Jader Armanhi, COO and co-founder of Symbiomics. According to Armanhi, the integrated platform allows Symbiomics to select and improve microorganisms with greater precision, potentially shortening development cycles compared with conventional approaches. Valeouro's participation adds industrial and commercial considerations at an early stage rather than after the technology has already been developed. That integration could prove important in biologicals, where a microorganism that performs well in laboratory or controlled conditions may not necessarily translate into a commercially viable product at field scale. Disease management is the first target The initial focus of the partnership will be disease management in Brazil's major agricultural systems. The companies expect the resulting technologies to be incorporated into broader disease-management programmes rather than necessarily functioning as standalone replacements for existing crop protection products. The intended commercial proposition is to combine biological performance with greater consistency and scalability. Flávia Camargo, Executive Manager of Research, Development and Innovation at Valeouro Biotec, said the partnership is focused on translating scientific innovation into solutions that deliver performance, consistency and value to growers. The companies expect the first generation of solutions emerging from the partnership to reach the market within two to three years. From biological diversity to commercial differentiation Brazil's biologicals market has already moved beyond being a niche segment. Its growing scale is now creating a new competitive question: how much further can biological technologies advance in terms of performance, consistency and specificity? Symbiomics and Valeouro are betting that the answer will increasingly involve biotechnology applied not just to discovering useful microorganisms, but to engineering their characteristics for agricultural use. If the partnership can successfully connect microorganism discovery, genome editing, field validation, regulatory development and industrial production, it could provide a model for how Brazil's biologicals industry moves from a proliferation of products towards a more technology-intensive generation of crop protection solutions. The first commercial launches expected over the next two to three years will provide the test of whether that laboratory-to-field proposition can deliver at scale. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4683/ecophage-wins-us-epa-approval-for-phage-based-biopesticide-goldeneco.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4683/ecophage-wins-us-epa-approval-for-phage-based-biopesticide-goldeneco.html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 17:52:39 +0530 Agricultural biotechnology company EcoPhage has secured US Environmental Protection Agency approval for GoldenEco, a phage-based biopesticide designed to control bacterial diseases affecting tomatoes and peppers, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for its planned US commercial launch. The EPA approval covers GoldenEco for bacterial diseases caused by Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas, two pathogen groups associated with significant disease pressure in vegetable production. The product can now move towards commercialisation in the US, subject to applicable state registrations and other regulatory requirements. The approval comes as growers and crop protection companies seek alternatives to conventional disease-management programmes that rely heavily on chemical and metal-based treatments. Regulatory scrutiny, concerns around environmental impact and resistance development, and growing demand for biological crop protection are increasing interest in targeted microbial technologies. GoldenEco is built on EcoPhage’s proprietary bacteriophage platform. Bacteriophages are naturally occurring biological agents that infect and destroy specific bacteria. By targeting bacterial pathogens, the technology is designed to provide more selective disease management while offering growers an alternative tool alongside conventional crop protection programmes. “Receiving EPA approval for GoldenEco is a major achievement for EcoPhage and an important milestone in our commercialization strategy,” said Guy Elitzur, CEO of EcoPhage. “After years of research, development, field testing and regulatory work, we are now ready to bring GoldenEco® to U.S. growers.” The company said the approval also validates its ability to take phage-based technologies from discovery and development through field testing, regulatory review and commercialisation. GoldenEco is the first EcoPhage product to reach the US commercial market. “The EPA approval of GoldenEco is not only a milestone for this product, but also an important validation of our broader technology platform,” Elitzur said. “We are building a portfolio of phage-based solutions for some of the most challenging bacterial diseases affecting agriculture.” Following the regulatory approval, EcoPhage will work with US commercial partners on preparations for the product launch, including market development, distributor engagement and outreach to growers. The company will also implement its commercial strategy as the product progresses through the remaining state-level registration requirements. GoldenEco forms part of EcoPhage’s broader effort to develop biological solutions for bacterial plant diseases. The company’s platform uses phage discovery and development capabilities to create targeted, natural, non-GMO and zero-residue biopesticides for a range of crops. The company is advancing a pipeline of phage-based products aimed at bacterial diseases across multiple agricultural markets. The US approval of GoldenEco® gives EcoPhage its first commercial entry point while providing a regulatory and market foundation for further products from its technology platform. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/27/4608/why-crop-breeding-is-moving-from-resistance-to-immune-restoration.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/27/4608/why-crop-breeding-is-moving-from-resistance-to-immune-restoration.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:28:09 +0530 Disease resistance in agriculture has long been defined by an evolutionary arms race as breeders introduce resistance, pathogens adapt, and the cycle begins again. In this exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Dr. Cian Duggan, Co-founder of Resurrect Bio, argues that the next breakthrough may come from understanding and restoring the plant immune mechanisms that pathogens have already learned to overcome. He explains how Resurrect Bio’s combination of computational discovery, AI-assisted prioritisation and wet-lab validation seeks to move disease resistance beyond broad screening towards the identification of causal, actionable traits. With spinach downy mildew as the immediate focus of its collaboration with Bejo, the approach offers a test case for whether mechanism-led trait discovery can produce resistance that is more durable and commercially relevant. Duggan also examines how climate-driven disease pressure could elevate crop immunity from a specialised breeding objective to a strategic pillar of global food security. Looking ahead, he envisions a more integrated crop-protection model in which genetics, biology, chemistry, digital tools and precision breeding converge to build resilience into crops rather than continually reacting to disease after it emerges. For decades, the industry has been engaged in an arms race with pathogens, with resistance genes emerging and then quickly becoming obsolete. What convinces you that this partnership can alter that cycle rather than merely delay it? The simple fact is that pathogens will continue to evolve to counter resistance genes. What makes this partnership with Bejo different is that it brings Resurrect Bio’s immune-restoration approach into a breeding context shaped by Bejo’s crop expertise and real-world understanding of disease pressure. Instead of simply introducing or selecting another resistance gene and waiting for it to be overcome by the pathogens, Resurrect Bio identifies where plant immune systems have already been defeated by pathogens and looks for ways to restore or strengthen those immune functions. In spinach, the collaboration with Bejo will apply this targeted trait discovery approach to identify disease resistance mechanisms that could support more resilient varieties. Resurrect Bio’s platform combines computational discovery, AI-assisted prioritisation and wet-lab validation to identify causal resistance targets rather than relying only on broad screening. This gives the teams developing new varieties of spinach a clearer view of how the crop and the pathogen interact with each other, how resistance breaks down crops' immune systems and how immune systems can fight back against the pathogens. As climate change accelerates the evolution and spread of crop diseases, do you foresee disease resistance becoming as strategically important to food security as yield enhancement once was? Absolutely. As climate change accelerates the spread and evolution of crop diseases, disease resistance will become just as strategically important to food security as yield enhancement has been historically. Yield potential only matters if crops can withstand the disease pressures they face in the field. As pathogens move into new regions and place greater pressure on existing resistance traits, varieties that perform well today may become vulnerable faster than expected. This is especially relevant in crops like spinach, where multiple growing cycles each year increase pressure on resistance durability. For seed companies, the challenge is to develop higher-performing varieties, whilst also ensuring reliable production in the face of evolving disease. The next phase of crop improvement needs to bring yield, quality and resilience closer together, with stronger and more durable disease resistance at its core. The seed industry has traditionally relied on incremental breeding gains. Does targeted trait discovery represent a paradigm shift in how crop innovation will be conducted over the next decade? We think targeted trait discovery has the potential to change how crop innovation is conducted, particularly for disease resistance. Traditional breeding will always be essential, but it relies on screening large populations and selecting for incremental gains. That approach can work well, but it’s not always fast enough when pathogens are evolving quickly, accelerated for example by climate change, or when the causal resistance mechanism is not well understood. Targeted trait discovery approaches the problem from the opposite direction. Instead of asking only which plants perform best, it asks why disease resistance works, why disease resistance fails or breaks down and which specific mechanisms can be strengthened or restored. This gives breeders more actionable targets and shortens the path from discovery to implementation. We see this as complementary to seed companies’ existing breeding expertise. The paradigm shift is not that breeding goes away, but that it becomes more informed by molecular understanding of interactions between plants and pathogens. Over the next few years, we expect crop innovation to become more targeted, more mechanistic and more closely integrated with precision breeding approaches. This is especially important for developing disease resistance, where durability, speed and biological understanding are becoming critical. The world loses a significant portion of its agricultural output to pests and diseases each year, yet crop immunity rarely commands the same attention as productivity or sustainability. Why has the economic cost of plant disease remained so underappreciated? The economic cost of plant disease is fragmented, variable and difficult to see in one place. Crop yield is easy to communicate and measure. Sustainability has become a clear strategic and regulatory priority. Disease, by contrast, is often treated as a technical problem within individual crops, regions or growing seasons. Losses may appear as lower yields, reduced quality, increased necessity of chemical usage, shorter variety lifetimes or disruptive supply rather than a single visible cost. There is also a tendency to focus on disease only once resistance breaks down or an outbreak becomes severe. By that point, the economic impact has already been felt by growers, breeders and supply chains. The preventative value of strong crop immunity is harder to capture because success often means that the loss never happens. As pathogens evolve and spread, disease resistance is becoming a core part of productivity and sustainability, not a separate issue. Stronger crop immunity protects yield, reduces reliance on chemical inputs and supports more stable production. In that sense, the cost of plant disease is not only what is lost today, but also the resilience the industry needs to build for the future. If successful, could technologies that strengthen innate plant immunity fundamentally reduce agriculture's dependence on chemical crop protection products and what would that mean for the future of the agrochemical industry? Where disease resistance can be made stronger, more durable and easier to integrate into breeding pipelines, strengthening plant immunity could reduce agriculture's reliance on chemical crop protection. However, we do not see technologies like ours as replacing crop protection products entirely. Continued evolution of pathogens and increasing unpredictability of growing conditions means that agricultural producers will need a multi-layered approach to fighting pathogens The opportunity is to shift more of the burden from chemical intervention towards built-in crop resilience. For the agrochemical industry, that could mean a changing role rather than a disappearing one. Future crop protection strategies are likely to be more integrated, combining genetics, breeding, biology, chemistry and digital decision-making. Companies that successfully adapt to this shift will play a central role in helping growers protect crops with fewer inputs that are used more precisely and more sustainably. Spinach downy mildew is the immediate target, but is the larger ambition to build a platform that can deliver durable disease resistance across multiple crops and geographies? What are the biggest scientific hurdles to achieving that vision? Our platform is designed to be broadly applicable because many of the principles of plant immunity apply to all crops. The aim is to identify where resistance has been defeated, understand the crop-pathogen interaction at a molecular level and design ways to restore or strengthen immune functions. The biggest scientific hurdles are biological complexity and validation. Every crop-pathogen system is different and resistance can break down through different mechanisms. In each case, we must identify the right causal targets, understand how the pathogen is suppressing or evading plant immune systems and validate that the traits are strong, durable and relevant to commercial needs. Spinach downy mildew is the immediate focus of this partnership with Bejo, but the broader ambition for Resurrect Bio is to develop disease resistance traits across multiple crops, pathogens and markets. Investors are increasingly backing agricultural biotechnology, as evidenced by your recent Series A raise. What metrics should the market use to distinguish genuinely transformative ag-biotech platforms from technologies that are merely incremental? The market should look beyond whether a platform sounds novel and ask whether it can actually create traits that seed companies can use and benefit from. Key metrics include speed, validation, applicability and commercial relevance. Can the platform identify causal targets rather than broad associations? Can it move from prediction to functional wet lab validation? Can it deliver actionable traits and timelines that match breeding programmes? Can those traits be implemented through existing seed company pipelines? Durability should also be central. In disease resistance, an incremental improvement may help for a season. A transformative platform should understand why resistance breaks down and use that knowledge to design much longer-lasting solutions. Looking ten years ahead, do you envision a future in which seed companies compete not just on genetics and yield, but on their ability to engineer resilient crop immune systems capable of adapting to an increasingly volatile climate? Yes, over the next decade, we expect resilience to become a major basis for competition in the seed industry. Yield will remain critical, but only if crops can withstand disease pressure in the field. The strongest companies will be those able to understand plant-pathogen interactions and develop more durable immune systems for increasingly volatile growing conditions. -- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4603/south-koreas-tissenbiofarm-pushes-coffee-into-cell-culture-era.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4603/south-koreas-tissenbiofarm-pushes-coffee-into-cell-culture-era.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 18:06:40 +0530 South Korean cellular-agriculture startup TissenBioFarm is taking its technology beyond cultivated meat and into one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable commodities: coffee. The company has showcased its cell-based coffee at a tasting event in South Korea, marking what it describes as the country’s first tasting of coffee produced through plant cell culture. The milestone moves TissenBioFarm’s technology from laboratory development toward a potential commercial product in a coffee industry facing mounting pressure from climate change, extreme weather and rising production costs. Unlike conventional coffee, which depends on growing and harvesting coffee cherries across large agricultural areas, TissenBioFarm’s approach uses plant cells as the production platform. The company says it has developed the process internally, covering the chain from coffee callus induction through cultivation, roasting and extraction. That end-to-end capability is central to the company’s proposition. Rather than simply developing an ingredient that can be incorporated into a coffee product, TissenBioFarm is attempting to reproduce coffee itself through cellular agriculture. The company’s latest tasting was enabled by its partnership with Café Nogales, a Colombian specialty coffee farm. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in February for joint research and development and the commercialisation of cell-based coffee. The partnership combines Café Nogales’ coffee expertise and origin knowledge with TissenBioFarm’s capabilities in cell cultivation and biofabrication. Together, the companies are targeting a problem that is becoming increasingly difficult for traditional coffee producers to ignore: the climate is changing faster than coffee-growing systems can adapt. Climate change is rewriting the coffee equation Coffee’s vulnerability to climate change is becoming a major concern for producers, traders and consumers. Research cited by the industry indicates that around 60 per cent of coffee species are endangered, while the area suitable for coffee cultivation could decline by as much as 50 per cent by 2050. The threat is not limited to long-term projections. More frequent extreme weather events are already affecting yields and costs in major coffee-producing countries, including Brazil and Vietnam. Rising temperatures and more harmful heat days are putting additional pressure on coffee plants, while droughts, excessive rainfall and other weather disruptions can damage crops and destabilise supply. The consequences eventually reach consumers. Coffee prices in the United States have increased by 47% over the past five years, according to the figures cited by TissenBioFarm. At the same time, conventional coffee production carries a significant environmental footprint, including substantial water consumption. Producing a single cup of traditional coffee can require an average of around 140 litres of water, according to the company’s cited figures. That combination—shrinking suitable growing regions, volatile weather, higher prices and resource intensity—is creating an opening for technologies that can produce coffee outside traditional agricultural systems. TissenBioFarm is betting that cellular agriculture can become one of them. From cultivated meat to cultivated coffee The move into coffee represents a significant expansion of TissenBioFarm’s technology platform. The South Korean startup has built its reputation around cellular agriculture and cultivated meat. Its move into coffee demonstrates how the underlying technologies of cell cultivation and biofabrication can potentially be transferred across food categories. Coffee presents a different technical challenge from cultivated meat. The goal is not to reproduce animal tissue but to cultivate plant cells capable of generating the compounds and characteristics associated with coffee. TissenBioFarm’s process begins with coffee callus induction, followed by cell cultivation and downstream processing. The company has then taken the material through roasting and extraction—the stages that ultimately determine whether the resulting beverage can deliver an experience recognisable as coffee. Initial testing has provided an encouraging signal. The company said its first roasting trials intermittently generated aromatic scents, suggesting that plant cell culture can produce compounds associated with authentic coffee characteristics. But intermittent aroma generation is also a reminder of the challenge ahead. Coffee’s value is not determined simply by whether a cell culture can generate biomass. Its commercial appeal depends on aroma, flavour, body and the complex sensory profile created during processing and roasting. TissenBioFarm is therefore now working to optimise its cultivation conditions and refine its roasting process in an effort to capture the distinctive flavours associated with traditionally produced coffee. The race is shifting from proof of concept to scale The company’s immediate ambition is to accelerate the launch of its cell-based coffee line. That will require solving two problems simultaneously: biological consistency and manufacturing economics. Producing a promising sample in a laboratory is fundamentally different from creating a repeatable commercial process. Cultivation conditions must be stable, cell growth must be predictable, and the resulting material must maintain consistent characteristics from batch to batch. Roasting adds another layer of complexity. Even if cells can generate coffee-related compounds, processing conditions will determine which aromas and flavours ultimately emerge. TissenBioFarm’s ongoing work on roasting therefore represents a critical step between technological demonstration and consumer-ready coffee. The company is also preparing for large-scale production, signalling that it sees the technology as more than a research exercise. For the coffee industry, that scale-up question could determine whether cell-based production remains a niche novelty or becomes a meaningful alternative supply channel. TissenBioFarm is not alone The company is entering an emerging field that already includes other efforts to rethink how coffee is produced. Companies such as Pluri and California Cultured are exploring technologies aimed at developing alternatives or more climate-resilient approaches to coffee production. Some efforts combine cellular technologies with fermentation, plant-based production or other advanced biological platforms, while AI is also being applied to accelerate the development of climate-resilient coffee varieties. The approaches differ, but the underlying commercial problem is similar. Traditional coffee production is tied to geography, climate and long agricultural cycles. Cellular and fermentation-based approaches attempt to separate at least part of coffee production from those constraints. That could eventually allow companies to produce coffee-related ingredients closer to consumers, reduce dependence on vulnerable growing regions or create new supply channels that are less exposed to weather shocks. It could also change the economics of coffee production—but only if the technology can achieve the sensory quality and production costs required by the market. Coffee’s next disruption may happen outside the farm For decades, innovation in coffee has largely focused on farming practices, breeding, processing and supply-chain efficiency. Climate change is forcing the industry to consider a more radical question: what happens if the farm itself is no longer the only place where coffee can be produced? TissenBioFarm’s latest tasting suggests that question is moving from theory toward commercial experimentation. The company has demonstrated a complete production pathway from coffee cell cultivation to roasting and extraction and is now working to improve aroma, flavour and cultivation performance while preparing for scale. Its partnership with Café Nogales adds another dimension, linking cellular-agriculture technology with the expertise of a Colombian specialty coffee producer. The commercial road remains long. Cell-based coffee must prove that it can reproduce the sensory qualities consumers expect, achieve consistent production, scale economically and navigate regulatory requirements before it can seriously challenge conventional coffee. But the pressure creating the opportunity is not disappearing. With coffee species under threat, suitable growing regions projected to shrink, extreme weather disrupting major producing countries and consumers facing higher prices, the industry has growing incentives to find alternatives. TissenBioFarm’s move into cell-based coffee signals that cellular agriculture is no longer being confined to the cultivated-meat conversation. The technology is beginning to target the broader food system—and coffee, one of the world’s most valuable and climate-sensitive agricultural products, could become one of its next proving grounds. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4571/dongxiao-biotechnologys-first-half-profit-falls-as-lysine-prices-and-export-curbs-pressure-margins.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4571/dongxiao-biotechnologys-first-half-profit-falls-as-lysine-prices-and-export-curbs-pressure-margins.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:10:18 +0530 Dongxiao Biotechnology Co., Ltd. reported revenue of RMB 3.795 billion for the first half of 2026, down 2.03 per cent from the same period a year earlier, as its animal-nutrition business faced weaker lysine pricing, export restrictions and tougher industry competition. Net profit attributable to shareholders fell 51.76 per cent year-on-year to RMB 129 million, while profit excluding non-recurring items declined 57.58 per cent to RMB 123 million. Earnings per share stood at RMB 1.38 and return on net assets was 5.32 per cent. Net operating cash flow per share was RMB 0.3547. The results underline the pressure facing China’s amino-acid industry. Dongxiao’s core animal-nutrition business, led by lysine products, remains its largest revenue source but has been hit by a combination of overseas trade measures, expanding domestic capacity and weak demand from downstream livestock producers. Gross margin for the company fell to 9.65 per cent in the first half, down 4.89 percentage points from a year earlier. The decline reflects a squeeze from both sides: selling prices for amino-acid products have weakened since the second half of 2025, while raw-material, energy and freight costs have remained difficult to reduce. Dongxiao said anti-dumping duties imposed by the European Union, the United States and Brazil on Chinese lysine products had restricted export channels. The U.S. Department of Commerce issued a preliminary affirmative determination in its anti-dumping investigation into L-lysine imports from China in March 2026, highlighting the trade risks facing Chinese producers in overseas markets. The company’s animal-nutrition segment generated RMB 1.425 billion in revenue during the first six months of 2026, down 13.69 per cent year-on-year. Despite the decline, it remained Dongxiao’s largest business line. The segment’s gross margin fell to 5.21 per cent, down 10.37 percentage points from the comparable period a year earlier. That sharp reduction shows the extent of the challenge in the lysine market: even a relatively small fall in selling prices can have a disproportionate effect on profitability when feedstock, energy and manufacturing costs remain high. Dongxiao’s animal-nutrition portfolio includes L-lysine sulphate, L-lysine hydrochloride, corn-processing by-products and L-arginine. Lysine is a key amino acid used in animal feed, particularly in swine and poultry nutrition, because it helps balance protein requirements and can reduce dependence on more expensive protein inputs. But the market is cyclical. When amino-acid capacity expands faster than demand, prices can weaken rapidly. The pressure becomes more severe when downstream livestock producers are themselves under financial stress and reduce purchases or negotiate harder on price. Dongxiao cited deep losses in pig breeding as one factor weakening feed demand. China’s pig industry has faced volatile margins as changes in hog supply, feed costs and pork prices affect producer profitability. When farms lose money, they may reduce stocking, delay purchases or switch to lower-cost feed formulations, affecting demand for feed additives. The combination of weak domestic demand and constrained exports has made it harder for amino-acid producers to manage supply. Capacity expansion across the industry has intensified competition, leaving companies to contend with lower selling prices at a time when corn, energy, freight and other operating expenses cannot be reduced as quickly. Dongxiao also faced pressure from higher ocean freight rates, which raised the cost of serving international markets. For a producer operating in a globally traded commodity market, logistics costs can directly affect export competitiveness. The company’s first-half performance is consistent with risks it had identified earlier in 2026. Before the period ended, Dongxiao forecast that first-half revenue would fall within a range of RMB 3.78 billion to RMB 4.05 billion and projected net profit of RMB 110 million to RMB 150 million, representing a year-on-year decline of 48.90 per cent to 62.53 per cent. The reported revenue and net profit both fell within those ranges. Dongxiao’s business extends beyond animal nutrition. The company focuses on corn refining and deep processing, using synthetic biology, precision fermentation and microencapsulation as its principal technology platforms. Its wider portfolio includes powdered beverages, food additives, organic acids and healthy sweeteners. This diversification gives the company exposure to food and beverage ingredients as well as animal-feed markets, although the animal-nutrition segment remains especially important to overall revenue. The company’s operating model illustrates both the opportunity and risk of corn-based deep processing. A single agricultural raw material can be converted into multiple products for food, feed and industrial markets. But that also leaves producers exposed to fluctuations in corn prices, energy costs, global trade rules and end-market demand. Dongxiao has sought to build value through higher-value processing rather than relying only on commodity products. Synthetic biology and fermentation can help create specialised ingredients, while microencapsulation can improve stability, delivery and shelf life for selected products. The difficulty is timing. Investments in new capacity and technology can raise depreciation and operating costs before new facilities achieve full utilisation. Dongxiao has previously said that newer production lines were still in a ramp-up phase, with additional depreciation and operating expenses weighing on profits. The company’s first-half numbers therefore reflect both an external market downturn and the internal cost of building for longer-term growth. For investors, the key issue is whether Dongxiao can protect margins as lysine pricing remains under pressure. The company’s ability to rebalance sales toward higher-value food ingredients, speciality nutrition products and other less commodity-sensitive lines will be important. The recovery path will also depend on whether export markets reopen or diversify. Anti-dumping actions in key markets restrict access to customers and may push Chinese producers to compete more aggressively in markets where trade barriers are lower. That can intensify price pressure across the sector. The company will need to manage working capital and operating costs closely while demand remains uncertain. In a lower-margin environment, inventory discipline, customer credit control, freight management and procurement efficiency can have a greater effect on cash generation. Dongxiao’s challenge is not unique. China’s amino-acid industry is adjusting to a period of oversupply, changing trade conditions and cautious feed demand. But Dongxiao’s reliance on animal nutrition means that the recovery of lysine prices and pig-sector profitability will have an outsized effect on its financial performance. The first-half results show a company still profitable but operating with far less room for error. Revenue fell only modestly, but the drop in margins led to a much sharper decline in net income. That gap is the central message from Dongxiao’s first-half report. In amino acids, the difference between a stable top line and a resilient business lies in the ability to protect margins when product prices fall faster than costs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4565/heritable-agriculture-and-annogen-partner-to-accelerate-ai-driven-trait-design-in-maize.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4565/heritable-agriculture-and-annogen-partner-to-accelerate-ai-driven-trait-design-in-maize.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:28:12 +0530 Heritable Agriculture and Annogen Agri B.V. are joining forces to address one of the more difficult problems in crop genetics: determining which stretches of DNA outside genes actually influence plant traits. Under the collaboration, Annogen will use its SuRE platform to functionally annotate non-coding variants in maize by measuring how individual DNA sequences affect gene expression directly in plant protoplasts. The resulting experimental data will help distinguish variants that increase or decrease gene activity from those that have little or no measurable effect. That distinction could prove valuable for Heritable Agriculture, which uses artificial intelligence to identify DNA sequences involved in regulating gene expression and design genetic changes aimed at improving crop performance. Non-coding regions of the genome do not directly produce proteins, but they can play an important role in controlling when, where and how strongly genes are expressed. For crop developers, identifying which of these sequences have a functional effect can be a significant bottleneck because large numbers of predicted variants may ultimately require testing in plants and, later, under field conditions. The companies aim to reduce that bottleneck by bringing high-throughput experimental evidence into Heritable’s AI-driven discovery process. The functional data generated through Annogen’s platform will be used to strengthen the sequence-to-expression relationships underpinning Heritable’s models. Rather than advancing a large pool of computationally predicted variants into resource-intensive in-planta and field experiments, Heritable expects to use the data to identify a smaller set of variants with higher confidence. That could reduce the number of candidates requiring downstream validation while shortening the time needed to move from computational prediction to experimentally validated traits. “We’re excited to work with Annogen because their high-throughput platform will allow us to iterate more efficiently than if we optimized the assay in-house,” said Davide Sosso, Chief Science Officer at Heritable Agriculture. “That means we can evaluate more variants more quickly, giving us a way to rapidly test our models.” The partnership reflects a broader shift in agricultural biotechnology toward combining machine learning with large-scale experimental datasets. AI models can identify patterns across genetic sequences and generate hypotheses, but their usefulness ultimately depends on the quality of the biological evidence used to train and test them. For Heritable, the collaboration provides a way to close that loop. Computational models can nominate regulatory sequences, Annogen’s SuRE platform can test their functional impact, and the resulting measurements can then be fed back into the modelling process. “We are proud to collaborate with Heritable, a leader in AI-driven trait design,” said Joris van Arensbergen, CEO and founder of Annogen Agri B.V. “This partnership reinforces our belief that purpose-built, large-scale experimental datasets are essential for building high-performing AI models that will transform how gene regulatory elements are engineered.” Maize provides a significant testing ground for this approach because of the complexity of its genome and the importance of the crop across food, feed and industrial markets. If the collaboration can reliably connect specific non-coding sequences with changes in gene expression, the resulting data could help make trait design more targeted and reduce the amount of trial-and-error involved in crop development. The longer-term opportunity lies in creating a more efficient sequence-to-trait pipeline—one in which AI does not simply generate increasingly large lists of genetic possibilities, but becomes progressively better at identifying the variants most likely to produce a useful biological outcome. For agricultural biotechnology companies, that distinction matters. The ability to eliminate low-value candidates earlier could lower research costs, reduce laboratory and field testing requirements and potentially accelerate the development of crops with improved performance. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4543/4-94-mn-heatsmart-cassava-project-takes-on-warming-world.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4543/4-94-mn-heatsmart-cassava-project-takes-on-warming-world.html Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:26:49 +0530 As rising temperatures place growing pressure on global food systems, Lancaster University and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center are joining forces to strengthen one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most important food crops against heat stress. Backed by a $4,937,793 grant from the Gates Foundation, the four-year HeatSmart Cassava project will explore whether a heat-stable version of a key photosynthetic protein can help cassava maintain productivity as temperatures rise and heatwaves become more frequent. Cassava supports the food security and livelihoods of an estimated 800 million people worldwide and is particularly important to smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa. The crop is valued for its ability to produce under marginal soil conditions and intermittent drought, but higher temperatures can sharply reduce photosynthesis and threaten yields. The challenge becomes even more severe when heat and drought occur together. At the centre of the project is Rubisco activase, a protein essential to keeping the photosynthetic machinery of plants functioning efficiently. Under high temperatures, the protein can lose its effectiveness, creating a bottleneck that limits the plant’s ability to capture carbon dioxide and convert sunlight into the energy needed for growth. HeatSmart Cassava will build on earlier machine-learning and protein-engineering research that identified versions of cassava Rubisco activase capable of remaining stable under laboratory conditions. The next phase will move the work into living plants, with researchers introducing promising modifications into cassava and testing how the plants perform under heat and combined heat-and-drought stress. The project will assess whether engineered cassava can maintain photosynthetic efficiency, Rubisco activation and yield at higher temperatures without compromising performance under normal growing conditions. The research will also determine whether improving Rubisco activase alone is enough to build heat resilience or whether it must be combined with other traits. The Lancaster University team is led by Professor of Crop Physiology Elizabete Carmo-Silva, alongside Dr Clay Dilks, Dr Marjorie Lundgren and Professor Ian Dodd. The Danforth Center team is led by principal investigator Dr Getu Duguma, with Dr Nigel Taylor, Vice President for Impact and Dorothy J. King Distinguished Investigator, serving as co-principal investigator. “For the past decade we have been researching photosynthetic thermotolerance in crops to protect yields when plants experience heatwaves,” Carmo-Silva said. “We are excited to partner with colleagues at the Danforth Centre to translate our findings into such an important sub-Saharan food crop.” The partnership combines Lancaster University’s expertise in photosynthesis, plant physiology and protein engineering with the Danforth Center’s capabilities in cassava biotechnology, gene editing and plant transformation. “For millions of families, cassava is more than a crop—it is a safeguard against hunger when conditions are difficult,” said Duguma. The project, he added, offers an opportunity to strengthen one of the crop’s most heat-sensitive processes and determine whether the intervention can help cassava continue producing efficiently as temperatures climb. Beyond its scientific objectives, HeatSmart Cassava reflects a wider effort to apply advanced plant science to crops central to food security in climate-vulnerable regions. Under the Gates Foundation’s Global Access policy, the researchers will publish their findings through open-access channels, deposit engineered sequences in public databases and make project materials available in line with global access principles. “A warming climate is already changing the conditions in which farmers must grow the food their families and communities depend on,” said Danforth Center President Dr Giles Oldroyd. “HeatSmart Cassava reflects the heart of the Danforth Center mission: bringing leading-edge plant science to bear on urgent challenges and helping build a more food-secure future for all.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4498/hebang-biotechnology-h1-profit-surges-sixfold-as-glyphosate-and-dipa-drive-growth.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4498/hebang-biotechnology-h1-profit-surges-sixfold-as-glyphosate-and-dipa-drive-growth.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:57:36 +0530 Sichuan Hebang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. reported a sharp improvement in profitability during the first half of 2026, with its agrochemical portfolio emerging as a key growth engine amid challenging conditions across several of its other businesses. The Chinese company recorded revenue of RMB 2.888 billion during the period, down 26.34 per cent from a year earlier. However, net profit attributable to shareholders reached RMB 380 million, representing a 634.30 per cent year-on-year increase. Net profit excluding non-recurring items rose 698.33 per cent to RMB 375 million. The contrasting revenue and profit performance reflects a significant change in the company's product mix and pricing environment. While weaker sales of soda ash, glass and photovoltaic products weighed on overall revenue, higher prices for key agrochemical products, including glyphosate, disodium iminodiacetate (DIPA) and methionine, substantially improved profitability. Hebang's gross margin increased from approximately 9.5 per cent  in the first half of 2025 to around 28.9 per cent during the latest reporting period, an improvement of more than 19 percentage points. Total profit reached RMB 451 million, up 719.50 per centyear on year. Agrochemical prices strengthen margins The company attributed the increase in agrochemical prices partly to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which pushed crude oil prices higher and tightened the supply of certain raw materials. Seasonal demand during the traditional peak period for agrochemicals also supported pricing. Although prices for some products moderated towards the end of the second quarter as geopolitical tensions eased, average prices during the first half remained substantially above year-earlier levels. Glyphosate in particular gained greater strategic importance within Hebang's portfolio. Hebang Agroscience, the subsidiary responsible for the company's DIPA and glyphosate operations, generated revenue of RMB 1.084 billion and net profit of RMB 175 million during the first half. The subsidiary consequently emerged as one of the company's principal profit contributors, highlighting the growing importance of agrochemicals to Hebang's earnings profile. Capacity expansion advances Hebang is also investing heavily in new agrochemical production capacity. Its 500,000-tonne-per-year DIPA project in Guang'an had accumulated investment of RMB 1.594 billion by the end of the reporting period. At the same time, construction of its 350,000-tonne-per-year glyphosate project in Indonesia continued to progress. Once completed, the two projects are expected to strengthen Hebang's position in the global glyphosate and related agrochemical supply chain. The company's construction-in-progress balance reached RMB 3.251 billion at the end of June, representing a 52.20 per cent increase from the end of 2025. The increase reflects the company's continued investment in production capacity and upstream resource integration. Phosphate resources strengthen integration Hebang's mining business faced weaker phosphate ore prices during the reporting period. In response, the company controlled shipment volumes in an effort to maintain pricing stability, resulting in a temporary decline in mining-segment profitability. With phosphate prices subsequently recovering, the company resumed accepting orders in July. Hebang currently holds 54 mining rights. Its Mabian Yanfeng phosphate mine in China is already operational, while the Liujiashan phosphate mine and the Wonarah phosphate project in Australia continue to advance. Hebang holds a 60 per cent interest in the Wonarah project, which has reported resources of approximately 533 million tonnes. The company's upstream strategy also includes a 25,000-tonne-per-year yellow phosphorus project in Qianwei, which has received approval. Once operational, the project is expected to create additional synergies among the company's phosphate ore, DIPA and glyphosate businesses. Integrated strategy gains importance Hebang's first-half results illustrate how changes in commodity prices and product mix can reshape the earnings profile of a diversified chemicals and agricultural-inputs company. Despite lower overall revenue, stronger agrochemical pricing and improved margins enabled the company to deliver a substantial increase in profitability. At the same time, its investments in DIPA and glyphosate capacity, combined with phosphate resource development, point to a strategy focused on deeper vertical integration across its agricultural and chemical businesses. The performance also underscores the importance of supply-chain positioning in the global agrochemical market, where raw-material availability, geopolitical disruptions, seasonal demand and production capacity can have a significant impact on pricing and margins. With major DIPA and glyphosate projects under construction and additional phosphate resources being developed, Hebang is positioning its agrochemical business for greater scale and integration in the global crop-protection market. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4497/agragene-adopts-pairwise-gene-editing-platform-for-sterile-insect-technology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4497/agragene-adopts-pairwise-gene-editing-platform-for-sterile-insect-technology.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:29:55 +0530 Agricultural technology company Agragene has entered into a licensing agreement with Pairwise to access its Fulcrum CRISPR platform, in a move aimed at accelerating the development of targeted and sustainable pest-control technologies. Under the agreement, Agragene will integrate the gene-editing platform into its Precision-Guided Sterile Insect Technology (pgSIT), which is designed to produce sterile male insects for proactive suppression of pest populations. The companies said the partnership represents the first application of the Fulcrum technology in insect systems and could expand the use of precision gene editing beyond conventional agricultural breeding into biological pest management. Agragene’s first product, KNOCKOUT SWD, is being developed to target spotted wing drosophila, an invasive pest that causes more than $1 billion in annual losses to berry, cherry and other soft-fruit crops in the US and Canada. The company’s technology is designed to provide species-specific pest suppression. By targeting the pest itself, the approach is intended to reduce impacts on crops and beneficial organisms, including pollinators and predatory insects, while limiting broader environmental exposure. “Growers are running out of options as pests develop resistance to conventional insecticides, and they are looking for tools that are safe, targeted, and sustainable,” said Bryan Witherbee, President and CEO of Agragene. He said access to the Fulcrum platform will strengthen the gene-editing technology underpinning Agragene’s pgSIT system and help the company advance its products from field trials towards practical pest-management tools for growers. The agreement comes as agricultural producers face growing challenges from insecticide resistance and increasing demand for pest-control approaches that can complement or reduce reliance on conventional chemical insecticides. Rather than applying a broad-spectrum pesticide across a crop, sterile-insect technologies seek to suppress pest populations by disrupting their ability to reproduce. The precision-guided approach being developed by Agragene uses genetic tools to support the production of sterile male insects that can be released to mate with wild pest populations, reducing subsequent generations. Pairwise CEO Dr. Tom Adams said the company’s work extends across agriculture and that partnerships with organisations working directly on specific agricultural challenges can help expand the applications of its technology. “Agragene is the first to apply Fulcrum in insect systems, and it's exactly the kind of creative use we hoped good tools would find,” Adams said. The Fulcrum platform includes proprietary CRISPR editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries designed to enable precise genetic changes. Pairwise developed and validated the platform through its own agricultural breeding programmes and makes the technology available to partners and licensees for research and commercial applications. For Agragene, access to the platform could strengthen the genetic engineering capabilities supporting its sterile-insect technology while expanding the potential pipeline of precision biological pest-control products. The partnership reflects a broader shift in agricultural pest management towards biological and precision-based approaches that seek to address resistance, protect beneficial insects and reduce environmental impact. If successfully commercialised, species-specific sterile-insect technologies could provide growers with an additional tool within integrated pest-management programmes. With field development underway for its spotted wing drosophila solution, Agragene’s use of precision gene editing in insect systems could also demonstrate how CRISPR technologies are moving beyond crop improvement into the development of next-generation pest-control strategies. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4392/genvor-expands-ai-designed-antimicrobial-peptide-research-into-sugar-beet-crop-protection.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4392/genvor-expands-ai-designed-antimicrobial-peptide-research-into-sugar-beet-crop-protection.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:23:05 +0530 Genvor Inc. is expanding the agricultural applications of its artificial intelligence-driven peptide platform by bringing its proprietary antimicrobial peptides into sugar beet research, marking another step in the company's strategy to commercialize next-generation biological solutions for crop protection and post-harvest management. The biotechnology company has joined the USDA Agricultural Research Service's (USDA-ARS) Sustainable Sugar Beet Research Initiative as a research collaborator, providing its antimicrobial peptide technology for scientific evaluation against microbial threats that affect sugar beet production, storage, and processing. The collaboration reflects growing industry interest in peptide-based biological solutions as agriculture searches for alternatives that can improve crop productivity while reducing dependence on conventional chemical inputs. Addressing Hidden Losses Across the Sugar Beet Value Chain While crop diseases in the field receive considerable attention, microbial contamination during storage and sugar extraction remains a significant challenge for the sugar beet industry. Microbial activity can accelerate root deterioration, reduce sugar recovery rates, lower processing efficiency, and ultimately diminish the commercial value of harvested crops. Under the research program, USDA scientists will evaluate whether Genvor's antimicrobial peptides can suppress microorganisms responsible for sugar beet root rot and microbial contamination during downstream processing. The objective is to determine whether peptide-based technologies can help preserve crop quality after harvest while improving operational efficiency within sugar manufacturing facilities. If successful, the research could open new opportunities for biological interventions that protect crop value beyond the farm gate, extending into storage infrastructure and industrial processing operations. AI Meets Agricultural Biotechnology Genvor has positioned artificial intelligence at the center of its product development strategy, using computational design tools to identify and optimize antimicrobial peptides capable of targeting specific microbial threats. Unlike conventional crop protection products, antimicrobial peptides are naturally inspired molecules designed to interfere with microbial growth through highly targeted mechanisms. Researchers believe such technologies may offer new approaches for managing plant diseases while supporting more sustainable agricultural production systems. The sugar beet initiative builds on Genvor's broader peptide research program, which spans both agriculture and human health applications. By expanding into another economically important crop, the company is seeking to demonstrate the versatility of its AI-designed peptide platform across diverse agricultural systems. Expanding Biological Innovation Beyond Traditional Crop Protection Company executives view the collaboration as an important milestone in translating laboratory research into commercially relevant agricultural solutions. According to Genvor, years of peptide discovery and molecular design are now being evaluated in practical production environments where improvements in disease control, post-harvest quality, and processing performance could generate measurable economic benefits for growers and processors alike. The sugar beet sector represents an attractive opportunity because profitability depends not only on field productivity but also on maintaining root quality throughout storage and maximizing sugar extraction during processing. Technologies capable of reducing microbial losses at multiple stages of the value chain could therefore deliver value beyond conventional crop protection. Research Could Shape Future Biological Solutions The collaboration is expected to generate scientific data that will help determine the effectiveness of antimicrobial peptides against key microbial challenges affecting sugar beet production. Beyond disease management, the findings may also contribute to future strategies aimed at improving post-harvest preservation, reducing processing losses, and enhancing resource efficiency throughout the sugar industry. As agriculture increasingly embraces biological innovation, peptide technologies are attracting attention as a promising new class of precision crop protection tools. Unlike broad-spectrum chemical products, peptide-based solutions offer the potential for highly targeted microbial control, making them an area of growing interest for researchers seeking sustainable alternatives that align with evolving environmental and regulatory expectations. For Genvor, the USDA-supported collaboration represents more than a research milestone. It reinforces the company's ambition to position AI-designed peptides as a new generation of agricultural biotechnology capable of delivering value across the entire crop production cycle—from disease prevention in the field to improved quality and efficiency during storage and processing. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4385/renaissance-bioscience-receives-genome-bc-funding-to-extend-rnai-biopesticide-platform-to-target-soil-dwelling-crop-pests.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4385/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/27/4300/fairgene-launches-dedicated-black-soldier-fly-egg-facility-to-scale-global-insect-protein-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4300/fairgene-launches-dedicated-black-soldier-fly-egg-facility-to-scale-global-insect-protein-industry.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:43:45 +0530 As the global insect protein industry accelerates its transition from niche innovation to commercial-scale production, one of its biggest bottlenecks—consistent access to high-quality black soldier fly (BSF) eggs—is beginning to ease. NRGene Canada and Fairville Farming Co. have officially launched FairGene, a joint venture that has commenced operations at a dedicated BSF egg production facility in Bassano, Alberta. The facility is designed to provide commercial insect producers worldwide with a reliable supply of genetically improved BSF eggs, addressing a critical constraint in the rapidly expanding alternative protein sector. The launch marks a strategic milestone not only for the two companies but also for an industry increasingly seeking standardized, high-performance biological inputs to improve production efficiency and scalability. Genetics moves to the forefront of insect farming While the insect farming industry has traditionally focused on optimizing feed substrates and rearing systems, genetics is emerging as a key differentiator in commercial performance. FairGene's production facility exclusively utilizes NRGene Canada's MaxBSF genetic platform, which has been developed to improve productivity across multiple performance indicators, including larval growth, feed conversion efficiency and production cycle duration. According to the company, commercial evaluations have demonstrated that MaxBSF enables significantly higher larval density and biomass production while shortening the harvest cycle. Compared with conventional BSF breeding lines, the technology has generated up to 2.1 times greater output, allowing producers to increase production without expanding physical infrastructure. The genetic improvements are expected to strengthen the economics of BSF farming, an industry that is increasingly supplying sustainable protein, insect oil and organic fertilizer (frass) to livestock, aquaculture and agriculture markets. Addressing a critical supply chain challenge As insect farming expands globally, securing dependable egg supplies has become one of the industry's most pressing operational challenges. The Alberta facility has already begun producing commercial BSF eggs, with initial production reportedly delivering encouraging results. By combining Fairville's agricultural production expertise with NRGene Canada's breeding technologies, the venture aims to establish a stable, genetics-driven supply chain capable of supporting insect producers across international markets. Industry observers note that standardized egg production could significantly reduce biological variability, enabling commercial insect farms to achieve more predictable production outcomes. Beyond eggs: Building an integrated production platform In addition to supplying eggs, NRGene Canada is expanding the commercialization of its insect breeding technologies through an advanced neonate delivery system. The company has developed a logistics platform capable of shipping one-day-old BSF larvae directly to producers, eliminating the need for customers to incubate eggs on-site. The system currently accommodates up to one million neonates per shipment, with capacity expected to increase to 2.5 million larvae per container by the end of 2026. The larvae are designed to maintain viability for up to two weeks after hatching, offering producers greater operational flexibility while simplifying the production process. Expanding Canada's role in insect agriculture For Fairville Farming, the venture represents a strategic diversification into one of agriculture's fastest-growing biological production sectors. Meanwhile, for NRGene Canada, the Bassano operation serves as an important commercial validation of its proprietary BSF genetics platform, extending the company's expertise in advanced breeding technologies beyond traditional crop genomics. Looking ahead, the partners are evaluating the development of a dedicated BSF rearing facility adjacent to the egg production operation. The proposed expansion would support NRGene Canada's hub-and-spoke production model while serving as a demonstration centre for commercial-scale insect farming. A growing market for sustainable protein The launch comes as demand for insect-derived ingredients continues to rise across global feed and agricultural industries. Black soldier fly larvae are increasingly viewed as a sustainable alternative source of protein for aquaculture, poultry and pet food, while insect oil is finding new applications in feed formulations and frass is gaining recognition as an organic soil amendment. As the sector moves toward industrial-scale production, technologies that improve biological consistency, genetics and supply chain reliability are expected to become increasingly important competitive advantages. By combining advanced breeding technologies with dedicated commercial production, FairGene aims to position itself as a foundational supplier to the next generation of the global insect protein industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4293/bayer-signs-licensing-agreement-with-ragt-and-begins-broad-hybrid-wheat-commercialization-by-early-2030s.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4293/bayer-signs-licensing-agreement-with-ragt-and-begins-broad-hybrid-wheat-commercialization-by-early-2030s.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:53:17 +0530 Bayer enters an exclusive licensing agreement with RAGT, a leading company in the European wheat seed market, advancing its plans to sell hybrid wheat seeds in Europe and North America simultaneously by the early 2030s. Hybrid wheat represents a large, untapped opportunity in the world’s most widely grown food crops and Bayer targets annual revenues of up to 1 billion euros after just over a decade after launch. The move is part of Bayer's growth ambitions beyond its current blockbuster launches by expanding its core portfolio to hybrid wheat as a key franchise. The new agreement with RAGT materially strengthens Bayer’s position in Europe, as it involves the broad licensing of elite wheat germplasm tailored for European environments. This gives Bayer the ideal foundation to further advance and deploy its powerful breeding engine based on its longstanding hybrid wheat R&D efforts, to develop innovations that provide greater productivity and sustainability to farmers at a time when many face challenging weather and growing conditions. “Wheat is one of the most important staple food crops in the world. But wheat production has stagnated and is coming under pressure from prolonged drought and heatwaves, such as the one we just experienced in Europe. At the same time, sturdier hybrid varieties of wheat are still not widely available,” said Peter Mueller, Cereals, Cotton, Canola/OSR & Biofuels Lead at Bayer’s Crop Science division. “Our deal with RAGT is about to change that. Combining RAGT’s top performing germplasm and know-how with our breeding capabilities will significantly boost and expand our pipeline of hybrid wheat varieties, allowing us to compete in a rapidly evolving market. With the North American program in full gear, we will deliver higher value to growers on both sides of the Atlantic.” Sébastien Chatre, Head of R&D at RAGT added, “We’re very excited about the potential of this broad licensing agreement with Bayer, as it represents a significant step in RAGT’s commitment to innovation in wheat breeding. By sharing our expertise, we can accelerate the development of hybrid wheat solutions that will benefit the entire market and meet the evolving needs of farmers and the seed industry.” For the European market, Bayer will focus its efforts on winter wheat. In North America, the company will introduce both spring and winter wheat, building on its successful WestBred wheat franchise. In both Europe and the U.S., the genetic material Bayer uses for breeding has the potential to fit in more than 80 percent of the wheat hectares, spanning across countries in Europe and across classes in the U.S. Bayer’s leading position in the crop protection space for wheat and the respective customer relations, combined with its access to elite germplasm for Europe and North America, precision breeding capabilities, seed production know-how, as well as digital and agronomic expertise will help the company build a competitive, holistic wheat system for farmers. Hybrid wheat to deliver higher yields Hybrid wheat seeds can increase wheat production without additional land or resource use, adding 10 percent compared to conventional open-pollinated wheat, right from the early stages of introduction of the new technology, with continuous additional yield gains going forward. Additional benefits for farmers include more reliability and robustness because key attributes of hybridization include an enhanced root system and faster growth to establish a strong crop against external factors, leading to potential better disease, weed and pest tolerance, and greater resilience to drought and heat. With hybridization of wheat still largely untapped, investing in hybrid wheat presents a unique opportunity for growth and enhanced food security. As the world’s number one food crop, wheat covers over 220 million hectares globally and feeds around 30 percent of the population, making it an essential source of the world’s calories and a staple crop for fighting hunger. With climates in wheat-growing regions becoming hotter and drier, demand is continuing to increase further for resilient hybrid seeds that offer higher and more stable yields. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4237/china-backed-tissue-culture-lab-marks-new-chapter-in-antiguas-agricultural-modernisation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4237/china-backed-tissue-culture-lab-marks-new-chapter-in-antiguas-agricultural-modernisation.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:43:19 +0530 Antigua and Barbuda has strengthened its agricultural biotechnology capabilities with the inauguration of a plant tissue culture laboratory established through technical cooperation with the People's Republic of China, marking a significant step towards enhancing food security, research capacity and sustainable agricultural development. The facility has been developed under the Phase II Agricultural Technical Assistance Project, a bilateral initiative between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and China aimed at modernising the country's agricultural sector through technology transfer, scientific collaboration and institutional capacity building. Describing the laboratory as a transformative addition to the nation's agricultural infrastructure, Anthony Smith Jr., Minister of Agriculture, said the facility will significantly enhance the country's ability to undertake advanced crop research, propagate disease-free planting material and build local technical expertise. According to the minister, the laboratory is expected to play a central role in strengthening Antigua and Barbuda's food sovereignty by improving access to high-quality planting material, supporting climate-resilient agricultural practices and reducing dependence on imported crops. Beyond research, the facility will serve as a hub for training scientists, extension personnel and agricultural professionals, creating opportunities to build technical capacity while accelerating the adoption of modern biotechnology across the country's farming systems. Smith acknowledged the Government of China and the Chinese technical mission for their support in delivering the project, noting that the collaboration reflects the growing importance of international partnerships in advancing agricultural innovation and long-term food system resilience. The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior government officials, representatives of the Chinese technical cooperation mission and stakeholders from the agriculture sector, culminating in the formal commissioning of the laboratory through a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The launch of the tissue culture laboratory comes as Caribbean nations increasingly invest in biotechnology and climate-smart agriculture to improve crop productivity, strengthen food security and reduce vulnerability to external supply disruptions. By expanding its scientific and propagation capabilities, Antigua and Barbuda is positioning itself to develop more resilient agricultural value chains while supporting sustainable rural development and national food security objectives. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/reports-white-papers/27/4190/defining-trends-in-asian-agriculture-during-h1-2026.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/reports-white-papers/27/4190/defining-trends-in-asian-agriculture-during-h1-2026.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0530 The first six months of 2026 will be remembered in Asian agriculture as a season of two clocks running at very different speeds. One clock — the one ticking inside research institutes, regulatory agencies and the slide decks of agri-food investors — moved unusually fast. Genome-edited rice advanced toward farmers' fields in India. China finalised its second registration list of genetically modified corn and soybean varieties. Singapore quietly logged its fourth cultivated-meat approval and published, for the first time, a consolidated public list of every novel food it has cleared. India's Union Budget rewrote the language of farm policy around artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure. By almost any measure of institutional momentum, the science and the statecraft of agriculture in Asia accelerated. The other clock belongs to the weather, the soil and the balance sheet — and it told a harder story. The India Meteorological Department opened the year with its most pessimistic monsoon forecast in more than two decades. Venture capital into the region's agritech sector remained roughly two-thirds below its peak. And the gap between a technology cleared in a lab and a technology working on a smallholding the size of a tennis court stayed stubbornly, frustratingly wide. The defining tension of H1 2026 was not whether Asian agriculture is innovating. It plainly is. The question is whether that innovation is reaching the ground fast enough to matter when the rains fall short. The science finally moves For more than a decade, the story of crop biotechnology in much of Asia was a story of stalled promise. India had approved exactly one genetically modified crop for commercial cultivation — Bt cotton, back in 2006 — and the political and regulatory machinery around transgenics had effectively seized up. What changed, and what came into sharper focus through H1 2026, is that the region has found a way around that impasse: genome editing. The distinction matters enormously. Where conventional GM crops carry foreign DNA and trigger the full weight of biosafety regulation, genome-edited varieties produced through SDN-1 and SDN-2 techniques edit a plant's own genes and leave no foreign genetic material behind. A 2022 office memorandum from India's environment ministry exempted such transgene-free edited plants from the strictest tier of approval, requiring only that an institutional biosafety committee certify the absence of exogenous DNA. That single regulatory differentiation has done what years of debate over GM could not: it has put new traits on a credible path to farmers. The proof points are now real rather than theoretical. India's two genome-edited rice lines — an improved Samba Mahsuri and an edited version of MTU-1010 — cleared multi-location trials, with the enhanced Samba Mahsuri showing a roughly 19 percent average yield uplift and the MTU-1010 variant demonstrating tolerance to saline and alkaline soils. A third candidate, a canola-quality mustard edited for disease and pest resistance, has been moving through its second year of trials across sixteen locations, with a possible release flagged for later in 2026. Behind these headline varieties sits a deeper strategic play: Indian scientists have been advancing indigenous gene-editing tools — TnpB-based miniature editors and platforms beyond the patent-heavy Cas9 — explicitly to reduce dependence on foreign intellectual property. A pipeline that includes drought-tolerant rice and maize, beta-carotene-rich banana, and high-oleic groundnut is no longer a wish list; it is a regulatory queue. China spent the half-year pressing in the same direction, but from a position of far greater scale and urgency. As the world's largest importer of corn and soybeans, Beijing has framed seed self-reliance as a matter of national security, and its biotechnology programme reflects that framing. By early 2026 the country had finalised its second registration list of GM corn and soybean varieties — building on the first batch of production licences issued at the end of 2023 — and had approved its first gene-edited wheat and corn for domestic cultivation. The government's own projections put potential yield gains from these varieties at around 12 percent, and some industry analysts believe the eventual planted area could reach tens of millions of hectares. China still moves cautiously, public ambivalence about GM food remains real, and foreign investment in its agricultural biotech sector is largely walled off. But the trajectory through H1 2026 was unmistakable: a deliberate, state-driven push to close the yield gap with the Americas using domestically owned genetics. Two of Asia's largest agricultural economies, in other words, spent the first half of 2026 demonstrating that the long biotech stalemate is breaking — not through the transgenic crops that dominated the last era's debates, but through precision editing that sidesteps both the regulatory burden and much of the political resistance. Policy learns to speak in code If genome editing was the science story of H1 2026, the digitalisation of farm policy was its administrative counterpart — and nowhere was the shift more explicit than in India's Union Budget for 2026-27, presented at the start of February. The numbers themselves told a story of consolidation rather than transformation. Agriculture and allied activities drew an allocation in the region of ₹1.62 lakh crore, up around 7 percent on the previous year's revised estimates, with a separate fertiliser subsidy of roughly ₹1.71 lakh crore continuing to absorb global price shocks on farmers' behalf. Direct income support under PM-KISAN held flat at ₹63,500 crore for a third consecutive year — a sign that the transfer is now treated as a baseline entitlement rather than a lever to be pulled. The more revealing signals lay in where new money and new language went. The budget leaned hard into what one agtech commentator described as an "AI-first" vision of agriculture. The headline instrument was Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual, AI-enabled advisory platform funded at ₹150 crore and designed to knit together the AgriStack digital identity framework and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's package of practices into something a farmer can actually query in their own language. Alongside it sat the continuing build-out of the Digital Agriculture Mission, with a stated ambition to generate unique digital IDs for 110 million farmers. The thematic centre of gravity shifted, too — away from the wheat-and-rice staples and toward high-value agriculture, with dedicated promotion schemes for coconut, cashew, cocoa and sandalwood, and a record allocation for fisheries built around the integrated development of 500 reservoirs. It would be easy to read all of this as unambiguous progress, and harder but more honest to note the tensions inside it. The same budget trimmed the flagship crop-insurance scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, to its lowest allocation in years — a striking choice in a year when, by the government's own Economic Survey, weather shocks were inflicting heavier and more frequent yield losses. Allocations for agricultural research and education edged down even as the rhetoric of innovation rose. The architecture being built is genuinely impressive: a data layer, an AI advisory layer, a diversification push toward crops with better margins. Whether that architecture reaches the rainfed smallholder before the next failed monsoon does — that remains the open question of the entire enterprise. What the budget made unambiguous is the direction of travel. Across Asia, the policy conversation has moved decisively from inputs and subsidies toward data, diversification and digital infrastructure. The instruments now carry names like AgriStack and Bharat-VISTAAR rather than minimum support prices. The bet is that intelligence — delivered cheaply, at scale, in the right language — can do what decades of input subsidy could not: make 140 million Indian farmers more resilient to climate and market volatility. It is a serious bet. H1 2026 placed it; the field will settle it. The protein frontier grows up Few corners of Asian agri-food have generated more heat over the past five years than alternative protein, and few entered 2026 in greater need of a reality check. The first half of the year delivered both fresh regulatory milestones and a sober recalibration of expectations — and Singapore, as ever, sat at the centre of the story. The city-state remains the only place in Asia to have built a working, repeatable regulatory pathway for novel foods, and in H1 2026 it made that pathway newly transparent. In March, the Singapore Food Agency published its first consolidated public list of approved novel foods — fourteen products and ingredients spanning cultivated meat, algal protein and a range of fermentation-derived foods. For an industry that had long operated against a backdrop of case-by-case decisions, a centralised, citable register was more than housekeeping; it was a signal of regulatory maturity that the rest of the region will study closely. The approvals kept coming, too. In April, the Paris-based startup Parima — formed from the merger of Gourmey and Vital Meat — won clearance for cultivated duck, six months after its cultivated chicken was approved, making it the first company anywhere to hold regulatory green lights for two animal species and bringing Singapore's tally of approved cultivated-meat products to four. Parima's stated playbook is instructive: begin in high-end gastronomy, where a cultivated duck endorsed by Michelin-starred chefs can command a premium, then move toward targeted retail. Its production model — cells grown in suspension in standard industrial bioreactors, deployable in partner infrastructure across Asia-Pacific without rebuilding a facility from scratch — points to where the economics of this sector may eventually have to land. And yet the most important alternative-protein development of the half-year was arguably a step back rather than a step forward. Singapore confirmed that it is retiring its long-standing "30 by 30" local-production target in favour of a broader strategy — the Singapore Food Story 2 — built on four pillars: local production of protein and fibre, import diversification, stockpiling and global partnerships. Cultivated meat and other alternative proteins, the government made clear, are no longer counted as part of the near-term food-security plan. The reasons were candid: higher-than-expected production costs and weaker-than-expected consumer acceptance globally. The sector has not been abandoned — R&D funding continues, and officials left the door open to a larger future role "if and when" the economics turn — but the framing changed from imminent solution to long-term option. That recalibration is healthy, and it captures something true about the whole alternative-protein moment in Asia. The regulatory science is maturing; the regulatory transparency is improving; the species count is climbing. What has not yet arrived is the cost curve and the consumer pull that would turn a string of approvals into a meaningful share of the protein on Asian plates. H1 2026 was the half-year in which the industry stopped over-promising and started, more usefully, to grow up. The capital reckoning Underwriting all of this — the gene-editing pipelines, the digital platforms, the bioreactors — is capital, and the capital story of H1 2026 was one of hard-won discipline after an exuberant boom. The defining document arrived in April, when Omnivore, Beanstalk AgTech and Briter released a data-driven analysis of the agritech landscape across thirteen Southeast Asian markets, backed by the IFC, FMO Ventures and the Rabo Foundation. Its central claim was bullish: digitalisation and agritech adoption could unlock more than US$90 billion in annual GDP gains across Southeast Asia by 2033, in a region where agriculture contributes roughly 15 percent of GDP and employs up to 40 percent of the workforce. But the report's value lay in its candour about how that prize had been pursued so far. Agritech investment across the region peaked at over US$750 million in 2022 before falling nearly 70 percent by 2025 — a sharp correction as investors confronted the structural realities of fragmented value chains and the genuine difficulty of scaling ventures across markets that share a map but little else. The report's most useful conclusions were its uncomfortable ones. There is, it argued, no unified Southeast Asian market to conquer; roughly two-thirds of documented cross-border expansion attempts had failed, and premature regional expansion was the cause of more than 60 percent of venture collapses between 2022 and 2025. The most defensible opportunities, it concluded, are single-market plays built around the right value chain, the right business model and a local execution team — not the pan-regional land grabs that defined the boom years. As Omnivore's Mark Kahn put it, patient, disciplined capital that understands local market dynamics is what actually moves these ecosystems forward. Tellingly, the authors held up India as the instructive model — a market whose venture ecosystem matured through a hard decade of governance reform, exits and the unglamorous work of building market infrastructure. Development finance institutions and impact investors have committed a combined US$650 million to agrifood funds across the region and remain central to the capital stack, but the report was clear that the next phase of scaling will require a blend of equity, credit and concessional capital rather than venture money alone. For an industry that spent the early 2020s chasing valuations, this is a more sober and more durable foundation. The money flowing into Asian agritech in 2026 is more patient, more local and more honest about the structural friction of fragmented smallholder agriculture. That is not a retreat. It is the sector learning, expensively, how the region actually works. The field doesn't care about any of this And then there is the weather, which has the disconcerting habit of ignoring every register of approved novel foods and every line of an AI advisory platform. The single most consequential development of H1 2026 for hundreds of millions of Asian farmers was not a clearance or a funding round. It was the India Meteorological Department's first-stage forecast, issued in April, that the 2026 southwest monsoon would deliver around 92 percent of the long-period average — a below-normal season, and by some accounts the lowest first-stage forecast in at least twenty-five years. The climate signals behind the number were ominous: weak La Niña conditions transitioning toward neutral, with a meaningful probability of El Niño developing during the monsoon season itself. The historical record is unforgiving on this point — across the El Niño years India logged between 1951 and 2022, every drought year was an El Niño year. By mid-year the strain was already visible. The season opened well below normal, agriculture officials flagged El Niño risk across a dozen states and called for district-level contingency plans, and crop-weather monitors issued severe dry alerts across the soybean and groundnut belts, threatening to delay sowing and shorten the growing window. Roughly 60 percent of India's farmers depend on monsoon rainfall, and close to half the country's farmland lacks assured irrigation; the kharif crops sown from June — rice, soybean, cotton, pulses, groundnut — rely almost entirely on those rains. Reservoir buffers, fuller than in recent years, offer some cushion, and a late-developing positive Indian Ocean Dipole could yet offset part of the El Niño signal as it did in 2023. But variability, not the aggregate number, will decide the season. Ratings agencies were already pencilling in downside risks to agricultural growth and upside risks to food inflation. This is the context against which every laboratory triumph of the half-year has to be read. A genome-edited drought-tolerant rice is precisely the kind of innovation that matters in a 92-percent monsoon year — but the edited Samba Mahsuri reaching commercial scale and the drought-tolerant lines reaching farmers are still future events, not present realities. An AI advisory platform is exactly what a smallholder facing an erratic kharif season could use — but Bharat-VISTAAR's value depends entirely on whether it reaches remote, rainfed districts in time to change a planting decision. The crop-insurance scheme that would cushion a failed season was trimmed in the same budget that funded the AI platform. There is a related, quieter argument that gained traction in the region's agtech commentary at the start of 2026: that the sector has over-indexed on inventing new tools and under-invested in deploying the ones it already has. Asia-Pacific accounts for half of the 1.3 billion tonnes of food wasted globally each year; in South Asia, where a staggering share of the population is born underweight or stunted, around 40 percent of all food perishes before it is eaten. The toolbox to address this — from biologicals to gene-editing to AI robotics — is already substantial. The constraint is rarely the technology. It is the absence of a safety net that lets a smallholder absorb the risk of trying something new, and the persistent difficulty of tracing a benefit back to the tool that produced it. The most important agricultural work of 2026, on this reading, is less about the next breakthrough than about closing the distance between the breakthrough and the farm. Where the two clocks meet If H1 2026 had a single physical setting where its two clocks were visibly synchronised, it was the exhibition floor. In May, Agritechnica Asia returned to Bangkok under the theme "Farm. Farmer. Future." — co-located with HortEx Thailand, drawing around 350 exhibitors and an expected 18,000-plus visitors from across the region, and headlined by a new conference on smart agriculture and unmanned agricultural systems. Taiwan's Asia Agri-Tech Expo ran in the same month with a comparable emphasis on AI smart farming, automation and aquaculture. The Southeast Asian agricultural mechanisation market that these events serve is projected to keep growing at around 4 percent annually toward US$2.5 billion by 2028, driven by rice, sugarcane, cassava and maize across the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. What these gatherings made tangible is the through-line of the entire half-year: physical AI is moving from the conference panel to the field. Robotics, sensors, unmanned systems and data platforms are no longer the speculative content of a startup zone; they are increasingly the practical content of a mechanisation strategy adapted to Asian production systems and smallholder economics. The relevant question across the region has shifted from whether the technology works to whether it can be put, affordably and durably, into the hands of the farmer who needs it. That is the right question, and it frames what the second half of 2026 will test. Watch for India's genome-edited mustard, which could secure release in the coming months and would mark the first edited oilseed to reach the field. Watch how the kharif season actually resolves once July and August — the months that carry the bulk of the rainfall and cover the critical growth stages — deliver their verdict on the El Niño signal. Watch whether the capital discipline the Omnivore report prescribed translates into the patient, single-market, locally led ventures it championed. And watch, at October's Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore, whether the alternative-protein sector can show a cost curve to match its lengthening list of approvals. The first half of 2026 proved that Asian agriculture can innovate at speed across science, policy and capital. The genome editors are working, the AI platforms are funded, the regulatory pathways are maturing, and the money is wiser than it was. What the half-year could not yet prove is the only thing that ultimately counts: that this acceleration reaches the field before the field runs dry. The lab clock is fast. The field clock is the one keeping real time. Closing the distance between them is the work that remains. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4108/sig-and-wwf-mark-second-year-progress-of-forest-conservation-partnership-in-thailand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4108/sig-and-wwf-mark-second-year-progress-of-forest-conservation-partnership-in-thailand.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:37:32 +0530 These areas play an important role in supporting biodiversity, ecosystem services and communities living alongside forest and wetland ecosystems SIG, a leading packaging system solutions provider, and WWF marked the second-year progress of their Forests Forward partnership in Thailand, which supports conservation and improved forest management across 60,000 hectares of strategic forest landscapes spanning across three of Thailand's most critical forest landscapes: the Mae Ping–Kaeng Krung forest corridor, the Lower Songkhram River Basin wetlands, and the Dong Phayayen–Thap Lan forest complex.  These areas play an important role in supporting biodiversity, ecosystem services and communities living alongside forest and wetland ecosystems. The project supports Thailand’s broader 30x30 direction, the ambition to conserve and restore 30 per cent of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. Through improved forest conditions and landscape-level conservation outcomes, the initiative contributes to wider efforts to protect biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience and support communities living alongside critical natural landscapes.  Since the project’s inception in October 2024, it has delivered progress across forest restoration, protected area management, technology-enabled monitoring and community-based conservation. While the broader project supports improved conservation and management outcomes across 60,000 hectares of forests, direct restoration activities have covered 69.72 hectares across five priority sites. The project has also trained 120 forest rangers in SMART Patrolling, strengthened 47 community forests covering more than 9,883 hectares, and established 31 community fish conservation zones covering 142 hectares in the Lower Songkhram Basin.  In the target areas, project monitoring recorded a 30 per cent reduction in reported human-elephant conflict incidents during the project period. Five rapid-response teams and 25 officers have been trained to use thermal drones to support elephant tracking and response in conflict-prone areas. Real-time wildfire surveillance has also been introduced across 25,000 hectares along the Mae Ping forest corridor, supported by UAVs and live video systems to help rangers detect and respond to threats more effectively.   Vatcharapong Ungsrisawat, Country Director for Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia at SIG: “Healthy forests are essential to biodiversity, climate resilience and the well-being of communities that depend on natural resources. Through our partnership with WWF-Thailand, we are supporting practical action on the ground from forest restoration and ranger capacity building to community-led conservation and human-elephant conflict mitigation. This reflects SIG’s broader regenerative approach to nature, where responsible sourcing, climate action and resource efficiency are connected with real impact in the landscapes that matter.”  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4106/syntech-research-objetbio-join-forces-to-bring-novel-microbial-solutions-to-global-markets.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4106/syntech-research-objetbio-join-forces-to-bring-novel-microbial-solutions-to-global-markets.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:20:42 +0530 This collaboration highlights the strong commercial potential of ObjetBio’s technology and SynTech’s global capabilities in testing and regulatory support SynTech Research Group, a leading global agricultural CRO, and ObjetBio, a South Korean agricultural biotechnology company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance the global validation, regulatory readiness, and commercialisation of ObjetBio’s proprietary microbial-metabolite technology. This collaboration highlights the strong commercial potential of ObjetBio’s technology and SynTech’s global capabilities in testing, regulatory support, and market entry enablement. The signing took place at SynTech Research’s Spanish headquarters in Picanya, Valencia. Vice-President Hoon Choi, on behalf of ObjetBio, and Dr Marisé Borja, Global Regulatory Affairs Lead at SynTech Research Group, signed the agreement outlining the scope of the partnership. Following the signing, the two teams held a project meeting and toured SynTech’s facilities, including the ecotoxicology and microbiology laboratories, as well as the greenhouses and phenotyping station. The next stop on the tour was the Canary Islands, where SynTech conducts GLP-standard trials, including efficacy testing and post-harvest simulations to support product development and regulatory requirements. ObjetBio also visited SynTech Research Group’s global headquarters in La Chapelle de Guinchay, France, where the company conducts field research and operates its ecotoxicology laboratory, followed by a visit to SynTech’s analytical laboratory in Lyon. “We are looking forward to a long-lasting and productive partnership with ObjetBio, supporting their research and regulatory needs,” said Dr Marisé Borja, Global Regulatory Affairs Lead at SynTech Research Group. “Our collaboration with SynTech Research Group reflects the strong global potential of ObjetBio’s technology platform. We look forward to leveraging SynTech’s capabilities to accelerate validation, regulatory alignment, and commercialisation,” added In-Seong Kim, CEO of ObjetBio. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4104/vietnam-and-france-deepen-agricultural-research-ties-to-advance-climate-resilient-farming.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4104/vietnam-and-france-deepen-agricultural-research-ties-to-advance-climate-resilient-farming.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:00:16 +0530 A new partnership between Vietnam’s leading agricultural research institution and a French sustainability research agency will focus on climate adaptation, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and low-emission farming solutions Vietnam is strengthening its scientific collaboration with France as the country accelerates efforts to build a more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural sector. The Viet Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development have signed a new cooperation agreement aimed at expanding joint research, innovation and technology development across a broad range of agricultural disciplines. The agreement, signed on June 12, marks a new chapter in a long-standing relationship between the two institutions and comes as governments and research organizations worldwide intensify efforts to address the growing impact of climate change on food production systems. The ceremony brought together scientists and senior officials from both organizations and was attended by Olivier Brochet, France’s ambassador to Vietnam, along with François Roger, regional director for Southeast Asia at the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development. Expanding Research on Sustainable Agriculture The partnership is designed to accelerate research in areas that are increasingly central to agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Among the priority fields identified under the agreement are soil health management, biodiversity conservation, protection of plant genetic resources, agricultural biotechnology, beneficial microorganisms and crop pest management. The two institutions will also collaborate on smart farming technologies, circular agriculture systems and the development of environmentally sustainable production models. A significant portion of the collaboration will focus on addressing climate-related challenges. Researchers will work on strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities, strengthen climate adaptation measures and support the creation of greener agricultural ecosystems capable of withstanding increasingly volatile weather conditions. Artificial intelligence is also expected to play an important role in the partnership, with both sides exploring ways to integrate advanced digital technologies into agricultural production and resource management. Beyond Research: Building Scientific Capacity In addition to joint research initiatives, the agreement places strong emphasis on developing scientific talent and strengthening institutional capabilities. The two organizations plan to expand expert exchange programs, facilitate collaboration among researchers and implement advanced training initiatives aimed at building a highly skilled agricultural science workforce. The partnership will also pursue funding opportunities from both domestic and international sources to support research projects, innovation programs and technology transfer initiatives that can be applied directly within Vietnam’s agricultural sector. By combining scientific expertise, technological innovation and international collaboration, the agreement seeks to accelerate the translation of research findings into practical solutions for farmers and agribusinesses. Supporting Vietnam’s Green Agriculture Transition The partnership arrives at a critical moment for Vietnam’s agricultural sector, which faces mounting pressure to improve productivity while reducing environmental impacts and adapting to climate change. Extreme weather events, shifting rainfall patterns, land degradation and rising emissions concerns have increased the urgency of developing more resilient farming systems. Policymakers and industry leaders are increasingly looking to science and innovation as essential tools for achieving long-term food security and sustainable growth. The expanded collaboration between VAAS and IRD is expected to contribute to that transition by generating research-driven solutions that support sustainable production, environmental stewardship and climate resilience. As Vietnam advances its ambitions for greener agricultural development, the agreement underscores the growing role of international scientific partnerships in shaping the future of food systems and strengthening resilience across the agricultural value chain. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4091/seed-priming-shows-promise-as-next-generation-tool-for-sustainable-pest-control.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4091/seed-priming-shows-promise-as-next-generation-tool-for-sustainable-pest-control.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:27:56 +0530 Researchers find methyl jasmonate treatment enhances resistance to major insect pests in both model plants and crop species, while revealing distinct molecular pathways behind the shared protective effect A growing body of research is pointing to seed priming as a powerful strategy for strengthening crop resilience against pests while reducing dependence on chemical pesticides. In a new comparative study, scientists have demonstrated that treating seeds with naturally occurring plant defense compounds can significantly enhance resistance to multiple insect pests in both the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and the economically important crop Brassica rapa. The findings reinforce the potential of seed priming as a low-cost, scalable approach to sustainable pest management, offering farmers an additional tool to protect crops without compromising growth or productivity. Researchers evaluated the effects of seed treatments using methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA), two plant signaling molecules known to play critical roles in activating defense responses. The study found that both compounds increased resistance against two agriculturally significant pests: the generalist spider mite Tetranychus urticae and the specialist cabbage white caterpillar Pieris brassicae. Importantly, the enhanced protection was achieved without measurable penalties to plant growth, addressing a longstanding challenge in crop protection where stronger defense responses often come at the expense of yield and biomass accumulation. Among the two treatments, methyl jasmonate delivered the most pronounced protective effects, prompting researchers to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying the response. Advanced transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that while both plant species activated broadly similar defense networks, the specific genes and metabolites involved differed substantially. The results suggest that seed priming triggers a conserved defensive outcome across members of the Brassicaceae family, but the molecular routes used to achieve that protection are highly species-specific. Researchers also found that the effectiveness of methyl jasmonate priming varied depending on the type of pest attacking the plant. In Brassica rapa, mite infestations triggered increased accumulation of salicylic acid-related defenses, while caterpillar feeding activated glucosinolate biosynthesis pathways—an important class of natural compounds known for their role in deterring herbivorous insects. These findings highlight the complex interplay between crop species, pest identity, and defense signaling pathways, suggesting that future seed priming strategies may need to be tailored to specific crop-pest combinations to maximize effectiveness. The study provides fresh evidence that seed priming can deliver consistent agronomic benefits across different plant species while relying on flexible, context-dependent biological mechanisms. Such adaptability could prove valuable as agriculture faces increasing pressure to reduce chemical pesticide use while maintaining productivity in the face of evolving pest threats. As regulators, researchers, and food producers seek more sustainable crop protection solutions, seed priming is attracting growing attention as a practical intervention that can be integrated into existing farming systems with minimal disruption. By enhancing plants’ natural immune responses before they encounter stress, the technology offers a preventive approach that could complement integrated pest management programs and strengthen resilience across a range of crops. The researchers conclude that while the protective effects of methyl jasmonate priming appear broadly transferable across Brassicaceae species, optimizing outcomes will require a deeper understanding of crop-specific biology and pest interactions. The findings open the door to more targeted seed-treatment strategies capable of delivering durable pest resistance while supporting the transition toward more sustainable agricultural production systems. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4089/aggene-expands-canola-innovation-pipeline-through-strategic-biotech-partnership.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4089/aggene-expands-canola-innovation-pipeline-through-strategic-biotech-partnership.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:46 +0530 Licensing deal with genXtraits and Mendel supports development of high-performance traits for challenging growing conditions In a move reflecting growing industry efforts to strengthen crop resilience amid increasing climate volatility, biotechnology companies genXtraits Inc., Mendel Biotechnology Inc., and Canadian crop innovation startup AgGene Inc. have announced a strategic collaboration to develop a new generation of stress-resilient canola traits designed to improve yield stability under challenging growing conditions. Under the agreement, AgGene has secured royalty-bearing commercial licenses to intellectual property portfolios developed by genXtraits and Mendel, providing access to advanced genetic technologies focused on enhancing crop performance, stress tolerance, and productivity. The collaboration will initially concentrate on developing canola varieties with improved resilience to heat and cold stress—two environmental factors that are increasingly impacting oilseed production across major growing regions. The partnership brings together three complementary areas of expertise. AgGene contributes its crop-development platform and gene-editing capabilities tailored specifically to canola breeding. Mendel provides access to decades of functional genomics research and a proprietary database identifying key regulatory genes associated with traits such as abiotic stress tolerance, disease resistance, nutrient-use efficiency, and crop quality. Meanwhile, genXtraits contributes its proprietary STRM platform, which enables precise modification of gene control regions to elevate the production of beneficial proteins within plants. The companies believe this integrated approach could accelerate the development of dominant genetic traits capable of delivering more consistent performance under increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. “Canola has become one of Canada’s most important agricultural success stories, but farmers are facing growing challenges from heat, drought, and temperature-related stress,” said Dr. Logan Skori, Chief Executive Officer of AgGene. “Producers are making significant investments in seed and are looking for solutions that help crops perform more reliably. By combining validated gene targets with precision trait-development technologies, we aim to create practical innovations that complement existing breeding programs and support long-term productivity.” Climate resilience has emerged as a major focus area for global crop breeding programs as growers contend with more frequent weather extremes, shifting rainfall patterns, and increasing pressure to maintain yields while using resources more efficiently. Canola, one of the world’s leading oilseed crops, plays a critical role in global food, feed, and biofuel supply chains, making improvements in stress tolerance increasingly valuable to both producers and seed developers. According to the partners, the collaboration seeks to move beyond conventional breeding approaches by leveraging regulatory gene networks that control key physiological responses within plants. Rather than introducing entirely new genes, the strategy focuses on fine-tuning the activity of existing genes through targeted modifications in their control regions, allowing plants to express beneficial traits at optimal levels. “Each partner brings highly complementary strengths to this initiative,” said Dr. Oliver J. Ratcliffe, Chief Executive Officer of Mendel Biotechnology and Co-Founder of genXtraits. “Mendel has spent decades identifying regulator genes that influence important agronomic traits, while genXtraits has developed algorithms that help determine where precise genetic edits can be made to enhance the expression of those genes. AgGene adds deep expertise in canola trait development and commercialization. Together, we believe this creates a powerful framework for delivering transformative improvements in crop resilience.” The companies expect the collaboration to generate novel canola trait candidates capable of maintaining performance under environmental stress conditions that increasingly threaten crop yields and farm profitability. Beyond heat and cold tolerance, the underlying technology platform may also create future opportunities to address nutrient-use efficiency, disease resistance, and overall crop productivity. As climate adaptation becomes a central priority across global agriculture, the partnership highlights a broader industry trend toward combining advanced genomics, artificial intelligence-driven trait discovery, and precision gene-editing technologies to accelerate the development of crops capable of thriving in a more variable production environment. The first phase of the collaboration will focus on trait development and evaluation, with the longer-term objective of integrating successful stress-resilience traits into commercial canola breeding programs serving farmers across Canada and other key oilseed-producing regions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4083/sanatech-wins-canadian-approval-for-gene-edited-tomato-rich-in-gaba.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4083/sanatech-wins-canadian-approval-for-gene-edited-tomato-rich-in-gaba.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:15:49 +0530 The regulatory clearance marks a key milestone in the company's push to expand its functional food portfolio beyond Japan In a significant development for the future of gene-edited foods, Canadian regulators have cleared a high-GABA tomato developed by Japan's Sanatech Life Science Co. Ltd., determining that the product can be marketed as a conventional food rather than being subject to the country's more stringent novel food regulations. Following an assessment by Health Canada's Novel Foods Section, authorities concluded that the company's Sicilian Rouge High GABA tomato satisfies existing plant-breeding guidelines and does not meet the regulatory definition of a novel food. The decision effectively places the gene-edited variety in the same safety category as tomatoes developed through traditional breeding methods. As part of Canada's food transparency framework, the product will be added to the federal government's public registry of non-novel foods approved for commercial use. The ruling represents another important signal of how regulators are increasingly distinguishing between gene editing and conventional genetic modification technologies. Unlike traditional genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which often involve the introduction of foreign DNA, gene-editing techniques such as CRISPR enable scientists to make precise changes within a plant's existing genome. Sanatech's tomato was developed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and first entered the Japanese market in 2021. The variety was designed to contain significantly elevated levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a naturally occurring amino acid associated with several potential health benefits, including support for healthy blood pressure regulation. According to the company, the gene-edited tomato contains approximately four to five times more GABA than conventional tomato varieties, positioning it within a growing category of crops engineered to deliver enhanced nutritional value. The Canadian approval marks a strategic milestone for Sanatech as it seeks to expand beyond its home market and establish a presence in North America, where regulatory approaches to gene-edited crops continue to evolve. Industry observers view the decision as further evidence of a broader shift in agricultural biotechnology policy. Regulators in several countries have begun adopting product-based assessments that focus on the characteristics and safety profile of the final crop rather than the breeding technology used to develop it. For developers of gene-edited foods, such distinctions can substantially reduce commercialization timelines and regulatory complexity, accelerating the introduction of new varieties with improved nutritional, agronomic or sustainability traits. Sanatech said the clearance strengthens its international growth strategy and will support efforts to expand production and distribution of the High GABA tomato across North American markets. The decision also highlights the growing commercial momentum behind gene-edited foods, a sector increasingly viewed as one of agriculture's most promising frontiers for enhancing crop quality, consumer health and food-system resilience without introducing foreign genetic material. As countries continue to refine their regulatory frameworks, Canada's endorsement of the High GABA tomato may serve as a bellwether for how future gene-edited crops are assessed and brought to market worldwide. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4075/revo-foods-bets-on-mycoprotein-chicken-as-demand-grows-for-next-generation-proteins.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4075/revo-foods-bets-on-mycoprotein-chicken-as-demand-grows-for-next-generation-proteins.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:17:24 +0530 New product rollout marks the company’s entry into the world’s largest meat category following success in alternative seafood Austrian food-tech company Revo Foods is broadening its alternative protein portfolio beyond seafood-inspired products with the launch of EL POLLO, a mycoprotein-based chicken alternative that will debut this month across supermarkets in Austria, Germany, and Italy. The move marks a significant expansion for Revo Foods as it targets the world's largest meat category—chicken—while leveraging its proprietary fermentation and food-structuring technologies to compete in the rapidly evolving protein market. Made from fermented mycoprotein (Fusarium venenatum), fava bean protein, canola oil, and bamboo fiber, EL POLLO features a streamlined ingredient list of seven components and carries a Nutri-Score A rating. The product is also gluten-free, cholesterol-free, and available in three varieties: Original, Asian Fusion, and BBQ Style. Betting on the World's Most Popular Meat Chicken remains the most consumed meat globally, making it one of the most attractive—and competitive—segments for alternative protein companies seeking mainstream adoption. "Chicken is the most-eaten meat in the world, and plant-based versions can often be bland," Revo Foods said in announcing the launch. "We experimented extensively with our texturizing process and believe we have developed a product that delivers a juicier and more fibrous eating experience." Each 150-gram serving is designed to provide high levels of protein and dietary fiber while appealing to consumers looking for healthier and more sustainable protein options. From Alternative Seafood to Alternative Poultry The launch builds on a period of rapid product innovation for Revo Foods, which has gained attention for applying mycoprotein and 3D food production technologies to seafood alternatives. Over the past year, the company introduced EL BLANCO, a black cod-inspired fillet, and THE KRAKEN, a mycoprotein-based octopus alternative that sold out during pre-orders, signaling growing consumer interest in next-generation protein formats. The expansion into poultry represents a strategic shift toward larger-volume categories that could significantly expand the company's addressable market. Powered by Industrial-Scale Food Technology Central to Revo Foods' growth strategy is its Taste Factory in Vienna, which opened in 2024 and is described by the company as the world's first industrial-scale facility dedicated to mycoprotein-based 3D food production. The facility enables the company to engineer texture, structure, and nutritional profiles more precisely than conventional plant-based manufacturing methods, creating products designed to more closely replicate the sensory experience of animal proteins. Expanding Retail Footprint EL POLLO will be available through major supermarket chains in Austria, Germany, and Italy, complementing Revo Foods' direct-to-consumer online channel. The company has steadily expanded its retail presence across Europe and is currently stocked by leading supermarket groups including EDEKA, REWE, BILLA, and SPAR. As consumer demand for alternative proteins continues to diversify beyond traditional plant-based burgers and sausages, Revo Foods is positioning mycoprotein as a next-generation category capable of delivering improved nutrition, texture, and sustainability—while moving closer to the center of everyday protein consumption. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4037/crispr-walks-through-door-gm-couldnt-open.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4037/crispr-walks-through-door-gm-couldnt-open.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:16:44 +0530 India has released the world’s first genome-edited rice varieties and China is signing safety certificates at speed. However, the politics that buried Bt brinjal and stalled Golden Rice has not gone away — it is simply waiting at the next gate. On 4 May 2025, in an auditorium named after the architect of India’s Green Revolution, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled two unremarkable-looking bags of rice seed. The varieties — DRR Dhan 100, branded “Kamala,” and Pusa DST Rice 1 — looked like any other improved line a public-sector institute might release. They were not. Both had been built using CRISPR-Cas9, and with their release India became the first country in the world to commercialise genome-edited rice developed with its own institutions. For an industry that spent two decades watching transgenic crops collide with courts, street protests and moratoria, the moment was loaded. The same Indian state that imposed an indefinite moratorium on Bt brinjal in 2010, and whose Supreme Court has kept GM mustard in regulatory limbo, had just walked a gene-edited staple onto the market in a single afternoon — no Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) clearance, no multi-year biosafety dossier, no environmental release hearing. The question for anyone running a seed company, writing farm policy or backing an agri-tech venture in Asia is no longer whether gene editing is coming. It is whether the region has genuinely leapfrogged the West’s GM gridlock — or whether the opposition that defeated transgenics is simply re-forming around CRISPR, one allegation and one writ at a time. What the rules actually permit The pivot rests on a regulatory distinction that is easy to state and hard to police: did you add foreign DNA, or not? India’s framework, set out in a March 2022 Office Memorandum from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, exempts two categories of genome-edited plants — known as SDN-1 and SDN-2 — from the biosafety rules that govern genetically modified organisms, provided the final plant carries no exogenous introduced DNA. SDN, or site-directed nuclease, refers to the cutting tools (CRISPR-Cas9 being the best known) that make a precise break at a chosen spot in the genome. An SDN-1 edit lets the plant’s own repair machinery knock a gene out; SDN-2 uses a short template to make a small, defined tweak. Crucially, neither inserts a gene from another organism. SDN-3 — which does insert foreign genes — remains fully regulated as GM under GEAC. The practical effect is large. Because most plant-breeding applications envisaged today produce SDN-1 or SDN-2 outcomes, the bulk of the gene-editing pipeline falls outside India’s GMO regime. Oversight shifts to Institutional Biosafety Committees, which certify the absence of foreign DNA, and the resulting varieties are released through the ordinary Seeds Act channel rather than the Environment Protection Act. Kamala, for instance, was created by editing the CKX2 (Gn1a) gene in the popular Samba Mahsuri background to lift grain number per panicle; Pusa DST Rice 1 edited a drought-and-salt-tolerance gene in the MTU1010 background. No bacterial gene, no viral promoter — and, in the government’s reading, no GMO. China has built a parallel but more centralised pathway. Its Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) issued safety-evaluation guidelines for gene-edited plants in January 2022 and follow-up review rules in 2023, sorting edits into four risk tiers and reserving the lightest touch for changes that introduce no foreign sequence. Where India deregulates a whole class, China keeps a government-led, case-by-case review — but one designed to move quickly. It approved its first CRISPR crop, a high-oleic soybean from Shandong Shunfeng Biotechnology, in 2023, and on 25 December 2024 issued a tranche of certificates that included five new gene-edited events — two soybeans and one each of wheat, maize and rice — alongside a batch of transgenic approvals. Recipients included feed group Dabeinong and China National Seed Group, now part of Syngenta Group. The 2024 rice event was China’s first gene-edited rice cleared for cultivation. The contrast with transgenic GM matters commercially, not just scientifically. A Bt cotton or GM mustard event in India can take a decade and tens of crores to shepherd through field trials, environmental assessment and a politically exposed GEAC vote. An SDN-1 rice line can follow the same release calendar as a conventionally bred variety. For breeders, that compresses the distance between a benchtop idea and a farmer’s field from a generation to a few seasons — and changes the economics of who can afford to play. The pipeline behind the headlines The two rice varieties are the visible tip of a deep regional pipeline. India’s public laboratories have been editing toward drought- and salinity-tolerant rice and maize, blast-resistant and low-phytate rice, high-oleic groundnut, beta-carotene-enriched banana, disease-resistant pepper and stress-tolerant tomato. Edited oilseeds — including mustard, the crop whose transgenic version remains stuck in the courts — sit in the queue, offering proponents a politically tantalising prospect: delivering the yield and oil-content gains of GM mustard through a route that sidesteps the GEAC fight entirely. China’s published approvals already span soybean, maize, wheat and rice, with traits running from oil quality to yield and disease resistance — explicitly framed by Beijing as a food-security and import-substitution play. The country planted an estimated three million hectares of biotech maize and soybean in 2025, more than four times the 2024 area, signalling how fast a cautious system can scale once the politics are settled internally. Elsewhere in the region the map is uneven but moving in one direction. Japan was first to market: Tokyo’s Sanatech Seed has sold a CRISPR-edited high-GABA tomato, “Sicilian Rouge,” directly to consumers since September 2021 under guidelines that treat foreign-DNA-free edits as outside GMO rules, requiring only notification. Japan has also cleared gene-edited tiger puffer and red sea bream. Australia excluded SDN-1 organisms from its GMO definition back in 2019. The Philippines built a science-based “plant breeding innovation” process in 2022 and has since ruled a reduced-browning banana and the GABA tomato to be non-GMO. New Zealand, long the regional hold-out, is now drafting a Gene Technology Bill that edges toward a risk-tiered model. Across Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines already grow biotech maize, and Bangladesh remains the regional exception that proves a different rule — its publicly bred Bt brinjal is one of the few transgenic food crops in commercial cultivation anywhere in the region. For seed-industry strategists, the takeaway is that Asia is assembling a patchwork of fast lanes for edited crops at the very moment the technology is maturing. The breeder’s case, made by the public scientists who built Kamala and echoed across MARA and Japan’s agriculture ministry, is straightforward: a CRISPR knockout that deletes a few base pairs is indistinguishable in its end product from a spontaneous or radiation-induced mutation — the kind of mutation breeding that has produced hundreds of crop varieties eaten safely for decades. Regulating the process rather than the product, they argue, taxes precision and rewards the bluntness of older techniques. The opposition re-forms That argument has not gone unanswered — and the speed of India’s release has, if anything, sharpened the resistance rather than dissolved it. The Coalition for a GM-Free India, the network that helped block Bt brinjal and contest GM mustard, condemned the rice release within a day, calling the government’s conduct devious and irresponsible and accusing it of acting under corporate pressure. Its core legal claim is that gene editing falls squarely within India’s statutory definition of genetic engineering, and that the 2022 exemption therefore deregulated GM crops by administrative sleight of hand rather than law. By that reading, Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1 are GMOs released without the confined field trials and high-level clearance the rules require. The scientific objection runs alongside the legal one. Coalition convenor Kavitha Kuruganti and allied scientists point to published work — including studies on CRISPR in rice — arguing that SDN-1 editing is not as precise as marketers claim, and can produce unintended insertions, deletions and rearrangements both at the target site and elsewhere in the genome, with unknown consequences for the proteins a plant produces and for the people who eat it. The precaution they urge is not a permanent ban but mandatory, transparent biosafety testing and labelling before any edited staple reaches a plate. The dispute turned concrete and bitter in October 2025, when the Coalition wrote to Minister Chouhan alleging that ICAR’s own multi-location trial data did not support its yield claims. Kamala, the group said, underperformed at eight of nineteen trial sites in 2023 and showed a flowering-time advantage of about three days rather than the headline twenty. ICAR rejected the allegations as baseless and motivated, and its communications office has defended gene editing as a straightforward extension of mutation breeding, noting that more than ninety percent of Indian cotton farmers adopted Bt cotton within a few years — its evidence that farmers embrace a technology that works. Two further strands give the opposition durability beyond the laboratory. The first is corporate control. Even where edits are public-sector, the underlying CRISPR tools and many enabling patents are held by a handful of firms and universities, mostly Western; farmer movements warn that a deregulated fast lane could entrench seed-industry dominance and erode the right to save and exchange seed — the same anxiety that animated the GM fights, now attached to a technology that is harder to detect. The second is detectability itself: an SDN-1 edit that leaves no foreign DNA can be impossible to distinguish from natural variation, which means labelling and traceability regimes built for transgenics may simply not work. In Japan, that gap has spawned a consumer-led “OK Seed” project that voluntarily labels produce as not gene-edited — a market signal that the absence of mandatory labels does not equal the presence of public trust. The trust question is not confined to democracies with active farmer movements. In China, where civil-society pushback is muted, the pressure point has shifted to transparency: USDA analysts noted that from 2025 MARA stopped publishing its newly approved biosafety certificates, a move that obscures exactly which edited events are entering cultivation and which firms hold them. For a system selling gene editing partly on the promise of rigorous, science-led oversight, that opacity is its own reputational risk — and precisely the kind of governance gap advocacy networks elsewhere seize on. And the courts remain a live venue. The Philippines offers the cautionary case study: in April 2024 the Court of Appeals, acting on a writ of kalikasan sought by Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the farmer-scientist network MASIPAG, ordered a halt to the commercial propagation of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant, citing the constitutional right to a healthful ecology and the lack of full scientific certainty on safety. Greenpeace called the ruling a monumental win; biosafety proponents called it a step backward for a country with real vitamin-A deficiency. The crops at issue were transgenic, not edited — but the judgment demonstrated that a determined coalition can stop an approved GM food crop in its tracks years after regulators signed off, on precautionary and procedural grounds that would transfer cleanly to a CRISPR product. The West as context, not template For Asian adopters weighing all this, Western developments matter less as a model than as a verdict on market access. The headline shift is in Brussels. After the European Court of Justice ruled in 2018 that gene-edited crops must be regulated as GMOs — effectively freezing them out of the EU — the bloc spent years deadlocked. In December 2025, Council and Parliament negotiators struck a provisional deal on a New Genomic Techniques (NGT) regulation that creates a two-tier system: NGT1 plants, those judged equivalent to what conventional breeding could achieve, would be exempt from GMO rules with only a verification step and seed-level identification; NGT2 plants would stay under the full GMO regime. Member states endorsed the compromise in December and the relevant parliamentary committee in January 2026, with a final plenary vote expected around mid-2026 and the rules likely to apply from 2028. The European Parliament’s earlier push for a blanket ban on patenting NGT plants — a sticking point for years — was softened after the Commission’s own analysis warned it would gut research investment. England has already moved faster, with its Precision Breeding regulations entering force in November 2025. The direction of travel in the West therefore now broadly converges with Asia’s: separate the foreign-DNA question from the breeding-method question, and treat the lightest edits as conventional. But two cautions are buried in the detail. First, the EU framework is slower and more conditional than India’s blanket exemption — labelling of seed, exclusions, and a monitoring programme all survive — which means “Europe is opening up” should not be read as “Europe will wave through Asian edited grain.” Second, the patent fight that nearly sank the EU deal is the same corporate-control anxiety driving Asian opposition; it has not been resolved so much as deferred. For export-oriented producers, that ambiguity carries real money. India ships basmati and non-basmati rice into price-sensitive and label-sensitive markets; Vietnam and Thailand are among the world’s largest rice exporters; Japan guards a premium domestic market with strong consumer scepticism. If an importing market — or a single influential retailer — decides an edited variety is a GMO requiring authorisation and labelling, the absence of a detectable DNA signature becomes a compliance nightmare rather than a marketing advantage. The very feature that makes SDN-1 edits regulatorily light at home makes them legally ambiguous at the border. Has the science outpaced the politics? The honest answer is that Asia has won the first round and not the fight. On the proponents’ side, the structural advantages are real and probably durable. The regulatory architecture is built and functioning in India, China, Japan, Australia and the Philippines. The pipeline is broad and aimed at exactly the traits the region needs — drought and salinity tolerance, water and nitrogen efficiency, lower methane from shorter-duration rice. The economic logic is compelling: editing collapses development timelines and lets cash-strapped public institutes, not just multinationals, bring improved staples to market. And the political framing — precision, food security, climate resilience, no foreign genes — is far more defensible than the one transgenics carried. On the opposition’s side, none of the foundations have shifted. The legal challenge that gene editing is genetic engineering under existing statutes is unresolved and could yet reach India’s higher courts. The detectability problem makes labelling and traceability genuinely difficult, which keeps the trust deficit alive. The corporate-control critique attaches as easily to CRISPR as to Bt. And the Philippine precedent shows that an approved crop can be stopped by a precautionary judiciary long after the regulators have moved on. The October 2025 data-integrity row over Kamala is a preview of the next phase of the argument: not “is the technology dangerous” but “can you trust the institutions that cleared it.” For investors, the asymmetry is the opportunity. A transgenic trait that needs a decade of trials and a GEAC vote is a venture few funds can underwrite; an SDN-1 trait that releases on a conventional-breeding timeline turns gene editing into something closer to a software-paced business, where the bottleneck is talent and germplasm access rather than regulatory survival. That is why the names appearing on China’s approvals — Dabeinong, Syngenta’s seed arm — and the licensing posture of trait developers eyeing both the EU’s NGT1 lane and Asian fast tracks are worth watching more closely than any single variety. The risk that prices the deals is not agronomic but political: a successful writ, a labelling mandate from a major export market, or a data-integrity scandal that hardens public opinion can strand an edited portfolio as surely as a failed field trial. For the boardroom and the policy desk, the strategic read is therefore double-edged. The window to develop and commercialise edited staples in Asia is open wider and earlier than anywhere in the West, and first movers in seed, traits and licensing have a genuine head start. But the same forces that turned GM into a twenty-year trench war — litigation, labelling, corporate-control politics and the slow erosion of public trust when a release looks rushed — are intact and now pointed at CRISPR. The science walked through the door GM could not open. Whether it stays in the room depends on whether the breeders, regulators and seed firms now inside choose transparency over speed. The politics is not behind them. It is waiting at the next gate. Editing versus engineering — why the distinction drives the policy Transgenic GM and gene editing are routinely lumped together, but the regulatory split across Asia turns entirely on how they differ. Transgenic GM (the old debate)- A gene from another organism is inserted into the crop’s genome — the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterial gene in Bt cotton and Bt brinjal that makes the plant toxic to certain pests, or the genes added to Golden Rice to produce beta-carotene. The crop now contains DNA it could never have acquired by breeding. This foreign DNA is permanent, inheritable and detectable, which is why GM crops are regulated for biosafety and environmental release, and why their critics invoke cross-species transfer. Gene editing (the new frontier)- Tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 make a precise cut at a chosen point in the plant’s own genome. Regulators classify the outcomes: SDN-1 — the cut is made and the plant’s repair machinery knocks the target gene out or alters it slightly. No template, no foreign DNA. (Kamala’s grain-number edit and Japan’s GABA tomato are SDN-1.) SDN-2 — a short DNA template guides a small, defined change, like correcting a few letters of text. Still no foreign gene retained in the final plant. SDN-3 — a full gene from another organism is inserted. This is functionally transgenesis and stays regulated as GM in India, China and the EU alike. Why it matters for the rulebook. Because SDN-1 and SDN-2 leave no foreign DNA, the end product can be indistinguishable from a plant produced by spontaneous or radiation-induced mutation — techniques used in conventional breeding for decades without GMO regulation. India, China, Japan, Australia and the Philippines have therefore drawn their regulatory line at the presence of foreign DNA rather than the use of a laboratory technique, and the EU’s 2025 NGT deal moves in the same direction with its NGT1/NGT2 split. The catch. That same absence of foreign DNA means an SDN-1 edit cannot be reliably detected or traced after the fact. For proponents, this proves the edit is “natural-equivalent.” For critics, it means labelling, monitoring and consumer choice break down — and that unintended off-target changes could pass unexamined. The science of the distinction is settled; its policy consequences are not. -- Ankit Kankar, Chief Operating Officer- AgroSpectrum Asia & India ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4006/gene-editing-moves-from-policy-to-practice-in-u-k.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/4006/gene-editing-moves-from-policy-to-practice-in-u-k.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:05:57 +0530 Rothamsted Research launches inaugural field trial under the Precision Breeding Act as investment in crop biotechnology signals growing momentum for next-generation agricultural innovation The United Kingdom has taken a significant step in its post-Brexit agricultural innovation strategy with the planting of the country’s first gene-edited crop under the newly implemented precision breeding regulatory framework. The milestone marks the practical commencement of a policy shift designed to accelerate biotechnology-led agricultural research while distinguishing precision-bred organisms from conventional genetically modified crops. The field trial, led by Rothamsted Research, represents the first crop to be authorised through a Precision Bred Organism Release Notice under the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and the accompanying Precision Breeding Regulations 2025. Researchers have planted Camelina sativa, an emerging oilseed crop, to evaluate whether gene-editing techniques can enhance seed size, oil concentration and overall crop productivity. The project employs CRISPR-based gene-editing technology and is being positioned primarily as a proof-of-concept for the United Kingdom’s new regulatory pathway rather than an immediate route to commercial product development. Scientists believe the trial will help demonstrate how precision breeding can contribute to the creation of more productive and resource-efficient crop varieties. “This programme illustrates the potential of gene editing to deliver tangible benefits for British agriculture,” said Dr Mollie Langdon, who is leading the research initiative at Rothamsted Research. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act represents a fundamental departure from the regulatory framework inherited from the European Union. Under the new legislation, organisms containing genetic changes that could have arisen naturally or through traditional breeding methods are classified separately from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This distinction is intended to simplify research and development processes for precision-bred crops while maintaining regulatory oversight. The newly introduced release notice mechanism significantly streamlines the approval process for outdoor field trials, reducing many of the administrative requirements that historically governed GMO testing. Industry observers view the development as a pivotal moment for the UK’s ambition to establish itself as a global hub for agricultural biotechnology and precision breeding innovation. In a parallel development that further highlights the growing momentum behind advanced agricultural technologies, Mosaic has announced a £2.5 million investment (approximately $3.2 million) in SugaRox, a biotechnology spinout jointly established by Rothamsted Research and the University of Oxford. The investment will support the development of precision crop biostimulants designed to enhance plant performance and improve crop resilience. The funding aligns with Mosaic’s broader strategy to expand its Mosaic Biosciences platform as global crop nutrition companies increasingly diversify into biological and efficiency-enhancing technologies alongside conventional fertiliser products. The twin developments underscore a broader transformation underway within the agricultural sector, where advances in gene editing, biological inputs and precision technologies are increasingly converging to address productivity, sustainability and climate resilience challenges. By formally differentiating precision breeding from conventional genetic modification, the United Kingdom is positioning itself among a small group of major agricultural economies seeking to create a more enabling environment for biotechnology innovation. The regulatory clarity is expected to open new opportunities for research institutions, start-ups and agribusinesses exploring gene-editing applications, while potentially accelerating the development of next-generation crop varieties and biological solutions. As global agriculture faces mounting pressure to improve productivity while reducing environmental impact, the UK’s evolving precision breeding ecosystem may serve as an important test case for how regulatory innovation can influence the pace of scientific advancement and commercial adoption in the years ahead. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3990/hudson-river-gains-access-to-pairwises-fulcrum-plant-gene-editing-platform.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3990/hudson-river-gains-access-to-pairwises-fulcrum-plant-gene-editing-platform.html Fri, 29 May 2026 17:09:37 +0530 Fulcrum platform includes proprietary editing tools, enzymes, and trait libraries designed for precise crop genetic modification Netherlands-based plant biotechnology company Hudson River Biotechnology (HRB) has entered into a licensing agreement with US gene-editing specialist Pairwise, gaining access to the Fulcrum plant gene editing platform in a move aimed at strengthening its crop improvement and breeding capabilities across multiple agricultural segments. Under the agreement, Hudson River will incorporate Fulcrum tools into its genome editing services for customers working in vegetables, soft fruits, and other crop species. The partnership is expected to broaden the company’s technical offering by complementing its existing BioMaas workflow with an expanded suite of precision editing technologies. Hudson River Biotechnology specialises in genome editing, plant regeneration, and trait development, with a focus on enabling transgene-free crop improvement directly within elite breeding lines. The company said the addition of Fulcrum would allow it to support a wider range of breeding applications and provide greater flexibility to customers seeking advanced gene-editing solutions. According to Hudson River, demand for genome editing technologies is rising steadily among plant breeders and crop developers as the agriculture sector increasingly prioritises precision breeding, improved productivity, and accelerated trait development. The company noted that integrating Fulcrum into its platform would enhance its ability to deliver targeted crop innovation through collaborative and adaptable partnership models. Pairwise described the agreement as part of its broader strategy to expand the reach of its Fulcrum platform across more crop categories and breeding programmes globally. The company indicated that the collaboration with Hudson River would help extend the application of its gene-editing technologies into specialty crops where Hudson River already maintains active customer relationships. Fulcrum is Pairwise’s integrated plant gene editing platform comprising proprietary editing tools, enzymes, and trait libraries designed to enable precise genetic modifications across a broad range of crop species. The platform has been developed and validated through Pairwise’s own breeding programmes and is licensed to agricultural and biotechnology partners worldwide. The partnership reflects the growing momentum behind precision breeding technologies within global agriculture, particularly as seed companies and crop developers seek faster and more targeted approaches to improving crop resilience, quality, and yield performance. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3935/new-report-highlights-gap-between-new-gmo-hype-and-global-market-reality.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3935/new-report-highlights-gap-between-new-gmo-hype-and-global-market-reality.html Fri, 22 May 2026 17:05:15 +0530 Lack of market uptake and unproven sustainability benefits contrast with rapid regulatory change; Public resistance to new GMOs grows around indigenous, small-holder, and farmer rights The European Non-GMO Industry Association (ENGA), The Non-GMO Project (US/Canada) and semnar (Switzerland), have announced the 2026 New GMOs Market Report. As a follow-up to the 2024 edition, the report analyses global market developments and regulatory trends related to the next generation of genetically engineered food crops. The authors point to a growing disconnect between industry expectations, sustainability claims, and the real-world deployment of new genetic engineering technologies such as CRISPR. At the same time, the report identifies recent advancements made by several global communities, often led by indigenous, smallholder farmers, peasant movements and farm workers, in resisting biotechnology in the food system. The report's findings are stark: Despite the hype of new genetic engineering breakthroughs, often driven by the promise of climate and environmental benefits, just four New GMO crops are currently cultivated commercially worldwide (only one more than in 2025), and none currently demonstrate measurable sustainability benefits. At the same time, companies are developing 108 new GMO crops, many of which have received regulatory clearance but have not reached commercial-scale cultivation. "There is a clear disconnect between promises and reality," said Heike Moldenhauer, ENGA Secretary General. "After years of development, market uptake is virtually non-existent and sustainability benefits haven't yet materialised. Whilst at the same time, New GMOs are being rapidly deregulated." Moldenhauer added,"Our findings point to another year of virtually no commercial success for New GMO products and a failure to substantiate the claims that these technologies will deliver a more sustainable food system. Instead, several developments focus on traits such as 'non-browning' or extended shelf life, which risk misleading consumers by enhancing the appearance of freshness whilst not addressing sustainability challenges." The report identified several New GMO crops that have been withdrawn from development since the 2024 report. Some of the earliest New GMO products have already been withdrawn from the market, underlining the poor commercial performance of these technologies to date. "Biotech companies continue to promote new GMO technologies with ambitious claims about sustainability and market transformation, yet they have achieved very limited commercial adoption," said Hans Eisenbeis, Director of Mission and Messaging at the Non-GMO Project. "Meanwhile, farmers, manufacturers and shoppers continue to drive demand for transparent, non-GMO, organic and regenerative food systems that already deliver proven benefits." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3928/naturesweet-expands-cherubs-portfolio-with-launch-of-golden-cherubs-tomatoes.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3928/naturesweet-expands-cherubs-portfolio-with-launch-of-golden-cherubs-tomatoes.html Thu, 21 May 2026 15:10:24 +0530 This new variety sets a fresh standard for flavor, quality, and versatility NatureSweet is expanding its beloved Cherubs portfolio with the launch of Golden Cherubs, a vibrant new golden grape tomato that delivers an irresistible combination of intense sweetness and bright, tangy flavor. Building on the success of its top-selling snacking tomatoes, NatureSweet Golden Cherubs offer everything consumers love about Cherubs, now in a striking golden hue. Branded as “Out of This World Sweet Tomatoes,” this new variety sets a fresh standard for flavor, quality, and versatility. “We are excited to add another tomato to our Cherubs franchise,” says Tobianne Paul, Chief Marketing Officer at NatureSweet. Golden Cherubs are just as bingeable, combining bright tanginess with the sweetness our Cherubs are famous for.” Golden Cherubs are carefully grown in greenhouse environments in Mexico by NatureSweet’s valued Associates, ensuring consistent, year-round quality and exceptional taste. Like all NatureSweet snacking tomatoes, Golden Cherubs are: Fair Trade Certified Non-GMO Project Verified Proudly grown by a recognized B Corporation Vine-ripened for peak flavor and hand picked Sustainably grown using a proprietary process Their bold color and balanced flavor profile make them a standout addition to everyday eating occasions—from fresh snacking to colorful salads and easy meal prep. Golden Cherubs are available in a 10 oz package featuring NatureSweet’s proprietary, recyclable, resealable, and rinse-ready packaging. Just peel back the label and Release the Sweet! Golden Cherubs will begin rolling out in select stores nationwide in mid-May of 2026. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3921/cibus-pushes-toward-2027-rice-launch-as-gene-editing-momentum-builds-globally.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3921/cibus-pushes-toward-2027-rice-launch-as-gene-editing-momentum-builds-globally.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:01:10 +0530 Agri-biotech firm advances herbicide-tolerant rice programme across Latin America while regulatory tailwinds strengthen for next-generation genomic technologies. Agricultural technology company Cibus Inc. is accelerating commercial and regulatory momentum across its gene-edited crop portfolio, with its flagship herbicide-tolerant rice programme moving closer to a targeted 2027 launch in Latin America amid a rapidly evolving global policy environment for precision breeding technologies. Reporting first-quarter 2026 results, the Nasdaq-listed company said it continues to deepen partnerships with global seed companies while expanding the commercial pathway for its proprietary Rice herbicide tolerance (HT) platform. The company also highlighted growing international regulatory acceptance of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), particularly in Europe, where policymakers continue advancing legislation governing gene-edited crops. “We are pleased to report continued momentum across our priority programs during the first quarter of 2026,” said Peter Beetham, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Cibus. “Our Rice herbicide tolerance program is advancing on multiple fronts, including meaningful progress toward commercialization with our Latin American seed partners, including initially Interoc, as we continue to eye our targeted 2027 initial launch.” Cibus’ HT Rice programme has emerged as one of the company’s most commercially advanced assets. The platform currently supports seven active customer relationships representing an estimated 5–7 million peak addressable acres and more than $200 million in potential annual royalty opportunities at maturity. While the company continues targeting an initial Latin American launch in 2027, it has revised its U.S. commercialisation timeline from 2028 to 2029 following delays in herbicide registration processes being handled by its partner Albaugh. The company has intensified engagement across major rice-growing regions. In January 2026, Cibus signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with Latin American agribusiness company Interoc to establish a framework for commercialising co-developed herbicide-tolerant rice traits across key regional markets. That relationship advanced further in March, when Interoc secured an additional import permit enabling future transfer of material bearing HT traits. By May, Cibus had completed the transfer of gene-edited traits into Interoc’s rice seeds, paving the way for regional testing and potential market deployment. Beyond Latin America, the company has also initiated discussions with major Indian rice-sector participants through strategic collaborations involving RTDC and AgVayā, signalling a broader international expansion strategy targeting some of the world’s largest rice-producing markets. The company’s broader narrative is increasingly tied to global food security and agricultural resilience. Beetham noted that disruptions in global fertiliser supply chains and tightening nitrogen availability continue to create mounting pressure on farmers, particularly in nitrogen-intensive crops such as rice, wheat, and canola. Against this backdrop, Cibus believes its precision breeding technologies offer scalable pathways to improve resilience, productivity, and input efficiency. While Rice HT and Sustainable Ingredients remain near-term priorities, the company says significant longer-term value also exists across its broader opportunity pipeline, including canola disease resistance, nutrient-use efficiency traits, soybean editing platforms, wheat trait development, and forage crop innovations. Cibus’ Sustainable Ingredients programme is also gaining traction. Following its first customer payment in late 2025, the company has expanded R&D activities with increased funding commitments and expects additional scale-up orders for biofragrance products during the second half of 2026. Management believes the programme could become an increasingly important commercial pillar as demand grows for biologically derived specialty ingredients. At the same time, regulatory developments continue to strengthen the commercial outlook for gene editing globally. In April 2026, the Council of the European Union formally adopted its first-reading position on proposed NGT regulations, advancing legislation that would create a clearer pathway for gene-edited crops across European markets. The proposal now moves toward a European Parliament plenary vote expected later this year. The regulatory shift follows a series of global milestones achieved in 2025, including Ecuador’s decision to classify Cibus’ HT1 and HT3 Rice traits as equivalent to conventionally bred crops, as well as continued progress in the United Kingdom’s Precision Bred Organisms framework, where Cibus participated as a test case under the country’s new review process. Beyond commercial expansion, Cibus has spent the past year aggressively restructuring operations to improve capital efficiency. Chief Financial Officer Carlo Broos said the company remains on track to reduce annual net cash usage to approximately $30 million or less during 2026, supported by cost-cutting measures and operational consolidation initiatives. Research and development expenses declined to $8.7 million during the first quarter, compared with $11.8 million a year earlier, while SG&A expenses fell sharply to $5.1 million from $9.9 million. The company attributed the reductions to operational streamlining and the absence of significant litigation expenses recorded during the prior-year quarter. Cibus also strengthened its balance sheet through two equity offerings completed earlier this year, raising approximately $37 million in gross proceeds. The capital is expected to support working capital requirements and continued advancement of the company’s priority commercial programmes. As of March 31, 2026, Cibus held $30.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, which management believes is sufficient to fund operations into late first quarter 2027 without additional financing. Financially, the company reported a first-quarter net loss of $21.2 million, a substantial improvement from the $49.4 million loss recorded during the same period last year. Net loss per share improved to $0.33 from $1.34, driven partly by the absence of a prior-year goodwill impairment charge and broader expense reductions. Meanwhile, the company continues expanding its scientific and commercial capabilities. In April, Cibus appointed agribusiness veteran Thomas Urban to its Board of Directors, adding more than three decades of experience spanning Pioneer Hi-Bred International, CellFor, and Goldman Sachs. As regulatory acceptance of gene editing accelerates and global agricultural systems face mounting pressure from climate volatility, fertiliser disruptions, and food-security concerns, Cibus is positioning itself at the intersection of precision breeding, crop resilience, and next-generation agricultural innovation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3868/basf-commissions-new-biohub-facility-in-germany-to-accelerate-biological-crop-protection-portfolio.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3868/basf-commissions-new-biohub-facility-in-germany-to-accelerate-biological-crop-protection-portfolio.html Tue, 12 May 2026 16:31:49 +0530 Ludwigshafen fermentation plant strengthens BASF’s biotechnology capabilities, supply chain resilience and sustainable agriculture ambitions BASF Agricultural Solutions has officially commissioned its new BioHub fermentation facility at its Ludwigshafen site, marking a significant expansion of the company’s industrial biotechnology capabilities and reinforcing its long-term focus on biological and biotechnology-based crop protection solutions. Built with an investment in the high double-digit million-euro range, the newly operational plant represents a strategic addition to BASF’s growing BioSolutions portfolio and reflects the accelerating global shift toward sustainable, integrated crop protection systems. The facility will manufacture biological fungicides and seed treatment solutions using advanced fermentation processes, enabling the company to scale production of next-generation biological crop protection products while improving operational flexibility and supply chain resilience. At the core of the BioHub is a fermentation platform that uses microorganisms to convert renewable raw materials such as glucose into biological active ingredients. The approach reflects the increasing convergence of industrial biotechnology and agricultural innovation, where biological processes are being deployed to develop lower-impact crop protection solutions suited to evolving regulatory and sustainability requirements. Production of key biological actives has already commenced at the site, including the bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which serves as the foundation for Serifel, BASF’s biological fungicide platform. The facility is also producing the primary building block for Inscalis, the company’s novel insecticide based on the fungal strain Penicillium coprobium. By internalising fermentation production, BASF aims to strengthen manufacturing control across its biological portfolio while increasing responsiveness to market demand and reducing dependence on external supply chains. Commenting on the development, Melanie Bausen-Wiens, Member of the Management Board of BASF Agricultural Solutions responsible for Technology, described the commissioning as an important milestone in the company’s industrial biotechnology strategy. She noted that integrating fermentation production directly within BASF’s operational ecosystem creates a stronger bridge between scientific research and industrial-scale manufacturing, enabling faster adaptation and acceleration of biotechnological innovation pipelines. The launch also comes amid continued expansion in the global biological crop protection market, as growers increasingly seek solutions that align with sustainable farming practices, regulatory transitions, and integrated pest management strategies. Maximilian Becker, Member of the Management Board of BASF Agricultural Solutions responsible for Business, stated that the new fermentation platform provides BASF with a scalable and flexible production foundation capable of supporting the continued growth of its biological solutions portfolio. He added that the facility would play a critical role in ensuring consistent and dependable product availability for customers globally as demand for biological crop protection solutions continues to expand. The commissioning of the BioHub further strengthens Ludwigshafen’s role as one of BASF’s key global innovation and manufacturing centres, while underscoring the broader transformation underway within the crop protection industry — where biologicals, microbial technologies and industrial biotechnology are increasingly moving from niche applications into mainstream agricultural systems. For BASF, the facility represents not only a manufacturing expansion, but also a strategic signal of how the future of crop protection is likely to evolve — combining biological science, industrial fermentation and sustainable agriculture into a more resilient and adaptive agricultural production framework. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3867/doriane-introduces-bloomeo-breeding-bringing-ai-led-precision-to-modern-plant-breeding.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3867/doriane-introduces-bloomeo-breeding-bringing-ai-led-precision-to-modern-plant-breeding.html Tue, 12 May 2026 16:25:38 +0530 €10 million investment powers integrated breeding software designed to unify data, workflows and decision-making across global seed and research organisations Doriane SAS has officially launched Bloomeo Breeding, its next-generation software platform designed to redefine how plant breeding programmes are managed, integrated and accelerated in an increasingly data-intensive agricultural landscape. The launch marks a significant expansion of the company’s broader Bloomeo ecosystem following successful deployment across agronomy testing and variety development programmes. With the new platform now commercially available, Doriane is positioning the solution as a central operating layer for breeding organisations ranging from global seed companies to research institutions and mid-sized breeding enterprises. At a time when agricultural innovation cycles are under mounting pressure from climate volatility, food security concerns and evolving market expectations, breeding organisations are increasingly seeking systems capable not only of storing data, but of orchestrating complex scientific workflows across distributed research environments. It is precisely this transition that Bloomeo Breeding seeks to address. Unlike traditional breeding databases built around fragmented data repositories, the platform introduces a workflow-oriented architecture designed to unify every stage of the breeding lifecycle — from parental selection and crossing strategies to field advancement, trial evaluation and commercialisation pathways. At the heart of the platform lies an open, API-driven infrastructure intended to function as a central nervous system for breeding research and development. The architecture enables integration across laboratory systems, legacy databases, external analytics platforms and operational workflows, allowing organisations to consolidate breeding intelligence within a single digital environment. Commenting on the launch, Louis Gauthier, Co-CEO of Doriane SAS, noted that modern breeding organisations are moving beyond the need for static databases toward collaborative systems capable of streamlining increasingly complex breeding operations. According to him, breeding programmes today require interconnected platforms that can accelerate decision-making, integrate multi-source datasets and support cross-functional collaboration at scale. The platform has also been developed around a KPI-driven operational framework aimed at improving breeding efficiency and programme return on investment. By embedding breeding objectives into workflow execution from the outset, the system provides real-time visibility into operational performance, trial progression and programme bottlenecks. Integrated dashboards consolidate data from multiple sources, enabling breeding teams to compare cultivar performance against predefined product profiles while supporting faster and more informed decision-making. One of the platform’s defining capabilities lies in its integration of genetics, environment and management variables into a unified analytical model — often referred to within agricultural science as GxExM interactions. Through this approach, the platform enables breeders to analyse how genetic material performs not only across varying environmental conditions, but also under different agronomic and management practices. The system integrates phenotypic, genotypic, agronomic and environmental datasets within a single operational framework while supporting field data collection through a mobile offline-first application. The objective, according to the company, is to transform breeding programmes from isolated data analysis exercises into fully contextualised and predictive decision environments. Tristan Duminil, Head of Agronomy at Doriane SAS, observed that modern plant breeding increasingly depends on understanding how varieties interact dynamically with both environment and management systems rather than genetics alone. He added that the platform was specifically designed to make this complexity operationally actionable for breeding teams. Beyond scientific integration, Doriane has also placed significant emphasis on usability and organisational adoption. The platform has been designed to support stakeholders across the entire breeding ecosystem, including breeders, field technicians, laboratory teams, data scientists and management functions. According to the company, earlier Bloomeo modules currently support more than 550 users within Limagrain, achieving adoption rates of approximately 95 percent — a figure Doriane attributes to its user-centric interface design and implementation methodology. The launch of Bloomeo Breeding follows an investment of nearly €10 million over four years, combining Doriane’s four decades of expertise in plant breeding data systems with advances in software engineering and agricultural analytics. The company stated that it plans to continue investing approximately €2 million annually into platform development, with future priorities focused on envirotyping capabilities, environmental data integration, advanced analytics, workflow optimisation and partnerships with AgTech innovators. For Doriane, the launch represents more than the release of a software platform. It reflects a broader transformation underway within agricultural science — where breeding is increasingly becoming a convergence of biology, environmental intelligence, predictive analytics and digital infrastructure. As global agriculture confronts the dual challenge of producing more resilient crops while accelerating innovation timelines, platforms such as Bloomeo Breeding are emerging as the connective tissue linking scientific discovery with scalable agricultural impact. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3849/inside-suterras-strategic-grab-for-vestarons-biotech-arsenal.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3849/inside-suterras-strategic-grab-for-vestarons-biotech-arsenal.html Fri, 08 May 2026 15:53:35 +0530 Acquisition adds peptide-driven pest control technologies and advanced R&D capabilities amid intensifying demand for non-chemical crop solutions In a move that underscores the accelerating consolidation within the global biologicals industry, Suterra, the pheromone-based crop protection division of The Wonderful Company, has acquired key research assets, commercial product lines, and development programs from Vestaron Corporation, strengthening its position in the rapidly expanding market for biologically derived pest control technologies. The transaction brings under Suterra’s control the Spear and Basin product portfolios, alongside a broader pipeline of peptide-based active ingredients and formulations that had been under development at Vestaron’s research operations in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The acquisition also includes assets associated with Vestaron’s R&D facility, signaling Suterra’s intent to deepen its scientific and manufacturing capabilities at a time when agricultural input markets are increasingly pivoting toward sustainable alternatives to conventional chemistry. While financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, industry observers view the acquisition as a strategically significant expansion for Suterra, whose biological pest management platform has historically centered around pheromone technologies and integrated pest management systems. At the center of the deal is Spear Lep, one of Vestaron’s most commercially visible bioinsecticide technologies and a product already gaining traction among growers seeking residue-conscious and resistance-management solutions. The product, recently approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is designed to target lepidopteran pests through peptide-based biological mechanisms that differ fundamentally from traditional synthetic chemistries. Suterra confirmed it plans to begin manufacturing its own branded and supported version of Spear Lep later this year, a move expected to strengthen supply continuity while integrating the product into the company’s broader commercial distribution and technical support infrastructure. “Spear Lep is already familiar to many growers and advisers,” said Matthew Bohnert, President of Suterra. “We’re excited to bring this product into Suterra’s portfolio and continue supporting growers with reliable supply and technical expertise.” The acquisition arrives at a pivotal inflection point for the biologicals sector, where investor enthusiasm has increasingly shifted from experimental promise toward commercially scalable technologies capable of delivering measurable field performance. Against that backdrop, Suterra’s move reflects a broader industry recalibration favoring platforms with demonstrated grower adoption, regulatory validation, and operational scalability. Vestaron, long recognized for its peptide-based insect control technologies inspired by naturally occurring compounds, had emerged as one of the more scientifically ambitious players in agricultural biologicals. The company’s research efforts focused on leveraging bioactive peptides to create targeted pest management tools with lower environmental persistence and reduced resistance risks. Vestaron leadership framed the transaction as a natural progression for technologies that have already established market credibility. “Suterra has demonstrated a consistent ability to successfully scale biologically based technologies, but what makes this combination particularly compelling is the grower adoption and proven success of Spear LEP in the market,” said Juan Estupinan, CEO and President of Vestaron. “We are incredibly proud of what has been built, and confident that this platform will continue to deliver even greater value to growers globally.” The deal also highlights intensifying competitive momentum within agricultural biologicals, one of the fastest-growing segments in crop protection. As regulators tighten scrutiny around conventional pesticides and growers confront escalating resistance challenges, companies are racing to secure differentiated technologies capable of integrating into mainstream farming systems without compromising efficacy or operational economics. For Suterra, the acquisition broadens its scientific footprint beyond semiochemicals and reinforces its ambition to become a more diversified biological crop protection platform. The inclusion of Vestaron’s pipeline assets and formulation technologies potentially gives the company access to future product categories spanning multiple pest targets and crop systems. More broadly, the transaction reflects a changing hierarchy within agri-input innovation itself. Biologicals are no longer being positioned merely as complementary sustainability tools; they are increasingly viewed as core components of modern crop protection strategies, particularly in high-value specialty crops where regulatory pressure, export residue standards, and consumer expectations continue to reshape input decisions. As the industry evolves from niche biological experimentation toward scaled commercial deployment, Suterra’s acquisition of Vestaron’s assets signals a growing recognition that the next competitive frontier in agriculture may belong not to companies with the largest chemical portfolios, but to those capable of translating advanced biological science into reliable, field-proven performance at scale. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3843/usda-approved-allergen-reduced-peanuts-enter-field-trials-in-georgia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3843/usda-approved-allergen-reduced-peanuts-enter-field-trials-in-georgia.html Thu, 07 May 2026 11:23:25 +0530 First outdoor cultivation marks shift from controlled lab research to commercial-scale agricultural testing AgriNetica and Nurtured Nuts have announced a major scientific and agricultural milestone with the successful planting of USDA-approved allergen-less peanuts at a secured agricultural site in Georgia, marking the first transition of the technology from controlled laboratory environments to full-scale field cultivation in the United States. The development represents a pivotal step in the companies’ joint mission to fundamentally re-engineer one of the world’s most widely consumed and allergenic crops. Designed to significantly reduce allergenic proteins while preserving nutritional integrity, taste, and functional versatility, the gene-edited peanut is positioned as a breakthrough innovation for the estimated 6.1 million Americans living with peanut allergies. The initiative is powered by proprietary second-generation CRISPR-based gene-editing technology developed by AgriNetica, the U.S. division of Israeli biotech firm BetterSeeds. Through precise genomic modifications, researchers have engineered a peanut variant that retains its core agronomic and dietary characteristics while substantially lowering allergenic risk factors, potentially redefining safety standards in nut-based food production. The choice of Georgia as the cultivation site reflects both strategic and agronomic considerations, given the state’s leadership in U.S. peanut production, its established agricultural infrastructure, and its specialised expertise in large-scale peanut farming. The current field deployment marks the first outdoor, commercial-scale cultivation of allergen-reduced peanuts under the Nurtured Nuts programme. Company representatives have indicated that the upcoming harvest will play a critical role in advancing clinical validation, regulatory evaluation, and commercial readiness processes. The project is expected to progress through structured pathways involving collaboration with regulatory and data partners, including the USDA, FDA, and industry platforms supporting food system transparency and market integration. Nurtured Nuts has further signalled plans to expand its broader ecosystem through strategic partnerships aimed at accelerating product development, regulatory alignment, and eventual market introduction. The company has positioned the initiative as part of a wider effort to combine biotechnology, agriculture, and consumer food innovation into a unified framework for next-generation food safety solutions. In essence, the planting marks not merely an agricultural trial, but the tentative emergence of a new category of engineered foods—where genetic precision is deployed not for yield alone, but for redefining the boundaries of dietary safety itself. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3822/cibus-advances-gene-edited-rice-program-with-interoc-moves-toward-latin-america-commercial-rollout.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3822/cibus-advances-gene-edited-rice-program-with-interoc-moves-toward-latin-america-commercial-rollout.html Tue, 05 May 2026 18:24:19 +0530 Gene-edited herbicide tolerance traits in rice transferred to Interoc as Cibus moves closer to commercial launch in Latin America, leveraging its Rapid Trait Development System to accelerate seed innovation and yield-focused solutions Cibus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBUS), an agricultural technology company focused on plant trait development and licensing, has announced the transfer of gene-edited herbicide tolerance traits in rice to its partner Interoc, marking a key step toward commercialization in Latin America. The materials will enable Interoc S.A. to begin testing and production of rice seed varieties incorporating Cibus’ gene-edited traits, ahead of a planned regional launch under its CIBUS enhanced seed portfolio. “This collaboration with Cibus continues to deliver significant value,” said Fernando De La Puente, Corporate Vice President at Interoc. “Rice is a critical crop for the Latin American economy, and we are committed to providing growers with advanced traits that optimize their productivity.” Cibus said the milestone supports its strategy of delivering predictable, time-bound trait development through its Rapid Trait Development System, which is designed to accelerate the introduction of crop innovations aimed at improving yield and resilience. “Achieving this milestone on schedule reinforces our core objective: the predictable development of desired traits in rice and other crops,” said Peter Beetham, PhD, Co-founder and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Cibus. “We are addressing the global need for accelerated trait innovation and helping equip farmers with solutions that support food security.” The company added that growing regulatory alignment on gene-edited crops globally is expected to support broader commercialization efforts across its pipeline. Additional traits are expected to progress toward partner delivery over the coming year. “Our partnership with Interoc has been characterized by high-level collaboration and productivity,” said Martin Poveda, Senior Director Rice & Business Affairs at Cibus. “Together, we are creating solutions tailored to key markets, and we look forward to the commercial rollout of gene-edited products in the coming years.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3772/biotalys-achieves-first-u-s-state-registration-for-evoca-in-florida.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3772/biotalys-achieves-first-u-s-state-registration-for-evoca-in-florida.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:11:53 +0530 Regulatory process also advancing in key markets California and Europe Biotalys , an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing protein-based biocontrols for sustainable crop protection, today announced that its innovative biofungicide EVOCA has achieved state registration in Florida. This marks the first approval of an AGROBODY biocontrol by a U.S. state, underscoring a significant milestone for the company and the broader biocontrol sector. The Florida Department of Agriculture accepted EVOCA with the broad label previously approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This state recognition confirms the product’s robust regulatory profile and its potential to support sustainable agriculture in the region, in particular in controlling the key fungal diseases Botrytis and powdery mildew in fruits and vegetables. Carlo Boutton, interim CEO of Biotalys, commented: “We are proud to see EVOCA obtain state registration in Florida, as it sets the stage for the future of our protein-based biocontrol solutions. Florida is the second largest U.S. state for the production of key fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, tomatoes and bell peppers that face significant challenges from diseases like Botrytis and powdery mildew. The first state-level approval for our novel biocontrol underscores our commitment to providing innovative tools to growers locally and validates our technology for continued product developments. We look forward to advancing sustainable crop protection and supporting growers with science-driven solutions that meet market demands both in terms of efficacy and sustainability.” Regulatory progress in California and Europe In California, the largest agricultural state in the U.S., the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is progressing its review of EVOCA and its Human Health Assessment Branch has now accepted the EPA-approved label. The next administrative steps are in process, and approval is currently projected for the second half of 2026, further validating the safety and efficacy of Biotalys’ technology. Regulatory review of EVOCA in the European Union is also advancing with the two-month public consultation phase expected to be initiated this week. Both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products (CTGB) will then review comments after which the dossier is expected to proceed to the decision phase.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3727/lomons-green-leap-bimie-redefines-future-of-acaricide-innovation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3727/lomons-green-leap-bimie-redefines-future-of-acaricide-innovation.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:37:12 +0530 World’s first registered bacterial solution challenges chemical dominance In a landmark moment for sustainable agriculture, Sichuan Lomon Bio Technology Co., Ltd. has officially launched BIMIE, the world’s first fully registered bacterial acaricide. The unveiling, held during a high-profile virtual conference that drew over 10,000 viewers, marks the company’s strategic expansion from plant growth regulators into advanced biopesticide innovation—underscoring its ambition to lead the global biologicals revolution. At the heart of BIMIE lies its pioneering active ingredient, Bacillus velezensis LM-W2, formulated at 1 billion CFU/ml. Granted full regulatory registration in 2026, the product stands alone globally in its category. Developed from plant endophytes and refined through years of research since 2021, this microbial solution introduces a radically different mode of action compared to conventional chemical acaricides, offering both efficacy and ecological compatibility. Unlike traditional chemistries, BIMIE operates through a sophisticated biological mechanism. Its microbial metabolites disrupt the digestive systems of mites, allowing active enzymes such as proteases to penetrate the bloodstream and impair immune and neurological functions. As noted by He Yueqiu of Yunnan Agricultural University, this multi-target mode of interference significantly reduces the likelihood of resistance development, while preserving beneficial organisms such as predatory mites—an essential pillar of integrated pest management. Performance metrics reinforce BIMIE’s disruptive potential. Visible effects emerge within three hours of application, with control efficacy exceeding 95 per cent within 24 hours and residual protection lasting up to 20 days. Its additional ovary-splitting action curbs pest populations at the source, making it particularly effective against targets such as Panonychus citri and aphids. Field trials across Sichuan and Guangxi provinces demonstrate consistent results, with sustained control rates of 85–95 per cent over extended periods—outperforming conventional treatments like imidacloprid and acetamiprid. From a practical standpoint, BIMIE offers strong compatibility with widely used crop protection inputs, including bifenazate and abamectin, while requiring careful avoidance of certain compounds such as fluazinam and mineral oils. Optimized for application above 25°C, the product remains functionally resilient even in cooler conditions, enhancing its versatility across diverse agro-climatic zones. Strategically positioned for high-value crops and resistance-prone farming systems, BIMIE reflects a broader shift toward green, sustainable pest control solutions. As emphasized by Li Yi, the company’s marketing director, overcoming entrenched perceptions around the slower action of biologicals will be key—placing field demonstrations and real-world validation at the center of market adoption. Backed by the industrial strength of Lomon Corporation Group, a global leader in plant growth regulators such as S-abscisic acid and gibberellic acid, this launch represents more than a product debut—it is a declaration of intent. With BIMIE, Sichuan Lomon Bio Technology Co. Ltd. takes a decisive step toward its vision of becoming a global leader in biological agriculture, reshaping the future of crop protection with science-led, environmentally conscious innovation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3676/corteva-locks-in-end-to-end-cereal-protection-with-launch-of-4-active-powerhouse-lumiscend-luxe.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3676/corteva-locks-in-end-to-end-cereal-protection-with-launch-of-4-active-powerhouse-lumiscend-luxe.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:00:25 +0530 Seed treatment protects cereals from major early season diseases, helping crops start strong  Corteva has closed the loop on comprehensive cereal protection from seed to harvest with the launch of Lumiscend™ LUXE: a powerful new fungicide seed treatment with four actives targeting Fusarium and Rhizoctonia head-on, boosting seedling emergence, root development and early vigour for a proven yield advantage over standard fungicide treatments. Teamed with the recently launched Telbek™ PRO fungicide with Adavelt™ active, Lumiscend™ LUXE provides Canadian wheat, durum, barley, and oat growers with complete seasonal defense. Fusarium and Rhizoctonia are persistent threats for Canadian wheat growers, contributing to root, crown, and foot rots that can harm yield and grain quality. Lumiscend LUXE addresses these challenges as an all-in-one, broad-spectrum seed treatment, combining four active ingredients (Groups 3, 4, and 7) to deliver early systemic and contact protection against seed-and soil-borne threats.In 2025 Corteva Research Authorization Trials across Western Canada, Lumiscend LUXE achieved a 6.3 bushel/acre yield advantage over standard treatments (74.3 vs. 68 bu/acre) ¹, with improved seedling emergence, enhanced root development, and denser plant stands under disease pressure. “Lumiscend LUXE sets a new benchmark in cereal fungicide seed treatments, helping maximize yield potential through strong disease protection, improved vigour, and emergence,” said Chad Garrod, Seed Applied Technology Portfolio Product Manager, Corteva. “With four unique actives—including inpyrfluxam—it delivers superior defense against the broadest range of cereal seed- and soil-borne diseases. With a simple all-in-one formulation, Lumiscend LUXE is easy to choose and easy to use for farmers.” Proven through multiple years of testing across the prairies, Lumiscend LUXE consistently delivers faster dry time, with a more even application, no treater buildup, and excellent flow through the seed drill. It pairs seamlessly with the industry-leading Lumivia™ CPL insecticide. Alongside Corteva’s herbicides and Telbek™ PRO fungicide, it provides season-long cereal crop protection. Start, grow, and finish with Corteva Agriscience.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3673/basf-agricultural-solutions-acquires-agbitech-expanding-its-biological-insect-control-portfolio.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3673/basf-agricultural-solutions-acquires-agbitech-expanding-its-biological-insect-control-portfolio.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:29:22 +0530 Enable faster scaling and broader adoption of biological solutions BASF Agricultural Solutions successfully closed its acquisition of AgBiTech. This follows the agreement with private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners and other shareholders signed in January 2026, and the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. The acquisition is expected to enable faster scaling and broader adoption of biological solutions and reinforces BASF’s commitment to offer farmers more effective and diversified insect control options. “The biologicals market continues to expand at a strong pace. Acquiring AgBiTech strengthens our position in this attractive segment and complements our existing portfolio with proven biological technologies. We warmly welcome our new colleagues, and I am confident that, together, we will accelerate meaningful progress for our customers and for agriculture by further expanding biological solutions across global markets,” said Livio Tedeschi, President of BASF Agricultural Solutions. Adriano Vilas-Boas, CEO of AgBiTech, commented: “Joining BASF marks an important milestone for AgBiTech’s mission to make biological insect control accessible to farmers worldwide. BASF’s global reach, strong R&D ecosystem and deep agricultural expertise will help accelerate the impact of our technologies. We are proud of what our teams have built and excited for this next chapter.” AgBiTech has established a strong footprint in Brazil, which is one of the most dynamic markets for biological crop protection. The acquisition is expected to enable BASF to scale AgBiTech’s biological technologies globally, expanding their impact beyond Brazil and integrating them into BASF’s broader crop protection portfolio. Maintaining agility and a strong customer focus, combined with deep market expertise, will be essential to continue supporting growers with effective solutions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3666/yara-expands-research-capabilities-in-biological-crop-solutions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3666/yara-expands-research-capabilities-in-biological-crop-solutions.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:23:35 +0530 Driving growing interest in biological crop solutions Farmers must not only maintain but increase productivity, improve nutrient use efficiency, and adapt to more frequent climate stress. These pressures are driving growing interest in biological crop solutions that complement crop nutrition offers, helping crops perform at their full potential and become more resilient to climate change. Demand for biologicals has increased fivefold over the past 20 years. To support this growing demand, Yara has expanded the laboratory facilities at its Hanninghof Research Centre in Dülmen, Germany, a site globally recognized for its expertise in plant nutrition and environmental agronomic research. The expansion represents a strategic investment in the scientific capabilities needed to develop, validate, and scale the next generation of biologicals integrated within crop nutrition solutions. Biologicals and crop nutrition Biologicals are an important pillar of Yara’s growth strategy and include two key segments within the crop nutrition portfolio: Specialty nutrition (YaraVita): secondary nutrients, macronutrients, and micronutrients that target specific growth stages and plant needs; Biostimulants (YaraAmplix): solutions that improve nutrient use efficiency, support soil and root health, and help crops better tolerate environmental stress. Biologicals do not replace fertilizers. They work alongside them, supporting crops by enhancing nutrient use efficiency, amplifying crop potential and increasing tolerance to stress, which results in higher marketable yields. Plant nutrition can be compared to human nutrition. While fertilizers are the food for plants, biologicals act like vitamins that help them thrive, not just survive. As the biologicals category expands, so does the need for deeper scientific understanding. Biological ingredients, such as microorganisms and biomolecules, interact with plants, soils, and nutrients in complex ways. Robust research and rigorous validation are therefore essential to ensure reliable performance before products reach growers. A strategic expansion The previous laboratory and analytical setup could no longer keep pace with the increasing scope and complexity of the research work. “The expansion at Hanninghof site strengthens our ability to grow in biologicals by building on our core crop nutrition competence. It reflects our commitment to expanding our offerings for a more resilient crop production,” says Rejane Souza, SVP Global Innovation at Yara. With the new facilities in place, Yara can more effectively conduct microbial development, bio-formulation work, and advanced biomolecular analytics. These capabilities allow researchers to study beneficial microorganisms and biological ingredients, develop product prototypes, and prepare them for testing and trials. New capabilities supporting research The upgraded facilities include dedicated spaces equipped with modern technology that support: Microbial cultivation and isolation; Formulation of microbial and non-living biological (bioactive) ingredients into test-ready prototypes; Advanced biomolecular analytics that improve precision, consistency, and data quality. These improvements give researchers greater control and more tools over the development process while reducing reliance on external partners. They also ensure that Yara’s own quality standards guide every stage of product development, safeguarding also intellectual proprietary developments. “The outcome of our work has always been defined by the quality and practical impact driven by our scientific standards. With these new facilities, the new human resources and expertise is now matched by the infrastructure required to improve speed, quality, and reliability,” says Dr. Luis Torres, VP Agronomy and R&D at Yara. What this means for growers and the value chain For farmers, stronger and rigorous scientific foundations translate into more reliable solutions in the field. For distributors, it provides confidence in a rapidly growing new product category and business that requires strong proof of performance. For partners across the food value chain, this investment demonstrates Yara’s commitment to supporting more resilient and sustainable food production.  The success of the next generation of product offerings beyond crop nutrition will depend not only on new products, but also on the science behind them. The expansion of the Hanninghof Research Centre strengthens these foundations and supports Yara’s mission to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3624/ibi-ag-to-develop-ai-driven-de-novo-protein-design-platform-for-bioinsecticides.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3624/ibi-ag-to-develop-ai-driven-de-novo-protein-design-platform-for-bioinsecticides.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:29:23 +0530 POC included in vivo insect validation of de novo designed proteins IBI Ag Ltd. , a leader in sustainable agricultural solutions, has announced the successful completion of its proof of concept (POC) for the AI-driven platform for de novo design of novel bioinsecticide proteins. This groundbreaking advancement marks a significant step forward in the quest for innovative, environmentally friendly pest control solutions. The POC included the design of new proteins, successfully validated in insect bioassays, demonstrating their efficacy against key agricultural pests. By leveraging cutting-edge AI technology and proprietary biological data and IP, IBI Ag has developed a novel approach to computationally design bioinsecticide proteins that selectively and effectively target pests while aiming to minimize the impact on beneficial insects and the environment. This innovative methodology represents a paradigm shift in the development of bioinsecticides, offering a faster and more efficient path to market. The de novo design opens up many new markets by targeting insect challenges that were previously unattainable with naturally occurring proteins, while also optimizing commercial aspects such as lower production costs, longer shelf life, stability, and resiliency. "Completing this proof of concept is a major milestone for IBI Ag," said Arnon Heyman, CEO of IBI Ag. "To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever de novo protein design platform for bioinsecticides. It is designed to leverage the company's proprietary IP for targets in insect control. This allows us to discover and validate new proteins based on vast amounts of data which we believe is a game-changer in the industry. This advancement not only demonstrates our commitment to sustainability but also supports farmers in achieving higher yields without compromising the health of ecosystems." The successful discovery and validation of these new bioinsecticide proteins pave the way for significant expansion of IBI Ag's development pipeline, with plans for greenhouse and field trials in the coming growing seasons. IBI Ag is dedicated to collaborating with agricultural partners and stakeholders to bring these innovative solutions to farmers worldwide. IBI Ag is a pioneer in the agri-biotech industry, developing innovative and sustainable crop protection solutions. The company's proprietary nanobody technology provides a new mode of action for controlling a broad range of insect pests with minimal ecological footprint ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3608/taiwan-researchers-create-water-efficient-rice-varieties-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3608/taiwan-researchers-create-water-efficient-rice-varieties-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:27:40 +0530 Taoyuan District Agricultural and Extension Station's Chalky rice grains have cloudy patches in their heart or belly, making them look less translucent than regular grains and tend to taste more floury and less chewy. The Taoyuan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station said it has developed three new rice cultivars that need less water and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions thanks to their tolerance of pests, diseases and extreme weather. Climate change over the years has led to extreme weather events such as droughts, high temperatures and uneven rainfall patterns, the station said on Tuesday last week. High temperatures could cause more chalky rice grains in rice production, while water shortages often cause insufficient irrigation to fields and disrupted tillage in spring, it said. Chalky rice grains have cloudy patches in their heart or belly, making them look less translucent than regular grains and tend to taste more floury and less chewy. Volatile weather in the past few years has also led to increased cases of rice blast — a disease that can infect almost all parts of rice plants above the ground and is often caused by excessive moisture, the station said. To stabilize rice production and ensure the quality, the station has cultivated new rice varieties that are more tolerant of diseases and droughts, with three important cultivars developed over the past few years, including “Taoyuan No. 5” in 2019, “Taoyuan No. 6” in 2021, and “Taoyuan No. 7” in 2023. Taoyuan No. 5 has high heat resistance and a chalky grain rate of less than 10 percent, the station said. It can be harvested up to 10 days earlier than other late-maturing varieties, and its seedlings can be planted as late as April without its production and quality being affected, it said. Taoyuan No. 5 helps ease the competition for irrigation water in February and March, the station said, adding that it helped save about 3,000m3 of irrigation water per hectare in spring. Taoyuan No. 6 has good resistance to pests and diseases, and was developed to promote eco-friendly farming, it said. It does not require any pesticides during its growing period and requires only 80 percent of the nitrogen fertilizer application rates recommended for rice grown in northern Taiwan, helping to reduce about 1 tonne of carbon dioxide per hectare, the station said. Taoyuan No. 7 was developed based on “Taoyuan No. 3” — a variety that won many local rice competitions for its excellent quality, but became prone to rice blast diseases due to climate change, it said. The station said that by inserting rice blast-resistant gene fragments into Taoyuan No. 3, it successfully developed Taoyuan No. 7, which is highly resistant to rice blast even without fungicides being applied against the disease. Taoyuan No. 7 almost doubled the production of Taoyuan No. 3 on average and saved NT$5,000 to NT$15,000 in labor costs and pesticide use, it said. Its reduced fungicide use not only reduced pollution, but also helped prevent development of pathogens’ antimicrobial resistance, it said. As of last year, a total of more than 50 hectares of farmland in water-stressed areas were planted with Taoyuan No. 5, while more than 100 hectares of farmland in Hsinchu County’s Hukou Township (湖口) were planted with Taoyuan No. 6, the station said. Taoyuan No. 7 has also been cultivated in many rice fields across northern Taiwan, with a total planting area of up to 100 hectares, it said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3593/syngenta-introduces-botanical-based-biofungicide-to-the-americas.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3593/syngenta-introduces-botanical-based-biofungicide-to-the-americas.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:20:28 +0530 The sustainable technology behind Quillibrium® delivers consistent, high‑quality extracts without the need to harvest protected trees, thus preserving biodiversity while ensuring a reliable supply. Syngenta and Botanical Solution Inc. (BSI) have expanded their exclusive agreement to bring Quillibrium®, a botanical‑based biofungicide derived from Quillaja saponaria using BSI’s proprietary plant tissue culture platform, to more growers across the Americas, starting with Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Innovation often begins by observing nature and drawing inspiration from it, a wisdom deeply rooted in the ancient Mapuche culture of Chile. Known and used for centuries, the Mapuche have traditionally utilized the bark's high saponin content of Quillaja saponaria for cleansing and medicinal purposes, and this ever-green tree is helping farmers protect their crops. Since 2021, Syngenta and BSI have worked together with growers in Peru and Chile to protect grapes, tomatoes, berries, cherries, and other crops from diseases such as Botrytis, Sour Rot, Powdery Mildew, and Alternaria alternata with remarkable results in terms of higher yields and better quality. The sustainable technology behind Quillibrium® delivers consistent, high‑quality extracts without the need to harvest protected trees, thus preserving biodiversity while ensuring a reliable supply. Under the expanded agreement, Syngenta will distribute Quillibrium® (currently marketed as BotriStop® in Chile) for crop protection, turf & ornamentals, and post‑harvest applications in Mexico, Canada and the US, enhancing farmers’ access to a biocontrol solution that supports sustainable production. “After years of development and successful commercialization in Chile and Peru, we’re thrilled to bring Quillibrium® to new key markets expanding Syngenta’s integrated disease control portfolio,” says Syngenta’s Global Head Seedcare and Biologicals, Emilhano Lima. “By fostering collaboration with innovators like BSI, we are enabling farmers in the Americas to build effective pest management programs that combine biologicals and conventional solutions.” Gaston Salinas, CEO of Botanical Solution Inc., says: “Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a strategic approach that enables farmers to maximize yield and quality while managing pests effectively. Quillibrium® is a natural way to safeguard fruits and vegetables from multiple pathogens, easing farmers’ adoption of comprehensive crop protection strategies. We’re excited to be Syngenta’s partner of choice to make botanical-based products like Quillibrium® available to more growers across the Americas.” With the biologicals market projected to exceed 20 billion USD by 2030, Syngenta has made another move to strengthen its leadership in breakthrough innovations where nature‑inspired solutions deliver both profitability and resilience. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3592/biomerieux-launches-smartbiome-to-help-food-manufacturers-analyze-spoilage-and-maintain-product-quality.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3592/biomerieux-launches-smartbiome-to-help-food-manufacturers-analyze-spoilage-and-maintain-product-quality.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:35:23 +0530 Provides actionable insights to protect product quality, reduce waste and better preserve consumer safety bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, announces the launch of SMARTBIOME™, an innovative solution designed to help food manufacturers better understand, control and prevent microbiological spoilage. By combining high‑precision DNA sequencing, advanced bioinformatics and bioMérieux's microbiology expertise, SMARTBIOME™ provides actionable insights to protect product quality, reduce waste and better preserve consumer safety. Every year, microbial spoilage contributes significantly to food waste and quality losses across the global food industry. Scientific estimates indicate that 15–20% of food is wasted after production, and part of the waste is due to spoilage, with microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, aerobic and anaerobic spore‑formers, and fungi playing a major role in both fresh and processed foods and beverages. For food manufacturers, these challenges lead to substantial economic losses, reputational risks and operational disruption. Identifying the microorganisms responsible for spoilage, understanding their origin and preventing recurrence remain complex and time‑consuming tasks. SMARTBIOME™ addresses these challenges through an advanced, accessible platform for in-depth spoilage investigation. The solution combines high‑resolution DNA sequencing with powerful bioinformatics and data science, an exclusive spoilage knowledge base, and bioMérieux's expert consulting services. Together, these capabilities transform complex microbiological data into clear, actionable insights. Spot spoilage, act confidently and prevent contamination The solution enables food manufacturers to accurately identify spoilage organisms at every stage of production, trace issues back to their root cause using data‑driven insights and strengthen process controls. By monitoring microbiological trends over time, manufacturers can anticipate risks and proactively adjust their processes to prevent future spoilage events before they escalate.  "With SMARTBIOME™, we are giving food manufacturers the ability to understand and control spoilage like never before," declared Alejo Migones, Senior Vice President, Food Safety & Quality. "By combining our microbiology expertise with powerful data science, we continue to enhance our Augmented Diagnostics approach by helping our customers run healthy and sustainable operations."  This innovative solution has been developed in close collaboration with the teams of Neoprospecta, a Brazil‑based genomics and data science company acquired by bioMérieux in January 2025. The teams jointly work in establishing an international reference in technologies and solutions for microorganism analysis, identification and control. SMARTBIOME™ is already available for food manufacturers in several regions worldwide, including North America, Latin America and Europe. "Through the development of sequencing and data‑driven microbiology solutions, we move beyond isolated test results to deliver meaningful, actionable insights. This allows us to support food manufacturers more effectively, helping them improve processes and making bioMérieux a true long‑term partner in their microbiological risk management and quality programs. Ultimately, these advances also contribute to delivering safer products to consumers," added Yasha Mitrotti, Executive Vice President, Industrial Applications, bioMérieux. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3571/syngenta-canada-introduces-equento-cereals-the-first-seed-treatment-to-offer-both-contact-and-systemic-activity-on-wireworms.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3571/syngenta-canada-introduces-equento-cereals-the-first-seed-treatment-to-offer-both-contact-and-systemic-activity-on-wireworms.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:37:08 +0530 Includes two insecticides: PLINAZOLIN® technology – a breakthrough active ingredient with novel Group 30 mode of action, paired with Group 4 thiamethoxam.  Syngenta Canada Inc. unveils Equento® Cereals seed treatment, a first-of-its-kind mortality solution with both contact and systemic activity on wireworms in addition to four fungicides to control a broad range of seed- and soil-borne diseases in western Canadian cereal crops.  At the heart of Equento Cereals is PLINAZOLIN® technology, a novel active ingredient developed by Syngenta with a unique Group 30 mode of action to control wireworms.   “Equento Cereals seed treatment gives growers in Western Canada facing significant wireworm pressure a reliable tool to control populations this season and reduce wireworm populations in the following season,” says Justin Bouvier, product lead for Seedcare with Syngenta Canada. “Equento Cereals protects seeds and young plants from wireworm feeding, known to lower plant health and crop yield.”  The contact activity in Equento Cereals stops wireworm feeding quickly, and the systemic activity helps break the wireworms’ lifecycle, reducing overall population.   According to Shad Milligan, western technical lead for Seedcare with Syngenta Canada, Equento® Cereals delivers the same comprehensive level of disease protection cereal growers have come to expect from Cruiser® Vibrance® Quattro seed treatment paired with a novel mode of action to control wireworms.”  “With Equento Cereals, farmers can expect even crop emergence and uniform stand establishment, helping mitigate future weed-management challenges caused by wireworm damage,” adds Milligan.    Equento Cereals has six proven active ingredients: Group 30 insecticide PLINAZOLIN® technology, Group 4 insecticide thiamethoxam, Group 3 fungicide difenoconazole, Group 7 fungicide sedaxane, Group 4 fungicide metalaxyl-M (& S-isomer), and Group 12 fungicide fludioxonil, which together have the benefits of Vigor Trigger™ and Rooting Power® to help get crops off to a vigorous, strong-standing start.   Equento Cereals will be available in Western Canada for the 2026 growing season and sold in a case containing 10 L Cruiser® Vibrance® Quattro and 2.3 L Equento with PLINAZOLIN® technology, or in bulk containing 115 L tote of Cruiser Vibrance Quattro and 26 L tote of Equento with PLINAZOLIN® technology.  Investing in new technology in Canada   The registration of Equento® Cereals – the first product containing PLINAZOLIN® technology approved for use in Canada – marks an exciting milestone for both Syngenta and Canadian farmers, adds Bouvier.   "This is a proud moment for Syngenta Canada," says Scott Ewert, Head of Seedcare for Syngenta Canada. "Bringing PLINAZOLIN® technology to Canada reflects our commitment to investing in breakthrough innovations that keep farmers competitive, productive, and profitable. Our customers entrust us to advance tools and technology that will keep them competitive in a global market.”  The launch of Equento Cereals underscores our commitment to delivering solutions that address real-world challenges, he adds.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3562/concerto-biosciences-partners-with-sacco-system-to-develop-functional-microbial-ingredients.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3562/concerto-biosciences-partners-with-sacco-system-to-develop-functional-microbial-ingredients.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:46:01 +0530 To advance next-generation microbial ingredient discovery in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and agro-veterinary industries Concerto Biosciences®, the microbial ecology company, announced that it has signed a development and commercialization agreement with Sacco System, a global biotechnology company specializing in the research, development and production of natural and innovative biotechnological solutions for the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and agro-veterinary industries, to advance next-generation microbial ingredient discovery. The companies aim to develop novel ingredients composed of synergistically interacting microbes with desirable functional properties. Sacco System contributes its heritage library of food-grade cultures and expertise in applied food microbiology. Concerto will apply its intelligence platform to Sacco's library, using its kChip technology to empirically construct and measure millions of cocultures and its AI model kAI to learn from those results. "Our microbial collection represents decades of investment in food microbiology and captures the extensive biodiversity found across diverse food ecosystems worldwide. Each microorganism has been thoroughly characterized at phenotypic and genotypic levels; however, a substantial portion of their functional potential arises from microbial interactions within structured and dynamic communities," said Fabio Dal Bello, Scientific Director at Sacco. "Concerto enables us to systematically study these interactions, unlocking innovative solutions for the food industry. Our goal is to identify optimal strain synergies – where 1 + 1 truly equals 3. We strongly believe that kChip technology is the perfect match for our needs, and we are eager to discover which combinations of our microorganisms are best suited to advancing sustainable food production, delivering value to both manufacturers and consumers," added Federica Volontè, R&D Biology Manager at Sacco. Concerto's platform offers a scalable, repeatable model for product innovation, with capabilities spanning food science and nutrition, skin health, women's health, and beyond. "This collaboration will set a new standard for microbe-based product innovation," said Cheri Ackerman, CEO and Cofounder of Concerto. "Our platform is designed to generate massive datasets that provide empirical insight into how microbes function together. Partners like Sacco contribute deep domain expertise and commercial muscle. That combination is how Concerto is advancing microbial ingredient discovery and scaling our platform across industries." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3514/vietnam-promotes-biopesticides-for-green-farming.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3514/vietnam-promotes-biopesticides-for-green-farming.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:35:05 +0530 Biological plant protection products emerging to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, support integrated pest management (IPM), and advance ecological and organic farming. Vietnam’s agriculture is stepping up its transition towards a greener, safer and more sustainable development model, aligned with efforts to ensure food safety and public health, limit adverse impacts on the environment and agro-ecosystems, and enhance the value and competitiveness of agricultural products at home and abroad. Against this backdrop, biological plant protection products have emerged as an important solution to gradually reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, support integrated pest management (IPM), and advance ecological and organic farming. Their development and application are increasingly seen not only as an inevitable trend, but also as a practical requirement for more effective state management in the field of plant protection. So said Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, at an international conference on the management and registration of biological plant protection products in Hanoi on January 8. He said the number of biopesticides being researched, registered and approved for use in Vietnam continues to grow. The ministry recently issued Circular No. 75/2025/TT-BNNMT on the lists of plant protection products permitted and banned for use in Vietnam, under which biological active ingredients account for 37.29% of the permitted list. Tan Siang Hee, Executive Director of CropLife Asia, stressed that plant protection solutions remain vital to safeguarding crop yields and farmers’ livelihoods, especially amid climate change and rising pest pressures. While chemical pesticides still play an important role, biological products are becoming an increasingly indispensable part of farmers’ toolkits, offering more flexible, eco-friendly and sustainable options. He added that the objective is not to replace existing solutions entirely, but to establish a modern, science-based management system in which chemical and biological products complement one another. In this regard, harmonising regulatory principles across ASEAN is viewed as crucial to ensuring safety and transparency, reducing technical barriers and promoting innovation, thereby expanding farmers’ access to safe and effective pest management tools. During the conference, participants exchanged in-depth views on the registration and management of biological plant protection products across ASEAN, as well as experiences from economies with advanced regulatory frameworks such as the EU, the US, Brazil, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Discussions centred on product classification, registration data requirements, field trials, quality management, residue control and biological risk assessment. Notably, a dedicated session on Vietnam enabled policymakers and regulators to receive targeted policy recommendations and practical lessons, providing important reference inputs for reviewing and refining the legal framework in the time ahead. This was seen as a concrete step towards implementing the project on developing the production and use of biological plant protection products by 2030, with a vision to 2050, and advancing the Government’s priority of safe, modern and sustainable agricultural development. Earlier, on January 6–7, the ASEAN Biological Efficacy Task Force (ABETF) and CropLife Asia, in coordination with the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, held a series of events to launch the ASEAN biopesticides regulatory framework project./. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3512/thailands-indovinya-unlocks-smart-formulation-to-unleash-full-potential-of-biopesticides-in-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3512/thailands-indovinya-unlocks-smart-formulation-to-unleash-full-potential-of-biopesticides-in-agriculture.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:01:07 +0530 Indovinya launches solutions to address challenges of applying biologically based products amid rising demand for sustainable crop protection The use of biopesticides has been steadily gaining ground as an alternative to conventional agrochemicals. However, the adoption of biological inputs still presents technical and application barriers. With this in mind, Indovinya, the specialty chemicals and surfactants division of Indorama Ventures, introduces SURFOM® ETHOS — a product line designed to meet the unique demands of biologically based formulations, focusing on optimized performance, from the lab to the field. The portfolio consists of customizable components such as surfactants, thickeners, antifreeze agents, and polymers. These ingredients enhance the physical properties of agricultural formulations, delivering improved stability, efficacy, and usability. The versatility of the SURFOM® ETHOS portfolio empowers formulators to fine-tune formulation performance across diverse application needs, with focus on  stability, efficacy, and biological integrity. Biopesticides are developed from living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, or from natural products of plant or microbiological origin. They help reduce or limit pest populations. "These formulas leverage beneficial microorganisms to support plant health and resilience, offering a more sustainable path forward. As the demand for smarter, natural crop protection increases — and with stricter regulations on synthetic pesticide use — biologicals adoption is accelerating" explains Priscila Catelani, Marketing and R&D Director for Crop Solutions at Indovinya. Performance to Meet Market Growth and Challenges According to a study by CropLife Brazil, the global value of the bioinput market could reach $45 billion within the next eight years. If confirmed, this represents an annual growth rate of 13% to 14% from this year through 2032. Despite rapid expansion, formulating biopesticides remains more challenging than working with synthetic pesticides. Issues such as high production costs, limited storage stability, and vulnerability to environmental conditions are among the main obstacles. The science of formulation plays a decisive role in overcoming these barriers, ensuring compatibility and enhancing field performance without compromising biological integrity. SURFOM® ETHOS was developed to serve as a customized formulation toolbox for every formulator — integrating chemistry, biology, and field experience to meet the evolving needs of agrochemical and drive consistent, robust results. This approach reflects a commitment to purpose-driven chemistry, with solutions co-created alongside customers to address both laboratory and field challenges. "By combining extensive knowledge in formulation science, microbiology, and real-world agricultural applications, this platform delivers high-performance, sustainable technologies and innovative tools" adds Priscila Catelani. As a trusted supplier to the agribusiness sector, Indovinya brings together a team of experts and a robust Research & Development infrastructure to collaborate closely with customers and partners. Together, we co-develop tailored solutions based on specific active ingredients and application methods. Our R&D capabilities include a dedicated biological laboratory and advanced application equipment — such as a Spray Chamber, designed to simulate real-world field conditions and assess application features with precision and relevance to actual field performance. Connecting Innovation with the Global Biocontrol Community Indovinya will be present at ABIM 2025, the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting, taking place from October 20 to 22 at the Congress Center Basel, Switzerland. At booth 188, the company will showcase SURFOM® ETHOS and other innovations designed to support the growing demand for sustainable crop protection. The team will be available to discuss customized formulation strategies and connect with industry professionals seeking high-performance biological solutions. Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, listed in Thailand, is one of the world's largest petrochemical producers, with a global presence spanning Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Its portfolio covers combined PET, Indovinya, Indovida, and fibers. Indorama Ventures' products serve key sectors including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), agriculture, lifestyle, and automotive — encompassing beverages, hygiene, personal care, tires, and safety. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3515/koreas-tissenbiofarm-achieves-milestone-in-cultivated-meat-cell-density-2.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3515/koreas-tissenbiofarm-achieves-milestone-in-cultivated-meat-cell-density-2.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:44:13 +0530 Replicating the structural and cellular complexity of traditional animal tissue In a landmark achievement for the cultivated meat industry, South Korean company TissenBioFarm has announced the development of cultivated meat with cell density levels that match and, in some cases, surpass those of conventional meat. This milestone, achieved through innovative tissue engineering methods, addresses one of the most persistent technical challenges in the sector—replicating the structural and cellular complexity of traditional animal tissue. Cell density has long been a critical metric in the quest to create cultivated meat that can truly rival conventional cuts. Many products under development have struggled to achieve the cellular and structural characteristics of traditional meat, which are essential for texture, taste, and consumer acceptance. TissenBioFarm’s breakthrough not only meets this challenge but also sets a new benchmark for the industry. A New Approach to Cultivated Meat: TissenBioFarm’s success stems from its unique approach to cultivated meat production. Rather than focusing on the accumulation of individual cells, the company has treated cultivated meat as a form of engineered tissue. This perspective aligns with the biological reality of meat, which is not merely a collection of cells but a structured tissue composed of interconnected cells. “Biologically, meat is not a simple aggregation of cells, but a form of tissue. The same principle applies to cultivated meat, which is also meat built from cells,” the company explained in a statement. This tissue-focused methodology has allowed TissenBioFarm to overcome limitations that have hindered other cultivated meat projects, which often rely on cell-centric approaches. The company’s cultivated meat has now achieved cell densities comparable to beef cuts such as ribeye. In some cases, the cultivated meat contains more than twice the number of cells found in the same volume of conventional meat. These results were made possible by carefully controlling initial cell density conditions during the cultivation process, demonstrating the practical application of TissenBioFarm’s innovative techniques. Implications for the Industry: This achievement has far-reaching implications for the cultivated meat industry. Higher cell density not only improves the structural integrity of the product but also enhances its potential for better texture, nutritional content, and reduced reliance on scaffolding materials. These factors are critical for creating cultivated meat products that can compete with conventional meat in terms of both quality and cost. TissenBioFarm has suggested that this development could shift the way cultivated meat is evaluated. While cell count has traditionally been a key metric, the company argues that future discussions should also consider the functional and commercial benefits of higher cell density. These include improved sensory properties, such as juiciness and tenderness, as well as the potential for more efficient production processes. The company’s focus on tissue engineering as the foundation of its platform represents a departure from the methodologies employed by many of its peers. This approach underscores the importance of viewing cultivated meat not as a substitute for conventional meat but as a product that must be engineered with the same complexity and functionality as its traditional counterpart. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3506/seqwell-launches-agriprep-library-prep-kit-for-low-coverage-whole-genome-sequencing.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3506/seqwell-launches-agriprep-library-prep-kit-for-low-coverage-whole-genome-sequencing.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:03:17 +0530 One-step library prep workflow designed to address the scalability, performance, and affordability needs of applied Agrigenomics seqWell, a global provider of genomic library and multiplexing workflow solutions, announced the launch of AgriPrep™ Library Prep Kit, the newest addition to its next-generation TnX™ transposase product portfolio. AgriPrep is designed to facilitate adoption of low-pass whole genome sequencing (LP-WGS) & SKIM-sequencing approaches that provide genome-wide insights at a fraction of the cost of WGS. “We have been trialing the seqWell AgriPrep method in our NGS service lab for low-pass whole genome sequencing and have been impressed by the workflow simplicity and the resulting cost-savings." Joris Parmentier, Assoc. Portfolio Dir. NGS at LGC Biosearch AgriPrep is a tagmentation-based library preparation technology powered by seqWell’s one-step ExpressPlex workflow, a simple 100-minute workflow requiring only 30 minutes of hands-on time. Availability of up to 3072 built-in indexes, protocol simplicity, and the ease of automation enable the ultra-high throughput scalability required for agrigenomic applications such as parentage analysis, genomic selection, trait mapping, and variant discovery. Joris Parmentier, Associate Portfolio Director NGS at LGC Biosearch Technologies, commented, “We have been trialing the seqWell AgriPrep method in our NGS service lab for low-pass whole genome sequencing and have been impressed by the workflow simplicity and the resulting cost-savings. The method shows promise for high throughput workflows in combination with the appropriate automation, and up- and downstream technology compatibility." “The rapid adoption of AgriPrep by small and large service providers and Agricultural Biotechnology companies pays tribute to the scope of the previously unmet need for affordable and scalable library prep within agrigenomics,” said Jack Leonard, co-founder and CTO at seqWell. “We believe relieving the NGS library prep bottleneck will have far reaching impacts on the conversion from microarrays to low-pass WGS bringing with it a wealth of actionable insights for more informed breeding and cultivation decision making.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3499/abacusbio-deepen-strategic-partnership-with-bayer-to-pioneer-the-future-of-predictive-plant-breeding.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3499/abacusbio-deepen-strategic-partnership-with-bayer-to-pioneer-the-future-of-predictive-plant-breeding.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 04:06:31 +0530 Shared vision to harness data science, economic modelling, and grower-centric insights for sustainable agricultural progress AbacusBio is proud to announce the extension of their multi-year collaboration with Bayer to 2030, marking a significant leap forward in predictive plant breeding and agricultural innovation. Building on the momentum of their successful partnership, which began in 2020, the two companies are expanding and evolving their joint efforts to deliver transformative solutions for growers, markets, and consumers worldwide. Since the inception of the collaboration, AbacusBio and Bayer have worked together to integrate prioritisation and valuation of crop attributes to advance Bayer’s product development pipeline. The partnership has now matured into a robust, future-focused alliance, with a shared vision to harness data science, economic modelling, and grower-centric insights for sustainable agricultural progress. Driving Sustainable and Inclusive Innovation Aligned with Bayer’s strategic commitment to sustainable farming and support for farm operations of all sizes, the collaboration is deepening its focus on genetic gain, environmental resilience, and the integration of grower preferences. By leveraging AbacusBio’s expertise and Bayer’s global reach, the partnership is poised to deliver forward focused products that balance production, quality, and sustainability, benefiting farmers and consumers alike. Most recently the companies brought together cross-functional teams to align on strategy, review project outcomes, and chart the course for the next wave of innovation. “What excites me most about the evolution of our work is how we’ve moved to tackle truly strategic challenges,” said Dr. Tim Byrne of AbacusBio. “Together, we’re developing new tools, integrating new data sources, and focusing on high-impact projects that require creativity and forward thinking.” This allows both companies to shape the future of predictive breeding to improve yields and harvest quality, helping to drive productivity and support environmental resilience as well as long-term viability for farmers around the world. “Extending our collaboration is a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in plant breeding,” Dr. JD Rossouw, R&D Breeding Lead at Bayer’s Crop Science division, added. “Key for us is to identify and prioritise the traits that deliver the greatest value and impact to drive smarter breeding decisions ultimately benefiting growers and consumers.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3496/korea-researchers-discover-a-molecular-switch-protecting-crops-from-freezing-cold.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3496/korea-researchers-discover-a-molecular-switch-protecting-crops-from-freezing-cold.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 03:30:04 +0530 Chonnam National University scientists new findings uncover a rapid molecular switch that rewires plant growth under cold stress, opening pathways to climate-resilient crops A research team from Korea have uncovered how plants rapidly activate a hidden genetic "switch" helping them survive in cold environments. They demonstrate that low temperatures induce a rewiring of a hormone signaling pathway, triggering the breakdown of auxin/indole acetic acid repressors, releasing ARF7 and ARF19 to activate the master gene CRF3, helping plants survive the cold. This offers a new path to breeding crops that remain productive even under unpredictable climate conditions. The onset of sudden cold spells can threaten plant survival, especially during early growth phases. But how do plants detect low temperatures fast enough to initiate life-saving changes? Researchers at Chonnam National University have identified a hidden molecular "off-switch" that quickly reprograms root development to withstand the adverse cold conditions. The study was led by Professor Jungmook Kim, Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology at Chonnam National University, working with researchers Uyen Thu Nguyen, Na Young Kang, and Dr. Dong Wook Lee, also from CNU. A new study from Chonnam National University reveals how cold stress rapidly degrades auxin/indole acetic acid proteins, releasing ARF7/19 to activate CRF genes and remodel plant roots for improved survival in adverse cold conditions. The team discovered that cold stress triggers the rapid degradation of auxin/indole acetic acid (Aux/IAA) proteins, which normally suppress growth-related gene activation. Once these repressors break down, key regulators ARF7 and ARF19 are released, enabling them to activate cytokinin response factor 3 (CRF3), a master regulator that reshapes root architecture to cope with cold conditions. "Cold stress doesn't simply slow plant growth—it actively rewires hormone signaling to adapt root development," says Prof. Kim. The study also reveals that cold conditions activate cytokinin signaling to induce CRF2, which works together with CRF3. The two genes act as integrators, combining environmental cues with internal hormone signals to fine-tune lateral root initiation under stress. This also established that auxin and cytokinin pathways converge at CRFs, forming a unified cold-response module. "Plants survive because they integrate external stress with internal developmental programs," Prof. Kim added. "We have identified one of the key switches enabling that integration." The findings highlight opportunities to protect crops from rising climate instability. By enhancing CRF2/CRF3 signaling or stabilizing ARF activity via targeted degradation of Aux/IAAs, scientists could develop crops that maintain stable root growth in cold soils. Such varieties would improve early-season growth establishment, increase nutrient uptake efficiency, and support sustainable agriculture with reduced fertilizer use. The study also highlights the potential for the development of synthetic molecules or biostimulants that could protect seedlings during unexpected spells of extreme cold. Over the next decade, this molecular pathway may help enable crop cultivation in harsher climates, and serve as a foundation for precision breeding and CRISPR-based engineering of climate-resilient crops. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3461/philippines-commemorates-world-soil-day-with-focus-on-healthy-soils-for-urban-sustainability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3461/philippines-commemorates-world-soil-day-with-focus-on-healthy-soils-for-urban-sustainability.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:14:22 +0530 Collaborates with the global community under the theme, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities Philippines Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), together with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), led the Philippine celebration of World Soil Day, joining the global community under the theme, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the need to place soil at the center of development, highlighting that stewardship of this vital resource is essential to the promise of a Bagong Pilipinas. “Let us nurture on agriculture that restores fertility instead of exhausting it, a form of growth that measures abundance through balance and foresight. Let every plan for housing, infrastructure, and enterprise begin with a reckoning of what the soil can bear, for no economy can flourish where the earth is tired,” he said. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., represented by Assistant Secretary U-Nichols Manalo, stressed that soil is not only the foundation of agriculture but also critical to the health and sustainability of urban environments. Let us remember that soil is a living system. It is the very ground that sustains life. Its protection is our duty for the health of our people and for the future of our nation. Together, let us continue to build healthy soils for healthy cities and a sustainable Philippines for generations to come." Globally, FAO Director General Qu Dongyu warned that soil sealing, pollution, and unplanned urban expansion threaten food production and ecosystem services. He added healthy soils are critical for agrifood systems transformation, for sustainable development, and for the four “betters”: better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life. FAO Representative in the Philippines Lionel Dabbadie reinforced the urgency of integrating soil health into city planning and climate policies, describing urban soils as “hidden infrastructures” that keep cities livable and resilient. He noted that healthy soils can help address persistent challenges such as flooding and heat stress, urging bold action to restore urban soils, invest in green infrastructure, integrate soil health into planning frameworks, and engage communities. DA-BSWM Director Gina Parde-Nilo, PhD. reported that the agency continues to strengthen soil protection and improvement through the National Soil Health Program, which expands soil analysis and diagnosis nationwide. “We made soil testing available and accessible through our Mobile Soils Laboratory (MSL), providing accurate solutions to soil health. While this is meant to reach the remotest of our farms, the MSL also reaches every city, delivering the message on the importance of soil health and how to care for our soils and restore its fertility,” she said. She further urged stakeholders to integrate agriculture into urban greening initiatives, embed sustainable land management into local government land use plans, and make science-based decisions for resilient agriculture and sustainable development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3451/eu-approves-provisional-agreement-on-new-genomic-techniques-for-plant-breeding.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3451/eu-approves-provisional-agreement-on-new-genomic-techniques-for-plant-breeding.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:37:12 +0530 Innovative new genomic techniques (NGTs) to enhance agricultural sustainability and competitiveness The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on new EU rules for plants obtained by using new genomic techniques (NGTs). The agreed measures will enable more innovative plant breeding in the EU, helping farmers to grow plants that are more resilient to climate change and making them more sustainable as producers will require less resources, fertilisers and pesticides to fight pests. This will allow breeders and farmers to be more competitive by levelling the international playing field with other producers. The new measures will significantly reduce the administrative burden too, while ensuring high safety standards for NGT plants and products. New genomic techniques are innovative tools that can boost our agricultural and bioeconomy sectors through enabling faster, more targeted and more precise changes to plant varieties than conventional breeding techniques. More improved plant varieties can be developed, such as those that are climate resilient, pest resistant, or provide higher yields. Once adopted and fully implemented, the measures agreed today will create two distinct pathways for NGT plants to be placed on the market: NGT plants that could also occur naturally or by conventional breeding (so-called 'category 1 NGT plants') will be subject to a verification procedure, based on set criteria. NGT plants that meet these criteria will be treated like conventional plants and exempted from the requirements of the genetically modified organisms (GMO) legislation; For all other NGT plants ('category 2 NGT plants'), the requirements of the current GMO legislation would apply. They will be subject to a risk assessment and authorisation procedure before they can be put on the market. They will have to be traceable and labelled as GMOs, with the possibility of a voluntary label to indicate the purpose of the genetic modification. The Commission will oversee transparency and licencing practices related to patents, and provide guidance where needed. It will also assess the impact of patents on breeders' access to genetic material and on farmers' access to plant varieties, with a view to proposing follow-up measures if necessary. Next steps The agreed Regulation must be formally adopted by the Council and the European Parliament. It will be published in the Official Journal in the course of 2026 and will start applying two years later. The implementation of the Regulation will be supported by a robust monitoring programme of economic, environmental and social impacts of NGT products that will focus, inter alia, on aspects of sustainability and safety. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3446/chinas-origin-agritechs-pioneering-hi3-gene-editing-technology-boosts-crop-yields-and-sustainability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3446/chinas-origin-agritechs-pioneering-hi3-gene-editing-technology-boosts-crop-yields-and-sustainability.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:17:26 +0530 Establishes the world's first efficient genetic transformation system for the maize induction line Hi3 Origin Agritech Ltd. , a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, announced that its pioneering corn haploid induction line Hi3 gene editing technology has been selected as one of the Top 10 Major Progresses in Chinese Agricultural Science for 2025 by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. This prestigious recognition underscores Origin's leadership in agricultural biotechnology and highlights the transformative potential of its research to drive commercial advances in crop yields and sustainability. The selection process, organized by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Agricultural Information Institute, aims to showcase China's original innovation capabilities in agricultural technology, propagate major scientific achievements, and accelerate high-level technological self-reliance in the sector. Guided by the principles of "frontier-leading, pioneering excellence, and major breakthroughs," the evaluation drew from 46,832 high-level papers published in 2024 by Chinese scholars as first or corresponding authors in Web of Science-indexed agricultural field journals. Through a rigorous process involving bibliometric preliminary selection, peer expert review, and academician selection, 10 groundbreaking progresses were identified. Origin's Hi3 technology, developed through its subsidiary Hainan Aoyu Biotech Limited in collaboration with Professor Tian Feng and his fellows at China Agricultural University, represents a landmark achievement in maize gene editing. As detailed in the Company's groundbreaking research article published in the prestigious journal Nature in June 2024, titled "Maize Smart Canopy Architecture Enhances Yield at High Densities," this innovation establishes the world's first efficient genetic transformation system for the maize induction line Hi3. The system enables rapid, fixed-point editing of major maize inbred lines across diverse genetic backgrounds, overcoming longstanding barriers in traditional breeding. By precisely enhancing traits such as leaf angle to optimize plant architecture, Hi3 can improve maize yield at high densities within a single year—saving 3-4 years compared to conventional backcrossing methods—without the interference of linked genes. This technology holds substantial commercial promise, with Origin actively advancing its commercialization. China is expediting the issuance of biosafety certificates for gene-edited crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat. The Company has already developed more than 10 improved maize gene-editing induction lines addressing critical traits, such as reducing upper leaf angles for better light utilization, enhancing drought and lodging resistance, extending growth periods, and stacking multiple composite traits, with the aim of initiating the commercialization of its gene-edited corn varieties in the coming years. Several of Origin's commercial corn hybrids have also been modified using this technique and have demonstrated significant yield increases in 2025 field demonstrations ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3445/biotalys-receives-regulatory-approval-by-u-s-epa-for-its-biofungicide-evoca.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3445/biotalys-receives-regulatory-approval-by-u-s-epa-for-its-biofungicide-evoca.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:12:36 +0530 U.S. Registration marks a significant milestone as the first protein-based Biofungicide of its kind to be approved by the EPA. Belgium based Biotalys announced that it has received regulatory approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its first biofungicide, EVOCA™*.   This product was developed using Biotalys’ AGROBODY™ technology platform and is the first protein-based biofungicide of its kind to be approved by the EPA. EVOCA is a precision biocontrol solution with a new mode of action** that targets the fungal pathogens botrytis (grey mold) and powdery mildew in high-value fruits and vegetables while minimising the risk to beneficial organisms or the environment. With this approval in hand, Biotalys can proceed with the dossiers for state registrations in California and Florida, two of the most important growing regions for fruit and vegetables in the United States***. In Europe, EVOCA has entered the peer review phase, and the Netherlands – as the rapporteur member state – has proposed approval in Europe, subject to the provision for certain additional data as requested during the peer review phase. Additionally, the company can move forward with building up the U.S. regulatory submission for EVOCA NG – its next-generation product – currently in the final phases of development. The regulatory review process for EVOCA NG is expected to be significantly shorter, as the product contains the same active ingredient as EVOCA and features enhanced formulation and production methods. Biotalys envisages obtaining registration of EVOCA NG in the U.S. in 2028-29 and in the EU and Brazil in 2029-30, and subsequently launching it commercially in these markets worth around USD 1.2 billion combined. “This approval marks a major regulatory milestone for EVOCA and moves us closer to delivering a new, sustainable tool for farmers to protect their crops,” said Kevin Helash, CEO of Biotalys. “The product has an entirely new mode of action to target fungal diseases, highlighting the uniqueness of Biotalys’ technology platform as a pathway to discovering many new modes of action in the coming years. The EPA’s decision reinforces the potential of our technology to help shape the future of agriculture and is a testament to the dedication of our entire team.” EVOCA is developed to provide growers with a novel solution that bridges the efficacy and scale of commonly used chemistries with the environmental advantages of biological solutions. End of October 2025, the EPA also posted a final rule exempting EVOCA’s active ingredient residues on treated crops from tolerance requirements. No maximum residue limits will apply given EVOCA’s exemplary safety profile. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3440/pi-agsciences-integrates-with-plant-health-care-to-strengthen-global-biologics-and-sustainable-crop-solutions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3440/pi-agsciences-integrates-with-plant-health-care-to-strengthen-global-biologics-and-sustainable-crop-solutions.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:09:27 +0530 PI AgSciences integrates biologics, crop protection, custom synthesis, and manufacturing to deliver innovative solutions for growers worldwide. PI Industries Ltd. (PI) has announced that Plant Health Care Plc (PHC) has rebranded as PI AgSciences, marking a significant step in strengthening its global presence in biologics and sustainable crop solutions. The transition follows PI's acquisition of PHC in August 2024, including its subsidiaries in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, and other markets. PI AgSciences, as the global agriculture business of PI Industries, will operate with a global office in St. Louis, Missouri, leveraging the region's agricultural innovation ecosystem. Regional operations will continue in Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Spain, with a biologics R&D center in Seattle, Washington. PI AgSciences integrates biologics, crop protection, custom synthesis, and manufacturing to deliver innovative solutions for growers worldwide. This integration aligns with PI's purpose of creating a healthier planet and builds on its over 25 years of experience in the biologics field. "We have made significant investments in our biotechnology platform and continue to see strong market traction. These solutions complement PI's differentiated portfolio, providing comprehensive crop solutions to farmers worldwide," said Mayank Singhal, Vice President and Managing Director of PI Industries Ltd. Jagresh Rana, CEO of PI AgSciences, added, "We are building a global agribusiness with the commercial reach and scientific depth to compete at scale. We deliver innovative solutions that create real value for growers." PI Industries, with over 80 years of history and approximately $1 billion in revenue, operates in over 40 countries with a team of 4,000 employees. The company is a leading player in the biologics field and has been recognized in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook for two consecutive years. The addition of PHC's biologics technology platform further accelerates PI's innovation process and strengthens its biologics portfolio. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3406/corteva-introduces-bioinsecticide-to-protect-apples-oranges-wheat-rice-corn-among-other-crops.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3406/corteva-introduces-bioinsecticide-to-protect-apples-oranges-wheat-rice-corn-among-other-crops.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:27:00 +0530 Goltrevo™ bioinsecticide, Varpelgo™ active: Nature-Inspired solutions to control insects, help farmers protect yield Globally, thousands of species of insects threaten crop yield by feeding on plants, transmitting diseases and damaging plant tissues, which leads to significant losses: an estimated 20%-40% for crops globally like wheat, corn and rice, at an estimated cost of $70 billion. Corteva announced two new crop protection solutions, one of natural origin and the other naturally inspired, to combat these destructive pests.  Goltrevo™ bioinsecticide is a broad-spectrum, microbial-based solution designed to combat some sap-feeding and chewing insects, including whiteflies, aphids and the devasting corn leafhopper, which spreads the bacterial pathogen responsible for corn stunt disease and can cause yield losses of up to 70%. Goltrevo is the first bioinsecticide in Corteva’s Biologicals portfolio. Varpelgo™ active is a next-generation insecticide developed by closely studying the structure and function of the naturally occurring Qalcova™ active, using nature as an inspiration to design a novel solution to control chewing pests in fruits and vegetables, row crops and rice. Robert King, executive vice president, crop protection for Corteva said “These new insect management solutions complement our existing portfolio of leading biological and insecticide products and will help farmers better manage costly insect damage while supporting our vision of providing more sustainable solutions, improving farmer productivity and strengthening global food security.” Goltrevo is a best-in-class formulation based on a novel strain of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana 203, originally isolated from palm weevil beetles. This novel bioinsecticide will target some sap-feeding insects, such as corn leafhoppers, whiteflies, aphids and stinkbugs, as well as chewing insects, including several species of root-feeding worms, beetles, and destructive caterpillars. With Goltrevo, growers can expect a longer shelf life and lower potential for the development of resistance, ensuring stability and usability across different farming practices and crops, including corn, soybean, sugarcane, pastures, fruits and vegetables. Commercial sales are expected to begin as early as 2027 in Latin America, pending applicable regulatory approvals. Varpelgo active provides highly effective control of chewing insects, including diamondback moths, armyworms, loopers, and several species of borers, beetles, weevils and thrips, in key crops such as soybeans, corn, rice, tree nuts, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables, across all global regions. It also offers a new seed applied technology solution to protect the seed and seedling from wireworm. With a favorable ecological profile and low use rates, Varpelgo will fit within farmers’ integrated pest management and insect resistance management programs, giving them a new rotational choice for chewing insect control. The first commercial sales are expected in Asia Pacific and Latin America in the early 2030s, pending completion of field trials and applicable regulatory reviews ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3390/willis-and-rare-partners-to-launch-innovative-insurance-solution-for-fishers-in-the-philippines.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3390/willis-and-rare-partners-to-launch-innovative-insurance-solution-for-fishers-in-the-philippines.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:47:58 +0530 The parametric insurance will protect livelihoods of 14,200 small-scale fishers, the first of its kind in the country The Government of the Philippines, through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), has partnered with global conservation organization Rare and Willis, a WTW business, to launch the country’s first parametric insurance solution for small-scale fishers.  This project has been developed through support from the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) with funding from the Government of Canada and the UK Government’s Blue Planet Fund. The partnership is aimed at protecting the livelihoods of 14,200 small-scale fishers, across 24 coastal municipalities in the Philippines through parametric insurance, designed to mitigate income losses resulting from adverse weather conditions that prevent safe fishing in nearshore waters. With changing weather patterns, protecting the livelihoods of small-scale fishers is a national priority for the Government of the Philippines; to expand livelihood protections, BFAR is piloting this coverage as a benefit to fisher registration.  BFAR will serve as the policyholder for the pilot, offering parametric insurance coverage to small-scale fishers as a benefit for fisher registration and commitment to sustainable fishing practices. It has allocated a portion of its budget to fund the premium costs for this pilot, demonstrating strong government support for innovative approaches to climate risk. The coverage will provide up to US$100 per policy cycle to help offset income loss from dangerous weather. “This is not just insurance, it is an investment in our fishers,” said Roy Ortega of BFAR, who also leads the Technical Working Group on Parametric Insurance. “We’re protecting those who protect our seas.” Dr Christopher Au, Head of APAC Climate Risk Centre, at Willis, said: “With over 1.9 million registered small-scale fishers relying on the nearshore for their livelihoods, the impacts of climate change, such as high winds, rough seas and heavy rainfall, pose increasing risks to their safety and income. The new insurance solution, the first of its kind in the Philippines, uses a weather index based on wind speed, sea state and rainfall to determine payout eligibility, ensuring timely and direct compensation to fishers when fishing days are lost.” The parametric risk transfer capacity is provided by The Natural Disaster Fund, a public-private partnership between the UK and German Governments and supported by Hannover Re and managed by the team from Global Parametrics Limited (a subsidiary of CelsiusPro Group specializing in parametric protection against climate and natural disaster risks). Designed to be affordable and scalable, it will offer timely and predictable financial support to fishers when weather conditions are unfavorable. The solution utilizes a parametric index that is calculated over five-day periods and compared against historical data to determine the ‘severity’ of the weather relative to expected conditions. Insurance coverage will be provided to fishers who formally register and commit to sustainable fishing practices. “Bad weather can cause serious hardship for fishing households throughout the tropics. This pilot takes a proven product - parametric insurance - and applies it to a new context, insuring people rather than assets. The result will be less financial pressure on households, less fishing pressure on ecosystems, and more resilient coastal communities,” said Brett Jenks, CEO of Rare. “As climate change intensifies and weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable, small-scale fishers face mounting risks to their safety and livelihoods," said Chip Cunliffe, Senior Director of Innovation and Pipeline Development at ORRAA. "This partnership represents a vital step in building market-ready solutions that deliver innovative financial solutions like parametric insurance to help protect income and build the resilience of climate vulnerable coastal communities in the Philippines." “This is an important first for PCIC as we explore revenue-based parametric insurance for fishers,” said Israel Q. De La Cruz, Department Manager at PCIC, who is directly involved in the pilot. “We see this as a complement to our existing coverage, offering a faster, data-triggered option that can respond when fishers are unable to go to sea. If the pilot proves successful, we are hopeful it can evolve into a nationally scalable tool for protecting coastal livelihoods.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3389/from-farm-to-clinic-redefining-the-global-shared-fight-against-antimicrobial-resistance.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3389/from-farm-to-clinic-redefining-the-global-shared-fight-against-antimicrobial-resistance.html Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:38:19 +0530 Cyndy Galimpin, Head of Animal Health, ROPU ASKAN (ASEAN, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines), Boehringer Ingelheim Across the Asia Pacific, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health challenge with far-reaching implications for both human and animal health. In 2019, AMR was linked to 1.27 million deaths worldwide, more than HIV or malaria. When microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi learn to resist the medicines designed to kill them, infections become harder—or even impossible—to treat. This isn’t just a medical problem. It’s a human, animal, and environmental challenge.  One Health: The Connection We Can’t Ignore Health experts widely agree that human, animal, and environmental health are closely connected—a concept known as “One Health.” In AMR, this link is clear: Changes in any one of these areas can influence the others. Addressing AMR requires tackling its main drivers: the rapid evolution of pathogens, often accelerated by antimicrobial use in both humans and animals, and the limited pace of innovation in developing new treatments. In animal health, for instance, the overuse or misuse of antibiotics in livestock can lead to resistant bacteria that affects people, animals, and ecosystems.  Preserving the effectiveness of today’s medicines depends on responsible use of antimicrobials in both veterinary and human medicine, alongside faster innovation in new treatments. How Livestock Practices Affect Human Health For decades, antimicrobials have been used in livestock to treat and prevent disease. While this supports animal health and food production, widespread use can create conditions where resistant bacteria thrive. These bacteria can reach humans through direct contact with animals, environmental contamination of soil and water, or via the food chain. When resistant bacteria from an animal source colonize a human, they can cause infections that are harder to treat with existing antibiotics. This makes animal agriculture an important area of focus in the global effort to curb AMR. The solution is not to compromise animal welfare or food security. It is to move from largely untargeted antibiotic treatment to proactive immunization through vaccination, guided by the One Health approach. Innovation on the Frontline Prevention via vaccination is the first line of defense. By focusing on prediction, prevention, detection, and targeted treatment, we can help preserve the effectiveness of critical antibiotics, protect public health, and sustain food systems for the future. Innovation in animal health can help reduce antibiotic use and protect human medicine. Advanced Vaccines: Vaccination of animals is one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases, improve animal welfare, and reduce the need for antimicrobial treatments. For example, oral live vaccines prevent enteric infections in pigs that would otherwise require antibiotic intervention. Reinforcing Biosecurity Measures: Robust biosecurity is essential for preventing disease before it occurs and is the most effective when complemented with vaccine use. This includes physical controls such as secure fencing and controlled entry, procedural measures like visitor logs, good farm hygiene, and pest management. Education and training for livestock owners and workers enhance these practices. Smarter Technological Intervention: Early detection means targeted treatment intervention, often avoiding the need for broad-spectrum antibiotics. Diagnostic tools and digital technologies help farmers to monitor their herds for early signs of illness and help avoid unnecessary antibiotic use. Cross-Sector Collaboration is key No single sector can solve AMR alone. It will require bold and coordinated action from governments, industry, academia, healthcare providers, veterinarians, and civil society to implement policies that create effective markets for innovation. These policies must reward research, ensure access, and promote responsible use. Pull incentives, such as those under discussion in the US, EU, and UK, are critical to make new antibiotics viable.  Governments, working with stakeholders, can create effective markets for new antimicrobials by introducing incentive programs that make innovation viable and sustainable. These programs should be large enough to drive long-term R&D, fair at a global level, and designed to support responsible use. They need to be practical in implementation, clear for all stakeholders, and ensure timely access by increasing supply where needed.  The animal health industry also plays a vital role by driving preventive measures and committing to pandemic preparedness and industry coalition. As an example, Boehringer Ingelheim recently made a commitment of EUR 200 million to combat emerging infectious diseases, supported by a multi-pillar strategy to address AMR, showing how targeted investment can support turning these goals into reality. Strong policy leadership and genuine collaboration are essential to overcome scientific and commercial barriers to developing new antimicrobials. Collaborative initiatives such as the AMR Action Fund, which pools resources to accelerate antibiotic development, and AUROBAC Therapeutics, a joint venture advancing targeted antimicrobial solutions, demonstrate the power of collective models. These efforts reflect the shared responsibility needed to address AMR, turning ideas into impact. Building a sustainable and robust R&D pipeline for new antimicrobials requires alignment across public health authorities, regulators, funders, researchers, and industry partners. Together, we must focus on shared goals: safeguarding the effectiveness of existing medicines, accelerating new development, exploring means to reduce the use of antimicrobials in daily practise, and ensuring treatments are accessible to those who need them. Equally important is the commitment to responsible antibiotic use in both human and animal health.  This is vital to slow the spread of resistance and preserve life-saving tools for generations to come. Farmers should work with veterinarians to prevent disease through vaccination and biosecurity, use tests to guide treatment, avoid routine preventive antibiotics, and share antibiotic use data with local surveillance. Veterinarians should prescribe only when needed, use rapid tests and susceptibility testing, choose narrow-spectrum medicines, reserve critically important antibiotics, and educate clients while tracking outcomes. This is vital to slow the spread of resistance and preserve these life-saving tools for generations to come. The stakes are high, but with coordinated action and shared responsibility, we can protect the future of medicine. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3388/bezos-centre-at-nus-and-enterprisesg-launch-new-startup-competition-to-boost-early-stage-sustainable-protein-innovation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3388/bezos-centre-at-nus-and-enterprisesg-launch-new-startup-competition-to-boost-early-stage-sustainable-protein-innovation.html Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:35:36 +0530 Singapore International Agri-Food Week 2025: Startup funding_Identifying and Supporting Early-stage Startups in Sustainable Protein Solutions The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore (Bezos Centre @NUS) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) announced a new partnership to accelerate early-stage sustainable protein innovation through a startup competition. This is part of Bezos Centre @NUS’ US$3 million in grants over five years to support early and growth-stage startups in this space. The inaugural Sustainable Protein Startup Competition is identifying and supporting early-stage startups in sustainable protein solutions. Three winning startups will be selected through a competitive pitching process. Each winner is receiving a funding and in-kind support of up to S$175,000 while gaining access to Singapore's comprehensive ecosystem of resources. The competition was launched on 1 August 2025 at the first International Summit on Sustainable Protein. There are plans to hold the competition annually, supporting up to 15 early-stage global and local startups over a five-year period. Professor Zhou Weibiao, Acting Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at NUS and Head of the NUS Department of Food Science and Technology, said, “One of our goals at the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at NUS is to bridge world-class research in sustainable protein with real-world impact. This startup competition and the ISSP are natural extensions of that mission — paving the way for promising technologies to move from lab to market, and from local to global impact. Our partnership with EnterpriseSG will further support our aspiration by accelerating innovation and strengthening the sustainable protein ecosystem in Singapore and beyond.” Ms Jeannie Lim, Assistant Managing Director for Services and Growth Enterprises at EnterpriseSG, said, “Our partnership with the Bezos Centre @NUS comes at a crucial time to support promising foodtech startups in securing funding to develop their technologies and bring innovative solutions to market. This initiative reflects our commitment to advance promising sustainable food innovations while catalysing greater private sector participation and investments in Singapore's foodtech sector. We welcome foodtech startups to leverage Singapore’s resources, robust innovation ecosystem and progressive regulatory framework to accelerate their R&D efforts and scale their impact across the region.” Bezos Centre @NUS x EnterpriseSG’s Sustainable Protein Startup Competition The competition aims to support early-stage startups developing novel sustainable protein technologies that can address critical challenges in food security and climate resilience. This includes innovative solutions in fermentation, cultivated meat, plant-based proteins, and food safety & toxicology. Startups were evaluated on their technology innovation and readiness, market potential and validation, business model scalability, and team capabilities. From the entries, eight promising startups were advanced to the final pitching round was held at the Singapore International Agri-Food Week in November 2025. Three winning startups were selected, and each winner received seed funding and in-kind support of up to S$175,000. Bezos Centre @NUS will provide a S$75,000 cash grant, and EnterpriseSG matched this with a S$75,000 Startup SG Founder (Competition) grant. Winners can utilise the seed funding for R&D, prototype development and to conduct pilot trials for sustainable protein products. Besides the funding, winners will receive up to S$25,000 worth of in-kind support from Bezos Centre @NUS. This includes mentorship, laboratory facilities, office space, startup incubation resources, and the opportunity to pitch at an annual startup event. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3364/ginkgo-bioworks-and-bayer-extend-multi-year-strategic-partnership-to-accelerate-next-generation-biological-solutions-for-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3364/ginkgo-bioworks-and-bayer-extend-multi-year-strategic-partnership-to-accelerate-next-generation-biological-solutions-for-agriculture.html Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:11:29 +0530 Ginkgo Bioworks announced that the company has extended its multi-year strategic partnership with Bayer to advance research and development of biological products for agriculture. With the extension of this partnership, which began in 2017, both parties will build on the success of their ongoing collaboration to develop innovative microbial nitrogen fixation. As with the original agreement, Bayer retains the right to commercialize the resulting biological products as a complement to synthetic fertilizers in the coming years. Bayer continues to be a major partner of Ginkgo Bioworks' expanded agricultural biologicals platform, which includes Ginkgo's Agriculture Biologicals Research & Development site in West Sacramento. Ginkgo's discovery and lead optimization platform supports collaborations in the areas of biological crop protection, nitrogen fixation, and carbon sequestration to identify next-generation technologies that provide clear benefits to growers. "The future will bring increasingly severe challenges for farmers, and we will best meet these challenges together with leading innovators from around the world through the open innovation ecosystem," said Dr. Mike Graham, Head of R&D at Bayer's Crop Science Division. "When complemented by leading seeds & traits, digital tools, and chemical crop protection, biologicals can help growers achieve the best results in their fields by providing increased options that complement, and provide alternatives to, traditional chemistry-based solutions." Ginkgo Bioworks aims to develop and advance agricultural biological solutions across crops and geographies through platform technologies that address diverse market needs. Ginkgo Bioworks will continue to work independently with different partners in the discovery and optimization of biological products for agriculture. "Ginkgo is committed to the power of advanced biological tools to deliver innovative products for growers at the forefront of food production and food security worldwide," said Michael Miille, General Manager of Ginkgo's Agriculture Business Unit. "We look forward to continuing our partnerships with Bayer and other innovative companies, and to bringing on new partners to Ginkgo's agricultural biologicals platform." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3351/chinas-origin-agritech-obtains-new-licenses-for-crop-seed-production-and-gmo-business-operations.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3351/chinas-origin-agritech-obtains-new-licenses-for-crop-seed-production-and-gmo-business-operations.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:36:30 +0530 Strategic Restructuring Positions Company to Strengthen Market Presence with Expanded Operational Capabilities Origin Agritech Ltd., a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, announced a series of major milestones designed to enhance its operational capabilities, strengthen its market position, and advance its long-term growth strategy. Origin Agritech has received a new crop seed production and operation license from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, authorizing the Company to produce, process, package, wholesale, and retail corn seeds. This license represents a significant step forward in expanding Origin's production capacity and operational infrastructure. With this approval, Origin now holds two crop seed production and operation licenses in China -the other being held by its subsidiary Xinjiang OriginBio Seed Limited - enabling a broader regional footprint and greater revenue diversification across complementary markets. Additionally, the Beijing Tongzhou District Market Supervision Administration has formally approved the inclusion of genetically modified (GMO) crop seed production in the Company's business scope. This authorization allows Origin to participate in China's rapidly evolving GMO seed sector, positioning the Company to capitalize on the increasing adoption of biotechnology in agriculture. Each specific GMO crop will continue to require individual registration and approval prior to commercialization. In parallel, Origin has increased the registered capital of its subsidiary Beijing Origin Seed Ltd. ("Beijing Origin") from RMB 30 million (US$4.2 million) to RMB 100 million (US$14 million). The Company has also completed a strategic restructuring, consolidating its key production and sales entities — including Xinjiang Originbo Seed Limited — under Beijing Origin. This integration establishes Beijing Origin as the Company's primary operational hub, enhancing efficiency and supporting future scalability. These initiatives collectively strengthen Origin's capacity to serve the vital North China Plain agricultural region and beyond. The capital increase provides additional financial flexibility for investments in research and development, product innovation, and market expansion, supporting Origin's mission to deliver next-generation agricultural solutions. Weibin Yan, Chief Executive Officer of Origin Agritech, commented, "Today's announcements mark a transformative step for Origin Agritech. The addition of our new GMO-inclusive business license, combined with the successful capital increase and organizational restructuring, provides a powerful infrastructure for our next phase of growth. By consolidating our research, breeding, seed production and sales network strengths under Beijing Origin, we are streamlining our operations, accelerating innovation, and positioning ourselves to bring our advanced seed technologies — including our GMO pipeline — to market more efficiently. These strategic moves reinforce our commitment to delivering value for both farmers and shareholders." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3326/futuragene-makes-world-first-regulatory-submission-for-gene-edited-eucalyptus.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3326/futuragene-makes-world-first-regulatory-submission-for-gene-edited-eucalyptus.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 08:18:00 +0530 New variety of gene-edited eucalyptus produces wood that is easier to process industrially, reducing chemical and energy input requirements for pulp production FuturaGene, the biotechnology subsidiary of the world’s largest pulp supplier, Suzano, has formally submitted its first consultation letter to Brazil’s National Biosafety Technical Commission (CTNBio) regarding gene-edited eucalyptus. This marks the world’s first regulatory submission for gene-edited eucalyptus, made in accordance with CTNBio’s Normative Resolution No. 16 (RN 16), which contains provisions for regulatory exemption for certain types of gene editing. This includes circumstances where gene-edited crops do not contain foreign DNA, where they can be exempted from the regulatory process for genetically modified organisms (GMO) and treated in a similar way to conventional plants. FuturaGene’s innovation is designed to deliver wood that is easier to process industrially, supporting more efficient and sustainable pulp production by reducing chemical and energy input requirements. It was developed using CRISPR-Cas9, a New Breeding Technique (NBT), which enabled a highly precise single-gene edit in the eucalyptus, with no DNA introduced from other species, mimicking a change that could also occur in nature or be achieved through conventional breeding. Dr. Stanley Hirsch, CEO of FuturaGene said: “This is a milestone moment for tree farming and pulp production. At FuturaGene our mission is to harness cutting-edge science responsibly, to help to address climate change and its impacts, and meet the rising global demand for bio-based products while protecting nature. We want to ensure that each new generation of eucalyptus advances sustainability and efficiency in our use of land and resources. This world-first gene edited eucalyptus complements our existing knowledge base and technology portfolio. By embracing the full range of available biotechnology tools, including genetic modification and gene editing, we are creating better trees that will create a better industry.” FuturaGene is a pioneer in eucalyptus biotechnology, having already obtained 11 approvals for genetically modified (GM) eucalyptus from CTNBio, with traits including yield enhancement, herbicide tolerance, and insect resistance. The submission will be now reviewed by CTNBio to determine whether this new eucalyptus variety can be classified as equivalent to conventional varieties, and if so, will remove any requirements for further biosafety evaluation in Brazil. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3305/indigo-ag-introduces-biotrinsic-new-biological-bionematicide-against-soybean-cyst-nematode.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3305/indigo-ag-introduces-biotrinsic-new-biological-bionematicide-against-soybean-cyst-nematode.html Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:25:10 +0530 Nemora FP™ prevents eggs from hatching to protect yield without harming plants Farmers have a new weapon against soybean cyst nematode, biotrinsic® Nemora FP™, an EPA registered soybean bionematicide seed treatment from Indigo Ag, Inc. Available for Spring planting, Nemora's anti-hatch technology helps manage nematode pressure while maintaining strong yield potential—without phytotoxicity or halo effects seen with some chemical standards. "Nemora is designed to colonize soybean roots and shoots early and persist through the season," said Jon Giebel, Ph.D.- VP North America Commercial- Biologicals at Indigo Ag. "In trials, it delivered improved plant health metrics and compelling yield potential while offering growers a biological option that can benefit soil health in the process." Nemora is a microbial seed treatment in flowable powder (FP) format for soybeans and is available for planter-box treatment or through Indigo's CLIPS delivery system. It contains a naturally occurring Pseudomonas oryzihabitans bacterium that colonizes roots and shoots. After only a few weeks, the microbes coating each seed multiply into the millions around the roots and begin supporting the crop. These microbes also colonize SCN eggs, disrupting hatch conditions and reducing the number of juveniles that hatch. "SCN is the nation's most damaging soybean pathogen. Soybean farmers in the US and Canada lose many thousands of dollars in individual fields due to reduced yields from the nematode each year. The most sustainable management approach to minimize SCN yield loss is a multi-faceted plan that can include growing nonhost crops in rotation with SCN-resistant soybean varieties and use of nematode-protectant seed treatments on the soybeans," said Dr. Greg Tylka, Morrill Professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at Iowa State University. "Long-term management of SCN also requires a sustained effort in which success is monitored through periodic soil testing and adjustments in use of management tactics if soil test results indicate changes are warranted." Nemora is a biological solution designed to combat the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) by stimulating Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) and forming a protective biofilm that promotes robust root colonization. This biofilm prevents SCN eggs from hatching, effectively slowing the nematode's lifecycle without harming beneficial nematodes in the soil. Additionally, the active Pseudomonas bacteria in Nemora recruit a diverse community of plant growth-promoting bacteria, further supporting plant development. Growers using Nemora can expect significant benefits, including a 68% average reduction in SCN egg hatch. The product also promotes longer taproots, increased root biomass, and healthier, whiter roots. Plants treated with Nemora show thicker shoots, improved emergence, and no interference with nodulation or issues like phytotoxicity or halo effects. With yield advantages comparable to chemical solutions, Nemora offers a sustainable and effective alternative for managing SCN. "Nemora is another important tool against the SCN threat and growing resistance to SCN traits like PI 88788. As a biological seed treatment, it helps manage nematode pressure by stopping egg hatch and can deliver season-long benefits," Giebel added. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3291/israels-nrgene-announced-first-successful-commercialization-of-tobrfv-resistant-tomatoes.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3291/israels-nrgene-announced-first-successful-commercialization-of-tobrfv-resistant-tomatoes.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:04:40 +0530 NRGene's High Resistance seeds now reaching farmers - offering enhanced protection and premium-quality tomatoes NRGene announced the commercial sales of tomato seeds carrying its High Resistance (HR) trait to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) developed in partnership with Philoseeds. These sales follow pilot plots and small-scale sales during the 2024-2025 season in Switzerland and Canada where plants demonstrated strong resistance to ToBRFV, along with premium fruit quality and yields. For the first time, NRGene's breakthrough resistant genetics are being adopted at commercial scale by growers. Leading the Fight Against ToBRFV ToBRFV has emerged as one of the most serious threats to global greenhouse tomato production, causing significant crop losses across key growing regions. NRGene's High Resistance (HR) trait provides enhanced and durable resistance, validated through rigorous testing and comprehensive quality checks.The trait was licensed to over a dozen companies in Europe, South Africa, and the USA, and supported by efficient DNA marker sets to accelerate its introduction into elite tomato varieties. "This milestone is more than just a first sale - it's proof that our High Resistance trait is validated, reliable, and already protecting the yield of tomato growers. By developing and applying efficient genomics markers, seed companies introduced this solution to the market faster, giving growers the confidence to keep producing despite ToBRFV," said Dr. Gil Ronen, CEO of NRGene. Voices from the Field HW Seeds is among the first to integrate NRGene's ToBRFV High-Resistance (HR) trait into its commercial tomato varieties, launching full product lines that bring verified resistance directly to growers. Now in its second year of selling seeds harboring the HR trait, HW Seeds B.V. highlighted the impact these varieties are having on growers: "Our customers are experiencing the benefits of real high resistance," said Roel Huisman, Director, HWseed. "Plants are thriving under ToBRFV pressure, yields remain consistent, and fruit quality meets the expectations of demanding markets. This is not just another resistance, it's a reliable, market-ready solution that restores grower confidence and strengthens our portfolio." PurNatur, the first grower to use HWseed's resistant seeds, reported strong performance in the field, "These tomatoes finally give us peace of mind," said Marco Stricker, Director, PurNatur. "We can see the resistance in action, plants are healthy, and fruit quality is high. This is the kind of innovation that makes a real difference on the ground, giving us a powerful tool to combat ToBRFV and protect our farms from this devastating virus."  From Discovery to Commercialization NRGene and Philoseed first announced the mapping of ToBRFV resistance in 2022. In less than four years, this trait was introduced into elite hybrid tomato varieties, tested in commercial plots, and sold to farmers, an extremely short timeline from scientific breakthrough to commercialization. More global breeding companies are following this path, and trials across Europe and the U.S. have confirmed the resistance's effectiveness. With commercialization underway, NRGene expects that more companies will adopt its HR trait, helping the industry move closer to overcoming the challenges posed by ToBRFV. NRGene is a genomics company delivering turnkey solutions to the global seed, food, and agriculture industries. Relying on a vast proprietary database and advanced AI-based technologies, NRGene offers computational tools that enable the world's largest seed and food companies to maximize crop yields while saving time and cost. Now, through its ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes, NRGene is providing a fast, proven solution to one of the industry's most urgent challenges. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3287/greenlight-biosciences-launches-norroa-the-pioneering-rna-based-treatment-for-varroa-mites-in-apiculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3287/greenlight-biosciences-launches-norroa-the-pioneering-rna-based-treatment-for-varroa-mites-in-apiculture.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:57:05 +0530 EPA registration paves the way for beekeepers to combat a critical threat to pollinator health GreenLight Biosciences announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) registration of Norroa™, the first-ever nature-based treatment specifically designed to combat varroa mites, the leading threat to honey bee colonies. This groundbreaking innovation provides beekeepers with a powerful new tool proven to protect these pollinators, which are critical to U.S. agriculture.   Norroa's active ingredient, vadescana, leverages RNA interference (RNAi), a natural biological process that precisely targets varroa mites and ultimately stops their reproduction. It is part of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee's (IRAC) Group 35, offering beekeepers a brand-new mode of action in the fight against these mites. The nucleic acids in the product are found in nature, and vadescana breaks down quickly in the environment. As pollinators and the broader agricultural ecosystem face challenges, the registration is timely. Recently analyzed data from the Honey Bee Health Coalition reveals staggering honey bee colony losses, with 1.7 million colonies lost and commercial beekeepers sustaining an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and March 2025. Underscored by USDA researchers, this alarming trend is related to the declining efficacy of existing miticides as varroa mites have developed resistance to chemical treatments once considered reliable. As mites are less controlled, they bring high virus loads into colonies, leading to loss. Experts warn of ripple effects that could disrupt food production, drive up farmer costs, and threaten the survival of commercial beekeeping operations. Entomologists at Washington State University project colony losses could rise to 70% in 2025 without substantive action. Mark Singleton, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager at GreenLight Bio said "Norroa represents a breakthrough in honey bee protection from varroa mites, offering beekeepers an effective and easy-to-use tool that keeps mite populations down for up to 18 weeks, which is substantially longer than the existing products on the market. Norroa can be applied at any temperature, provided it's safe to open the hive, and has no negative impacts on brood, workers, or queens. Beekeepers have very few products available to them to control these destructive mites. We are proud to be bringing another tool to the fight against varroa." Andrey Zarur, Chief Executive Officer, GreenLight Bio said "This cutting-edge, American-made technology that brings important innovation to U.S. beekeepers by harnessing the precision of our proprietary technologies. We're providing beekeepers with an environmentally conscious solution that specifically and effectively targets one of the most devastating threats to honey bee health. Norroa is safe for the bees and preserves the beneficial biodiversity and ecosystem balance of the surrounding area, aligning with sustainable agricultural practices." Rigorous, replicated field trials conducted across multiple U.S. regions demonstrated extended mite control of up to 18 weeks, resulting in improved overall colony health. Researchers confirmed Norroa's performance against varroa mites and its safety for honey bees, humans, other insects, and the environment. As the first truly targeted mite control product ever developed, when Norroa is applied with low mite levels, it maintains them longer than anything else on the market. This results in healthier, stronger bees, and if timed right, can lead to more colonies surviving over the winter, which field data supports. Varroa mites, which can double their population every 30 days, have evolved resistance to many chemical treatments, leaving beekeepers with few reliable options and intensifying the search for innovative approaches. Without significant intervention, experts warn of dire consequences for U.S. agriculture, which relies on honey bee pollination for more than 100 crops valued at an estimated $20 billion annually. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3271/plantarcbio-secures-u-s-and-south-korea-patents-for-dipper-platform-advancing-gene-editing-optimization-in-crops.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3271/plantarcbio-secures-u-s-and-south-korea-patents-for-dipper-platform-advancing-gene-editing-optimization-in-crops.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:13:23 +0530 DIPPER™ platform accelerates development of drought-tolerant, high-yield, and resilient crops worldwide PlantArcBio has been granted patents in the United States and South Korea for its proprietary DIPPER™ platform, a breakthrough technology designed to optimize gene expression for gene-editing processes in crops. The DIPPER™ platform represents a significant advancement in plant biotechnology, enabling researchers and breeders to enhance the efficiency and precision of processes using gene-editing tools such as CRISPR to improve crop performance. Unlike traditional trial-and-error approaches, DIPPER™ employs a high-throughput, in planta system to systematically identify regulatory and coding DNA elements that maximize gene expression and trait performance across a wide range of crops and traits. A critical challenge in developing gene-edited crops is identifying precise DNA modifications that are required to improve plant functionality, rather than relying solely on gene deletions. DIPPER™ addresses this challenge by providing a precise method to pinpoint optimal DNA changes, shortening the trait development timeline and allowing seed companies to bring new crop traits to market faster and more efficiently, benefiting both farmers and consumers. "The swift granting of these patents underscores PlantArcBio's commitment to delivering cutting-edge, scalable solutions for global agriculture," said Dror Shalitin, CEO of PlantArcBio. "DIPPER™ is a game-changing platform that accelerates the development of traits such as drought tolerance, yield enhancement, herbicide resistance, and nutritional improvement, helping farmers worldwide meet the growing demands of sustainable food production." The patents strengthen PlantArcBio's intellectual property portfolio and highlight DIPPER™'s potential as a prerequisite for the successful use of gene-editing tools such as CRISPR in major crops including corn, soybean, wheat, rice, vegetables, and more. The platform paves the way for novel trait development and faster commercialization timelines, positioning PlantArcBio at the forefront of modern agricultural innovation. PlantArcBio is an ag-biotech company developing gene discovery and RNAi-based solutions to enhance crop traits and biologically control pests, with a vision to improve global food security and promote sustainable agriculture. The company's proprietary DIP™ and DIPPER™ platforms enable the discovery and development of novel genes and gene-editing targets, with game-changing effects on plants - including yield improvement, drought resistance, herbicide tolerance, and nutritional enhancement. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3267/philippines-pushes-for-conserving-and-sustainably-managing-marine-biodiversity.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3267/philippines-pushes-for-conserving-and-sustainably-managing-marine-biodiversity.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:26:16 +0530 A strategic treaty that protects global marine resources and the conservation of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) Philippines Department of Agriculture is providing all out support to the Department of Foreign Affairs in promoting the ratification of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), a strategically important treaty for an archipelago like the Philippines and in protecting global marine resources. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ratified the treaty in 2024–a year after the BBNJ was adopted—but failed to secure Senate concurrence. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the BBNJ is the Philippines’ strong commitment to marine protection under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “The BBNJ Agreement is crucial for conserving and sustainably managing marine biodiversity in areas beyond the Philippines’ jurisdiction, allowing the country to safeguard its rich marine ecosystems while ensuring fair access to and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel. The BBNJ Agreement is an implementing agreement under UNCLOS and addresses conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, such as the high seas. The Philippines, an early signatory and active participant in negotiations, is pushing for Senate concurrence after the treaty was re-submitted in the 20th Congress. Once approved by the Senate, the country’s instrument of ratification will be deposited with the UN Secretary-General. Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate said the ratification will allow the Philippines to participate in the first Conference of Parties (COP1), expected to convene after the 60th instrument is deposited. At the end of August, 55 states have ratified the BBNJ Agreement, with 60 needed for entry into force. A special treaty event during the UN General Assembly to be held between September 23–26 is anticipated to reach this milestone. For the Philippines, the BBNJ ratification is strategically vital. As an archipelagic state bordering ABNJ, participation in the Agreement will enhance its influence in shaping global marine policy, while supporting local coastal communities and marine biodiversity conservation in line with the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3257/strauss-group-introduces-revolutionary-cow-free-dairy-consumables-in-israel.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3257/strauss-group-introduces-revolutionary-cow-free-dairy-consumables-in-israel.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:21:59 +0530 Since the protein is structurally identical to milk protein, the products are not suitable for individuals with milk protein allergies CowFree Yotvata products and Symphony cream “cheese” based on animal free BLG protein, a protein identical in composition to one of the key proteins found in cow’s milk, produced through precision fermentation technology. By bringing Food-Tech innovation to consumers, Strauss Group reflects its purpose to "Nourishing a Better Tomorrow.". The first products set to launch in the coming weeks include CowFree "Symphony" cream "cheese" and Yotvata CowFree drink. These items are enriched with calcium and high-quality protein, providing all essential amino acids. As the protein is structurally identical to milk protein, these products are not recommended for individuals with milk protein allergies. Strauss is the first Israeli company, and among the first globally, to bring this technological innovation to the refrigerated aisle. This launch reflects the global trend of innovation and advanced nutritional technologies, making them accessible to Israeli consumers through a diverse range of high-quality, great-tasting offerings. The CowFree product line is designed to cater to diverse dietary needs. Cow-Free products cater to those who separate meat and dairy, making them ideal options for lactose-intolerant individuals. Additionally, the products provide alternatives for vegans and those reducing their consumption of animal-based foods. Ariella Schiffenbauer Weiss, GM of Strauss Dairies, added: “The launch of CowFree marks another stage in the evolution of our dairy operations. As a leading food company in Israel, we are committed to continuing to surprise and delight with tasty, innovative, and nutritious products-giving consumers true freedom of choice.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3217/moa-develops-crop-protection-solutions-while-expanding-partnership-with-gowan.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3217/moa-develops-crop-protection-solutions-while-expanding-partnership-with-gowan.html Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:03:00 +0530 New class of novel "amplifier" molecules which are non-herbicidal on their own but will potentially allow farmers to reduce the amount or concentration of the agricultural herbicides Moa Technology announces its discovery of chemistries which could become an entirely new category of products to help farmers protect their harvests more safely, sustainably and effectively. Moa has already discovered 80 new herbicidal modes of action with its breakthrough technology platforms in the last three years, several of which are already effectively controlling tough and pervasive weeds in field trials in the US, Canada, France, Spain, the UK, Australia, and South America. In the course of this work, Moa scientists have also identified a new class of novel "amplifier" molecules which are non-herbicidal on their own but will potentially allow farmers to reduce the amount or concentration of the agricultural herbicides they currently use.  Moa's discovery also offers an exciting new pathway for biologicals to play more of a role in agricultural weed control in coming years. Bioherbicides are still one of the smallest sub-sectors in the biologicals space, due to the difficulty of finding natural products capable of controlling weeds safely, affordably and effectively. Amplifiers offer the possibility of biological-synthetic hybrid solutions which can protect harvests with a reduced environmental impact.  A Moa amplifier is currently in pilot field trials in Australia to evaluate how it may help reduce herbicide use rates against annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), one of the toughest, most damaging, and hardest to control weeds in the world. Weeds currently cost Australian grain producers A$3.3 billion annually in yield losses and control expenses, according to Weedsmart, and farmers urgently need solutions to help protect their harvests until a new generation of safe and effective novel modes of action can be brought to market. Other amplifier pilot field trials with cereal grassweeds are also taking place in the UK where glyphosate resistance was recently discovered for the first time in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), which is one of the most damaging weeds in western European farming.  Moa CEO Dr Virginia Corless, said: "We are discovering entirely new category of weed control solutions to help solve a real and immediate problem for farmers and the environment globally. Our groundbreaking technology platforms and proprietary data are continuing to produce valuable new insights and discoveries at the forefront of plant science, creating new opportunities, solutions and revenue streams for ourselves and for ambitious and forward-looking industry partners like Gowan." Laurent Cornette, Global Herbicide Asset Manager at Gowan, said: "The collaboration holds potential for groundbreaking scientific advancements in agriculture. Together with Moa's scientists, we're pioneering innovative solutions for highly efficient weed control at minimal active ingredient rates—empowering farmers with sustainable tools for the future. The possibilities are inspiring, and I have no doubt this partnership will drive transformative benefits for the agricultural community." Partnership with Gowan Moa's first collaboration partner in this exciting new category of products will be the Gowan Company, a leading US agricultural solutions business based in Yuma, AZ. Gowan will make a significant investment involving upfront payments and future value creation sharing through milestone payments and royalties, to see Moa and Gowan working together to develop a new amplifier for a specific active ingredient. Both companies recognise the significant market opportunity for this new crop protection category, given the global need to find ways of making farming more sustainable and less harmful to the environment, while also ensuring food security for all. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3200/basf-corteva-and-m-s-technologies-to-bring-industry-first-soybean-trait-stack-to-brazil-marketspace.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3200/basf-corteva-and-m-s-technologies-to-bring-industry-first-soybean-trait-stack-to-brazil-marketspace.html Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:58:26 +0530 An innovative biotech soybean nematode resistance trait will be combined with leading herbicide and insect resistance traits to optimize yield BASF, Corteva Agriscience and M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. announced that they have entered into a trait licensing agreement to bring BASF’s novel nematode resistant soybean (NRS) trait with Enlist E3® soybeans and Conkesta E3® soybeans to farmers in Brazil. The NRS trait offers the first ever biotech solution for effectively managing root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus brachyurus) and soybean cyst nematodes – difficult-to-control microscopic pests that damage soybeans and threaten yields. “This novel trait has demonstrated more than 90% control of root lesion nematodes in more than 160 field trials over the past 7 years,” said Adolfo Vitorio Ulbrich, Director Regional R&D Seeds Director BASF Agricultural Solutions in Latin America. “We will cooperate with Corteva and M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. to bring to Brazilian farmers the first commercially available biotechnology trait for soybeans to provide a critical management tool against nematodes.” The Enlist® weed control system is an industry-leading system for soybeans, corn, and cotton. Enlist E3 soybeans are tolerant to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides, giving growers additional herbicide options to manage resistant and hard-to-control weeds. Conkesta E3 soybeans additionally incorporate two Bt proteins (Cry1F and Cry1Ac) for the management of the main caterpillar pests in soybean crops, a tailored option for farmers in Latin America.  “This is a opportunity to combine our Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 soybean technology with the nematode resistant soybean (NRS) trait from BASF to offer growers across Brazil a critical new tool to help protect against Pratylenchus brachyurus and soybean cyst nematode,” said Christian Pflug, Licensing Director -- Brazil & Paraguay, Corteva. The transgenic soybean event in Enlist E3 soybeans and Conkesta E3 soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva and M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. “Since the beginning, M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. has been focused on developing the industry’s highest-performing soybean genetics,” said Joe Merschman, president of M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. “Pairing Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 genetics from M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. with this new NRS trait developed by BASF represents a step change in value protection for soybean growers in South America.” BASF, Corteva, and M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. anticipate that commercial varieties containing BASF`s innovative NRS trait in Enlist E3 soybeans and Conkesta E3 soybeans will be available to farmers in Brazil by the end of the decade or early next decade, pending applicable regulatory reviews and completion of field testing. Additional countries remain a possibility. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3199/origin-agritech-spotlights-four-new-corn-varieties-jingke-317-jinqiao-8-xundan-203-and-aoyu-728-at-trade-show-in-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3199/origin-agritech-spotlights-four-new-corn-varieties-jingke-317-jinqiao-8-xundan-203-and-aoyu-728-at-trade-show-in-china.html Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:40:51 +0530 Hosts "Achievements Exhibition and Seed Industry Innovation Summit" in Zhengzhou attracting over 700 distributor partners from across China Origin Agritech Ltd., a leading Chinese agricultural technology company showcased Origin's latest product portfolio, including four new corn varieties: Jingke 317, Jinqiao 8, Xundan 203, and Aoyu 728 at the Achievements Exhibition and Seed Industry Innovation Summit held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. Field demonstrations allowed distributors to observe the agronomic performance of varieties that have undergone multi-year testing and regulatory approvals across several provinces. The summit in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, brought together over 700 distributors and 30 industry experts, showcasing strong participation in the launch and ordering of Origin's new products, highlighting the company's extensive distribution network and product pipeline. Origin Agritech featured varieties to demonstrate continued R&D expertise: Jinqiao 8: Approved for introduction in five provinces (certificate no.: Anhui: Wan Shen Yu 20211001; Jiangsu: Su Yin Zhong 2022-059, Shandong: Lu Yin Zhong 2022078, Henan: Yu Yin Zhong 2022 Yu 096; Hubei: E Yin Zhong 2023131) Jingke 317: Approved in National Trial (certificate no. Guo Shen Yu 20243348) Aoyu 728: Approved in National Trial  (certificate no. Guo Shen Yu 20226136) Xundan 203: Approved in Henan Province (certificate no. Yu Shen Yu 20242023) Origin's breeding programs continue to focus on developing varieties with enhanced stress tolerance, yield optimization, and commercial viability suited to China's diverse agricultural conditions. During the summit, CEO Weibin Yan outlined Origin's eight-year strategic development plan, emphasizing the Company's commitment to building a leading position in China's seed industry. The event also marked the launch of the "Golden Harvest Club," a strategic alliance designed to strengthen relationships within Origin's distribution ecosystem. The summit featured expert presentations from leading agricultural researchers, including Professor Dai Jingrui from China Agricultural University, Chief Corn Scientist Wang Haiyang from Yazhou Bay National Laboratory, and Researcher Zhao Jiuran from Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, who endorsed the Jingke 317 variety he developed. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3192/new-zealand-viticulture-to-be-revolutionized-by-genomics-under-lincoln-university-mgi-tech-collaboration.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3192/new-zealand-viticulture-to-be-revolutionized-by-genomics-under-lincoln-university-mgi-tech-collaboration.html Mon, 18 Aug 2025 08:27:00 +0530 Aims to develop pest-resistant grapevine and hop varieties to reduce fungicide use in New Zealand's $2.1 billion wine export industry MGI Tech Co., Ltd., a company developing tools and technologies for life sciences, has joined efforts with Lincoln University in Canterbury to address sustainable challenges in viticulture through advanced sequencing technology. With genomics, the initiative aims to develop better grapevine and hop varieties that are tolerant to pests and diseases, reducing fungicide use across New Zealand's $2.1 billion wine export industry.    Viticulture Challenges in New Zealand: Disease, Chemicals and Sustainability Pressure Viticulture is a significant economic source of revenue for New Zealand, ranking as the nation's sixth-largest export earner. However, like many primary sectors, it faces intensifying pressure to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact. The country's vineyards are particularly vulnerable to fungal diseases, often requiring frequent and broad-spectrum spraying to maintain vine health and grape quality. Each year, New Zealand farmers apply approximately 3,400 tonnes of pesticides. Alarmingly, under the US Environmental Protection Agency classification, 60% of fungicides and 72% of plant growth regulators used locally are considered potential carcinogens. This has placed the sector in the crosshairs of consumer and environmental scrutiny, particularly as climate change drives more volatile weather conditions that heighten disease risks. New Pathways from Genomics To address these challenges, a team of New Zealand scientists have started a genomic study to reduce the wine sector's reliance on chemical sprays. By using advanced sequencing technology, researchers can now rapidly scan thousands of grapevine samples to identify those with natural resistance to disease and environmental stress. Associate Professor Christopher Winefield, from Lincoln University's Department of Wine, Food & Molecular Biosciences, who first introduced genomics into his research to explore traits like fungal tolerance and soil health response, is now scaling the project significantly through MGI's high-throughput sequencing platform. This approach not only opens a pathway to breed more resilient grape varieties, it also enables real-time monitoring of vineyard conditions, laying the foundation for more targeted, sustainable and cost-effective vineyard management. The genomics practices allow scientists to map the natural genetic diversity within thousands of grapevines, identifying those with inherent disease resistance. Early findings suggest that, with targeted intervention informed by this data, chemical spray use could be reduced by up to 80% in some vineyards. Lincoln University researchers have installed the MGI DNBSEQ-G400 genome sequencer, a next-generation sequencing platform enabling unprecedented scale and speed in genomics with economic cost. Traditionally, testing a few hundred grapevine samples per year was considered standard. Now, the lab can process over 50,000 annually – a one-hundredfold increase in volume. The MGI DNBSEQ-G400 platform can support real-time sequencing to detect pathogens like powdery mildew and mealybug. This enables precision agriculture approaches, where interventions are localised rather than applied uniformly. The genomic data is also helping scientists identify vines that are more resilient under water stress or nutrient limitations – a key consideration as climate volatility increases. Beyond academia, the project has commercial ambitions. Winefield and his colleagues are forming a standalone venture to bring affordable genomic testing to the country's broader agriculture sector. The startup will serve viticulture, horticulture, and dairy farms, giving producers access to real-time insights previously confined to high-cost labs. This data-driven model would enable even small-scale producers to detect early signs of disease, make proactive crop management decisions, and cut down on unnecessary chemical inputs. The implications of the study extend well beyond New Zealand. With international viticulture facing similar challenges, the Canterbury research could become a blueprint for sustainable production globally. According to Winefield, New Zealand's unique microclimates and robust science infrastructure make it an ideal testbed. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3181/australias-nourish-ingredients-expands-footprints-for-world-first-fermentation-based-animal-free-fat.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3181/australias-nourish-ingredients-expands-footprints-for-world-first-fermentation-based-animal-free-fat.html Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:25:39 +0530 Expands plant-based and hybrid protein market presence for Tastilux®  The proprietary Mortierella alpina biomass from Australian Nourish Ingredients (S11) has been approved by the FEMA Expert Panel for use as a flavoring in food. Tastilux® will now be available for immediate commercial sales in the United States since biomass is the primary ingredient in Tastilux®, a breakthrough meat flavor fat. Tastilux® is a breakthrough meat flavor fat made from biomass. This opens the door to commercialization in the United States. Tastilux® is the world's first animal-free fat, created from natural ingredients and scaled through fermentation. It offers an authentic meat-eating experience without using animal products. Tastilux aims to address key challenges in the plant protein market, such as taste, labeling, and delivering a genuine experience, which have limited mainstream consumer appeal. When cooked, it undergoes the natural Maillard reaction, producing the meaty flavor, aroma, and taste associated with traditional meats like chicken, beef, and pork. Tastilux® is anticipated to expand beyond the plant-based and hybrid protein market into other lucrative food product categories, such as snacks, ready-made meals, and tallow replacements. It offers an authentic flavor at low inclusion rates and competitive pricing. The FEMA GRAS program is a rigorous scientific assessment process used to evaluate the safety of flavour ingredients for use in human food. Through expert review and analysis of comprehensive scientific data, the program determines whether ingredients are considered safe for consumption under their intended conditions of use as a flavouring. Recognised as a trusted benchmark within the flavour and food industries, FEMA GRAS helps ensure that flavour ingredients meet the highest safety standards for public consumption. James Petrie, Founder and CEO, Nourish Ingredients, "This regulatory milestone represents a major commercial breakthrough for our proprietary potent fats and technology, enabling us to deliver a true-to-meat experience that has been missing in the market.” Tastilux® delivers rich, authentic meaty flavour profiles for food manufacturers looking for natural alternatives to traditional flavour systems. With partnership agreements already in motion across the Middle East, the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, the ingredient is poised for global commercial rollout. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3178/switch-bioworks-advances-development-of-microbial-fertilizer-products-with-new-facility.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3178/switch-bioworks-advances-development-of-microbial-fertilizer-products-with-new-facility.html Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:14:08 +0530 Switch Bioworks, a biotechnology company focused on developing low-cost and sustainable fertilizers, has announced significant advancements in its operations. The company has expanded into a new corporate headquarters and R&D facility in San Carlos, California, marking a pivotal step in its mission to revolutionize the fertilizer industry. Switch Bioworks specializes in engineering symbiotic microbes that enhance plant growth by activating fertilizer production at the root level. By leveraging proprietary technology, the company aims to reduce the cost of fertilizers while improving agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.  The newly established corporate headquarters and R&D facility in San Carlos, California. triples the company's R&D capacity, providing dedicated spaces for fermentation, plant growth studies, and laboratory work. This expansion underscores Switch Bioworks' commitment to scaling its innovative solutions and bringing them to market.  Switch Bioworks is driven by a vision to transform the agricultural landscape by addressing the challenges of traditional fertilizer use. Its microbial-based approach focuses on nitrogen, a critical component of crop production, with the goal of reducing costs for farmers while supporting food security and environmental health.  The company’s efforts are supported by a team of experts and advisors, along with backing from leading investors. Its microbial technology represents a cutting-edge solution designed to align with the needs of modern agriculture, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizers.  Switch Bioworks’ new headquarters serves as a launchpad for its mission to reshape the fertilizer industry. The facility not only provides the infrastructure needed for advanced research and development but also reflects the company’s dedication to fostering innovation. With this expansion, Switch Bioworks is poised to accelerate the development of next-generation fertilizers that address the growing demand for sustainable agricultural practices. By focusing on affordability, efficiency, and environmental impact, the company aims to support farmers in producing more food while caring for the planet. The move to the new facility marks a significant milestone for Switch Bioworks, enabling the company to enhance its research capabilities and strengthen its position as a leader in sustainable agricultural biotechnology. This step forward reflects its commitment to creating solutions that benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment alike. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3171/mars-and-pairwise-collaborate-to-accelerate-cacao-research-and-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3171/mars-and-pairwise-collaborate-to-accelerate-cacao-research-and-development.html Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:38:47 +0530 Revolutionizing Cacao Research with Precision Gene Editing Tools Mars, Incorporated has licensed Pairwise's Fulcrum® gene editing tools for cacao research and development. This licensing agreement grants Mars access to Pairwise's CRISPR tools, including the SHARC™ enzyme. The Pairwise Fulcrum™ platform encompasses gene editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries, enabling precise changes that unlock the plant’s inherent potential. This capability significantly accelerates the development of impactful crop traits compared to traditional breeding methods, allowing for the activation or deactivation of characteristics and fine-tuning traits, much like adjusting a dimmer switch to achieve optimal results.   Mars aims to develop this advanced plant breeding technology to improve cacao production and effectively tackle agricultural challenges. The ultimate goal is to help address the pressures cacao faces globally from climate variability, plant diseases and environmental stresses. This strategic initiative underscores the potential of this technology to drive meaningful advancements in agriculture.   "At Mars, we believe CRISPR has the potential to improve crops in ways that support and strengthen global supply chains," said Carl Jones, Plant Sciences Director at Mars. "Our focus is to transparently and responsibly conduct CRISPR research in plant science that helps crops better adapt to climate challenges, disease pressures and resource constraints."   "We're pleased to provide Mars with access to our Fulcrum™ platform for their cacao research and development initiatives," said Ian Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Pairwise. "Plant breeding innovation has the potential to help address important agricultural challenges, and we look forward to supporting Mars' research goals."   The Pairwise Fulcrum® platform includes gene editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries, enabling precise changes that unlock the plant’s inherent potential to greatly accelerate the development of impactful crop traits compared to traditional breeding methods. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3159/bioconsortia-to-launch-innovative-nitrogen-fixing-biofertilizer-globally.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3159/bioconsortia-to-launch-innovative-nitrogen-fixing-biofertilizer-globally.html Mon, 04 Aug 2025 10:13:13 +0530 Always-N™ product poised to transform industrial corn production with sustainable, gene-edited microbe BioConsortia, Inc., a leader in microbial innovation for sustainable agriculture, has secured $15 million in additional funding, bringing its total investment to $95 million.  The new funding will accelerate the global launch of Always-N™, BioConsortia’s groundbreaking nitrogen-fixing seed treatment for industrial corn and support continued expansion of its discovery and development engine at the company’s Davis, California headquarters. BioConsortia continues development of its nitrogen-fixing microbial seed treatment product line, with more than 1,000 trials in the past five years. The new funding will accelerate the global launch of Always-N™, BioConsortia’s groundbreaking nitrogen-fixing seed treatment for industrial corn and support continued expansion of its discovery and development engine at the company’s Davis, California headquarters. Always-N enables farmers to maintain crop yields while reducing reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers—significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving soil health. Applied as a seed treatment, Always-N delivers consistent field performance and is the only nitrogen-fixing biofertilizer combining advanced gene editing and extended viability exceeding two years. "Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are essential to modern agriculture, but their overuse comes at a steep environmental cost,” said Meadows-Smith. “With Always-N, we offer a powerful, sustainable alternative—backed by cutting-edge science and built for real-world performance.” Roughly half of applied synthetic nitrogen is never absorbed by crops. Instead, it runs off into waterways or is broken down in soil, releasing nitrous oxide—a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than CO₂. As regulatory and market pressure builds for climate-smart farming, demand for sustainable alternatives like Always-N is growing rapidly. Following its successful commercial debut in New Zealand in 2024, Always-N is now preparing for broader market entry, supported by key global partners including The Mosaic Company in row crops in the Americas. The new funding enables BioConsortia to scale manufacturing, build inventory, and expand market access in anticipation of the upcoming growing season. Always-N is powered by BioConsortia’s discovery and development platform - an integrated engine using proprietary tools for microbial discovery, selection, and optimization. It begins with Advanced Microbial Selection™ (AMS) to identify high-performing plant-associated microbes, then uses GenExpress™ and GenePro™ tools to enhance traits such as nitrogen fixation, disease and pest control, and shelf-life. In addition to Always-N™, BioConsortia is advancing a robust pipeline of next-generation biostimulants, fungicides, nematicides, and insecticides—engineered for extended shelf life, ease of use, and superior field efficacy. BioConsortia has validated its platform across diverse crops, geographies, and soil types. Field trials have consistently demonstrated the efficacy of its microbial biofertilizers, fungicides, nematicides, and insecticides—delivering growers new tools for sustainable, high-yield farming. BioConsortia, pioneering next-generation agricultural biologicals through cutting-edge microbial gene editing. In nitrogen fixation, biocontrol, and biostimulants, breakthroughs in editing only the most stable microbes unlock unprecedented performance-delivering solutions that are more effective, more consistent, and easier to use than anything currently available. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3138/south-korea-approves-two-genetically-modified-soybeans-and-one-genetically-modified-microorganism-for-use-as-food-or-feed.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3138/south-korea-approves-two-genetically-modified-soybeans-and-one-genetically-modified-microorganism-for-use-as-food-or-feed.html Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:43:49 +0530 Genetically modified soybean has been approved for food use in Australia and New Zealand, and for food, feed and planting in the United States and Canada. Korean Biosafety Information Exchange House announced the use of genetically modified soybeans DP-305423-1×DAS-44406-6 and genetically modified microorganisms DS003 for food, and genetically modified soybeans MON94313 for feed. The genetically modified soybean DP-305423-1×DAS-44406-6 was developed by Corteva. By introducing the fad2-1, 2mepsps, aad-12 genes and pat genes, it has the characteristics of tolerance to sulfonylurea herbicides, 2,4-D, glyphosate and glufosinate, and increased soybean oleic acid content. The genetically modified soybean has been approved for food use in Australia and New Zealand, and for food, feed and planting in the United States and Canada. The genetically modified soybean MON94313 was developed by Bayer. By introducing DMO, PAT, FT_T.1 and TDO genes, it has the characteristics of resistance to dicamba, glufosinate, 2,4-D and mesotrione. The genetically modified soybean has been approved for use as food or food ingredients in Australia and New Zealand, approved for use as food and feed in the United States, and approved for use as food, feed and planting in Canada. The genetically modified microorganism DS003 was developed by Daesang Co., Ltd. and was prepared by introducing the fdpe-2 gene into Corynebacterium glutamicum. It has the property of converting fructose into allulose. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3134/global-soil-biodiversity-observatory-spearheads-systematic-assessment-and-monitoring-of-soil-biodiversity.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3134/global-soil-biodiversity-observatory-spearheads-systematic-assessment-and-monitoring-of-soil-biodiversity.html Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:23:20 +0530 Global reference for scientific collaboration and policy design based on pioneering next-generation soil mapping with cutting-edge technology A global initiative to measure, monitor and protect soil biodiversity will intensify with the establishment of the Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory, headed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and serving as a global reference for policy and scientific collaboration. The Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory (GLOSOB)  was launched by FAO at the COP15, where signatories adopted the Convention of Biological Diversity’s 2020-2030 plan of action. This plan calls for systematic assessment and monitoring of soil biodiversity to aid implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). While various knowledge-sharing platforms and initiatives have been launched, there is currently a lack of standardized monitoring protocols and actionable strategies for integrating soil biodiversity into policy and national monitoring frameworks, according to Jacob Parnell, the lead author of a new comment in Nature Ecology and Evolution. This commentary outlines the goals of the new Observatory and its top-down coordinating role, which includes working with a suite of bottom-up networks already involved in the project. An extensive amount of research has been conducted in this emerging field, which has revealed the need for expanded global coverage, as well as strengthening national monitoring capacities. Soil biodiversity is clearly linked to agricultural soil fertility which supports the growth of key food crops, and the biotic communities living in harsh or unproductive farmlands – like hyper-arid, acidic or waterlogged areas – have an important function as genetic reservoirs. Yet, many of these below-ground biodiversity hotpots fall outside above-ground protected areas protected or areas under conservation. Major risks to soil biodiversity stem from extreme climate events, land degradation, deforestation, invasive species and pollution. A core GLOSOB objective is to define improved soil biodiversity indicators – tracking essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) on both taxonomic and functional planes – and build capacity to validate policy agendas aimed at conservation and sustainable management practices, according to Parnell. Currently, there is reasonable data on the distribution of microbial soil carbon and of the soil macrofauna community – both of which highlight soil quality issues – but the evidence base gets thinner beyond earthworms, nematodes and common bacterial species. GLOSOB is designed as a tiered system to allow for steady expansion of measurement capacities to extend from soil chemical properties, enzymatic activities and to tracking decomposition patterns using leaf litter bags and steadily increasing to more complex nutrient cycling components and on to intraspecific microbial genetic diversity through shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Knowing more will require investments in laboratory facilities, training programmes and standardized monitoring frameworks that enable all countries to collect, analyze and properly interpret soil biodiversity data. Another key step is to integrate biodiversity considerations into conventional soil surveys and national soil information systems.FAO already leads the Global Soil Partnership, which held its 13th Plenary Assembly last June. It serves as a hub for other initiatives and has catalyzed successful conservation projects such as the Soil Doctors and Recarbonization of Global Agricultural Soils (RECSOIL).  FAO’s leadership in sustainable soil and land management was front and center during the Grand Opening of this year’s Assembly, which also marked 80 years of the founding of the Organization. The high-level event brought together global leaders and experts to explore data-driven solutions and technological innovations. . FAO Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the Organization’s commitment to soil health said “Pioneering next-generation soil mapping with cutting-edge technology, FAO has consistently been a champion of soil health as a foundation of global food security”. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3133/kaust-partners-with-digilab-to-adopt-ai-in-worlds-largest-coral-restoration-project.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3133/kaust-partners-with-digilab-to-adopt-ai-in-worlds-largest-coral-restoration-project.html Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:12:42 +0530 KAUST is partnering with digiLab on a new model for AI technology in the protection of coral reefs  Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is partnering with digiLab to develop a first-of-its-kind AI for coral conservation. This groundbreaking collaboration leverages cutting-edge technology for global coral conservation through ambitious KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI), the world's largest coral restoration project.  The integration of digiLab's AI platform will provide scientists with real-time simulations and predictions of the 100-hectare reefscape's behavior, greatly advancing understanding of how coral resilience, thermal tolerance, and growth are affected by changing environmental conditions. The integration, which is expected to take two years and is supported by KCRI's Dr. Liz Goergen and led by digiLab co-founder Dr. Anhad Sandhu, aims to significantly expedite reef restoration and conservation at an unprecedented scale.  Specifically, digiLab's technology will assist with computer vision, significantly reducing the monitoring time from two months to two weeks, and with the deployment of sensors, enabling optimal placement, reducing both the time and cost. Furthermore, a massive 22-petabyte digital twin, managed by digiLab's chatReef platform, will enable KAUST researchers to easily monitor the ecosystem, uncover crucial data on issues like algae growth and disease, and make data-driven decisions.  KAUST's vision for KCRI is vast, including plans to plant two million corals by 2030 and massive coral nurseries producing hundreds of thousands annually. The AI tools developed with digiLab will be crucial to achieving this efficiency, drastically reducing coral assessment times from months to weeks and optimizing environmental sensor placement for more accurate data collection.   As Professor Dave Suggett, KCRI Director, emphasizes, this partnership allows KAUST to "leverage cutting-edge AI technology to monitor, predict, and optimize our restoration strategies in real-time, potentially revolutionizing how we approach coral reef conservation on a global scale."   This collaboration between KAUST and digiLab will set a new standard for coral restoration worldwide. The integration of AI demonstrates a scalable model for conservation efforts, offering insights and techniques that can be adapted globally to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems in the face of continued environmental challenges.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3114/kemin-launches-revocurb-an-omri-listed-botanical-oil-based-soil-treatment-for-soil-health.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3114/kemin-launches-revocurb-an-omri-listed-botanical-oil-based-soil-treatment-for-soil-health.html Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:52:02 +0530 New alternative to soil fumigation controls plant-parasitic nematodes, soilborne pathogens, and pre-emergent weed seeds in all crop soils Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, has launched RevoCURB™, a new FIFRA 25(b)-exempt soil treatment designed to address the limitations of traditional fumigants and provide a safer, more sustainable alternative for both organic and conventional growers. RevoCURB is a powerful and versatile three-in-one solution that functions as a nematicide, fungicide-bactericide, and herbicide, providing an effective pre-plant or post-harvest soil treatment. Formulated using Kemin's proprietary emulsifiable concentrate formulation, RevoCURB combines the power of four essential oils—thyme, clove, garlic, and cinnamon—to deliver broad-spectrum control of plant-parasitic nematodes, soilborne diseases, and pre-emergent weed seeds. "The introduction of RevoCURB is a game-changer for both organic and conventional growers with its unique formulation and multiple modes of action that ensure comprehensive pest control," said Dr. Bridget Hatfield, Technical Services Manager, Kemin Crop Technologies. "We've tested RevoCURB on many different fields with various soil conditions, and we observed stunning improvement in crop yields compared to standard chemistry. We're thrilled to offer a safe new tool for growers to integrate into their soil preparation program." RevoCURB offers a safer, more flexible solution for today's growers. With no buffer-zone requirements, it can be confidently applied near municipalities and high-population areas. RevoCURB's worker-friendly profile requires only minimal personal protective equipment and carries a zero-hour restricted entry interval, allowing workers to re-enter treated areas immediately after application. Designed for maximum convenience, RevoCURB is compatible with a wide range of standard application methods, including drip tape, micro-sprinklers, soil drenches, and overhead irrigation systems. "For years, soil fumigation has been the go-to solution for managing soilborne pests and diseases in specialty crops, however, growing environmental concerns, regulatory pressures, and the unique needs of organic farming are driving a shift toward safer, more sustainable alternatives," said Emily Fuerst, General Manager, Kemin Crop Technologies. "Organic growers, in particular, face significant hurdles in soil disinfestation due to the strict prohibition of synthetic chemicals, longer pre-planting timing, and expensive procedures. RevoCURB represents a significant advancement in soil health management. By leveraging the power of essential oils and Kemin's expertise on them, we are providing growers with a safer, more cost-effective and efficacious solution that meets the demands of modern agriculture." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3113/waypoint-analytical-expands-soil-testing-capabilities-to-midwest-farmers-with-grand-island-nebraska-lab-opening.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3113/waypoint-analytical-expands-soil-testing-capabilities-to-midwest-farmers-with-grand-island-nebraska-lab-opening.html Fri, 18 Jul 2025 08:30:51 +0530 Waypoint Analytical, North America’s largest agricultural lab network, has officially opened its newest laboratory in Grand Island, Nebraska. The new lab expands Waypoint’s capabilities in the heart of row crop country - bringing cutting-edge testing closer to the farm and accelerating the delivery of agronomic recommendations. Celebrating with an open house event on July 17th, the Grand Island lab marks a major step forward in providing nutrient analysis and advanced, locally relevant soil health recommendations to farmer customers across the Midwest. The facility is designed to reduce turnaround times and improve the precision of recommendations that help farmers fine-tune fertility programs, protect soil health, and optimize input use. “Soil or tissue sampling provides a window into crop health,” says Lizzie French, Soil Biology Manager at Waypoint Analytical. “By bringing advanced testing closer to farmers, we’re helping them understand what’s happening beneath the surface - so they can make confident, timely decisions that support yield and long-term soil vitality today, and for years to come.” Waypoint’s lab services include: Soil testing for pH, organic matter, and nutrient availability Plant tissue analysis to monitor in-season nutrient status Water testing for irrigation, spray tanks, and fertilizer compatibility Comprehensive plant pathology testing for soil or plant tissue Soil biology reports that assess microbial function related to nutrient cycling and residue breakdown - offering deeper insight into soil biome performance For farmers leveraging Waypoint’s services, these insights allow crop consultants to create tailored prescriptions using enhanced efficiency products and seed selections that match a farmer’s specific field needs. Waypoint is piloting a new soil biology test. This next-generation analysis focuses on measuring the genes microbes use to cycle nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium - giving farmers a more precise understanding of microbial activity in their soil. Currently available to customers on a limited basis, the tool is designed to fit seamlessly into routine sampling processes while offering powerful new insights into soil function and biofertility. Waypoint now operates eight agricultural labs across North America, including locations in Memphis, TN; Atlantic, IA; Champaign, IL; Wilson, NC; Richmond, VA; Leola, PA; and Anaheim, CA. While two of our facilities specialize in plant pathology, you can send your sample to any of our lab locations, and our team will ensure the pathology sample is directed to the appropriate specialized facility for analysis. This national footprint allows Waypoint to deliver regionally tailored solutions while maintaining high standards in quality, speed, and scientific consistency - helping farmers from coast to coast make data-driven decisions that improve crop performance and environmental outcomes. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3109/proven-seed-to-launch-four-new-canola-hybrids-for-2026-season.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3109/proven-seed-to-launch-four-new-canola-hybrids-for-2026-season.html Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:00:11 +0530 Proven® Seed collaborates with farmers across the Prairies to evaluate hybrids under large-scale farm conditions spanning a wide range of soils, climates, and cropping systems  Proven® Seed, the proprietary seed brand of Nutrien Ag Solutions, is expanding its canola portfolio with the launch of four new hybrids for the 2026 growing season. The additions include both LibertyLink® and TruFlex® options, each offering distinct maturity ranges, trait packages, and agronomic advantages to meet the evolving needs of Western Canadian farmers. “These new hybrids are the result of extensive multi-year field testing through our comprehensive seed advancement program,” says Jennifer Dale, Canola Product Line Manager at Nutrien Ag Solutions. “We evaluate both experimental and commercial lines at more than 100 locations annually so that every hybrid we advance is selected for real-world performance - aligned to local growing conditions and farming management practices.” Proven Seed’s LibertyLink additions include three new hybrids: PV 662 LCM Mid-maturity with strong yield potential Multigenic clubroot resistance Excellent standability Suitable for delayed swathing or straight cutting PV 662 LCM is a true workhorse hybrid that combines high-yield performance with harvest flexibility and disease protection. Its consistent results across more challenging regions like central and northern Alberta, make it a strong choice for farmers seeking reliability and standability in a mid-maturity product. PV 663 LCN Early to mid-maturity NTACT® pod shatter reduction technology Excellent clubroot resistance A strong candidate for straight-cutting PV 663 LCN is ideal for farmers who want to integrate straight cutting into their harvest strategy. With the addition of Proven Seed’s proprietary NTACT technology, this hybrid significantly reduces the risk of pod shatter loss while maintaining yield stability and operational efficiency. PV 664 LCN Full-season maturity NTACT pod shatter reduction technology Advanced blackleg & clubroot resistance Optimized for straight-cut systems PV 664 LCN brings together key traits farmers have been asking for: pod integrity, multi-disease resistance, and adaptability to a wide range of Western Canadian conditions. “Equipped with all the defense you need, this hybrid performed exceptionally well in trials. We look forward to seeing it succeed in farmers’ fields next season,” says Dale. TruFlex Hybrid Proven Seed’s TruFlex addition includes one new hybrid: PV 784 TCN NTACT pod shatter reduction technology Excellent blackleg and clubroot resistance Strong standability Straight-cut compatible PV 784 TCN is a comprehensive solution for farmers seeking flexibility, robust disease resistance, and ease of harvest. Combining the advanced weed control window of the TruFlex system with the pod integrity of NTACT technology, this hybrid offers a complete agronomic package for Prairie canola farmers ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3090/evogene-transfers-its-agriculture-biological-subsidiary-lavie-bio-ltd-to-icl-group.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3090/evogene-transfers-its-agriculture-biological-subsidiary-lavie-bio-ltd-to-icl-group.html Thu, 10 Jul 2025 10:38:22 +0530 Evogene announces completion of transaction for the sale of Lavie Bio's activity to ICL The leading computational biology company that develops innovative life-science products based on artificial intelligence and predictive biology, Evangene Ltd., Evogene has sold Lavie Bio's operations to ICL Group, including MicroBoost AI for AG. Earlier this year, Evogene announced its corporate strategy of selling subsidiaries in order to generate financial resources, while narrowing the company's focus to the development of small molecules-based products for pharmaceuticals and agriculture – an area where our ChemPass AI engine provides us with a competitive edge. In collaboration with Google Cloud, we have developed a breakthrough foundational model for generative molecule design using our ChemPass AI engine. This milestone strengthens Evogene's position as a tech-driven leader in life-science innovation. Evangene has closed a deal in which it divested most of its agriculture-biologicals subsidiary, Lavie Bio Ltd., to ICL Group Ltd involving most of its assets and activities. Evogene has also transferred to ICL its proprietary MicroBoost AI for AG platform, which accelerates microbial product development in agriculture. A definitive agreement was signed between ICL and Lavie Bio acquire the company's proprietary Biology Driven Design (BDD) platform, microbial bank, pipeline of advanced development programs, and current commercial product offerings. Lavie Bio's core personnel will also be transferred to ICL. Concurrently, Evogene has divested its MicroBoost AI Tech-Engine for Agriculture, a computational engine designed to optimize microbial discovery and development through artificial intelligence, for additional consideration. Dr. Elinor Erez, VP R&D of Growing Solutions, ICL, stated: "This strategic acquisition of Lavie Bio reflects ICL's continued drive to lead the global ag-biologicals market. By integrating Lavie Bio's platform with ICL's R&D expertise in plant nutrition solutions, global sales network, and field-based agronomy teams, we are strengthening our ability to deliver the next generation of biological solutions. This move enhances our end-to-end innovation pipeline and reinforces ICL's role in advancing sustainable agriculture at scale." Computational biology company Evogene aims to revolutionize product development by implementing cutting-edge technologies to increase success probability while reducing development time and costs. A number of unique technological engines based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence were developed by Evogene - MicroBoost AI, ChemPass AI, and GeneRator AI - and incorporated deep multidisciplinary understanding of life sciences. MicroBoost AI is focused on discovering and developing products based on microbes, ChemPass AI is focused on small molecules, and GeneRator AI is focused on genetic elements. A wide range of products are developed by Evogene through subsidiaries and strategic partnerships. As of now, Evogene's main subsidiaries are developing human microbiome-based therapeutics through Biomica Ltd., ag-chemicals through AgPlenus Ltd., and ag-biologicals through Lavie Bio Ltd. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3079/australias-agrigen-to-establish-bruneis-first-private-food-laboratory.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3079/australias-agrigen-to-establish-bruneis-first-private-food-laboratory.html Fri, 04 Jul 2025 10:01:23 +0530 FDI-backed food lab to deliver faster, precision testing for Brunei’s food industry, supporting export growth Australia’s AgriGen has signed an agreement with Brunei-based FarmFresh Industries to establish Brunei’s first private food testing laboratory. The Brunei Integrated Analytical Laboratory (BIAL) is planned to be set up in the coming months. By expanding testing options for the industry, the lab is positioned to become a key support service for Brunei’s food sector — one of the country’s five priority sectors for economic diversification. The pioneering project is targeting to commence operations between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, initially occupying two floors of an existing building in a phased expansion approach. Once operational, BIAL is expected to offer faster turnaround times and a broader range of testing services, many of which are currently outsourced overseas or available only through government agencies and higher education institutions. The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between AgriGen and FarmFresh to collaborate on the establishment of BIAL took place on July 1 at the Rizqun International Hotel, on the sidelines of the Brunei Business Conference 2025. BIAL aims to become an ISO-certified centre of excellence for real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing in the region. RT-PCR is a highly sensitive, DNA-based method used to detect and measure the presence of specific organisms, such as viruses, bacteria, or to confirm the species identity of an ingredient. It plays a key role in halal verification, traceability, and meeting export standards. BIAL will also specialise in the manufacture and development of reagents — the chemical substances used to trigger reactions in lab tests. Producing these locally will help avoid supply disruptions and support future research and commercial opportunities. BIAL’s core testing capabilities will span four main areas: Microbiological testing Checks for harmful bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Vibrio, and overall bacteria levels in food. These tests help ensure food is safe to eat and free from contamination — commonly used for seafood, raw meat, and ready-to-eat products. Chemistry testing Analyses food and water for trace metals and other chemical components to ensure products meet safety and quality standards. Applicable to raw ingredients, processed foods, and water used in food production. Residue and contaminant testing Detects the presence of pesticides, antibiotics, and allergens in food products to ensure compliance with safety regulations. Important for farms, processors, and manufacturers producing for both local and international markets. Molecular biology testing Uses DNA-based methods such as PCR to detect viruses, confirm species identity, and identify genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Supports halal verification, traceability, and market-specific labelling and certification requirements. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3074/syngenta-to-expand-nature-inspired-solutions-for-farmers-with-biologicals.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3074/syngenta-to-expand-nature-inspired-solutions-for-farmers-with-biologicals.html Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:53:15 +0530 Market value of agricultural biologicals products expected to exceed $20 billion by 2030 Syngenta is accelerating the rollout of its nature-inspired, science-based biological solutions, responding to rising demand for sustainable, high-performance tools that help farmers boost productivity efficiently and responsibly. It also contributes toward Syngenta’s fulfilment of commitments outlined in its Sustainability Priorities. Jonathan Brown, Global Head Biologicals & Seedcare, comments: “With our recent partnerships and acquisitions and extended manufacturing capacities, Syngenta is positioning itself as the leader in biologicals. Our scientific expertise is at the forefront of our research and development efforts to provide farmers with the next generation of biologicals, helping them transition towards more sustainable farming practices, such as regenerative agriculture.” In December 2024, the company acquired Intrinsyx Bio, a California-based start-up specializing in the development of nutrient-use efficiency products. Most recently, in early 2025, Syngenta concluded the integration of Novartis’ Strains and Natural Products Collection, the repository of natural compounds and genetic strains for agricultural use. These additions will accelerate the development of biologicals, bringing new tools to the market as a sustainable complement to conventional crop protection solutions. Also in 2025, Syngenta opened a 22,000 m² biologicals facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, in the United States, which is purpose-built to produce 16,000 tons of biostimulants annually. This new manufacturing facility complements Syngenta’s existing global network of biologicals’ manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Italy, India and Norway. These strategic milestones effectively enhance both Syngenta’s R&D, operating out of the centers of excellence in Stein, Switzerland; Jealott’s Hill, UK; Atessa, Italy; and production capacity for biologicals, facilitating Syngenta’s roll out of its biologicals pipeline, with multiple candidates demonstrating strong commercial potential with projected annual sales above USD 100 million. Syngenta Biologicals posted strong Q1 2025 results, with standout performance in North America and China. The global biologicals market is growing at around 10% CAGR and is projected to reach nearly USD 20 billion by 2030, according to AgbioInvestor and Syngenta’s estimate, underlining the pivotal role of biologicals in the future of sustainable farming. Derived predominantly from naturally occurring substances, biologicals offer significant potential for sustainable agriculture. The market can be categorized into three main categories: Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) products – Any substance or microorganism to improve macro- and micronutrient availability and uptake to promote growth and enhance yield Biocontrols – Naturally derived products for managing pests, diseases, and weeds. Biostimulants – Products enhancing natural plant processes to improve abiotic stress tolerance and crop quality. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3068/kws-and-limagrain-to-divest-north-american-joint-venture-agreliant-genetics-to-gdm.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3068/kws-and-limagrain-to-divest-north-american-joint-venture-agreliant-genetics-to-gdm.html Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:02:24 +0530 This transaction marks an important milestone for Vilmorin & Cie, enabling to further focus on its strategic priorities and to reinforce its other territories as it continues advancing on its Ambition 2030 roadmap. The seed companies KWS and Limagrain announced the sale of their North American Joint Venture (JV) AgReliant Genetics to GDM, a global leader in plant genetics. The three companies signed a binding agreement. The AgReliant Genetics Joint Venture (50/50) was established in 2000 between Limagrain and KWS. AgReliant specializes in research, production, and sale of seeds and offers high-performance varieties for corn, soybeans and other seeds across North America. “We are proud of what AgReliant has accomplished over the past 25 years. It has successfully built a business serving North American farmers with high-performing germplasm”, explains Nicolás Wielandt, KWS Executive Board member responsible for the corn business. “Capitalizing on the strength and experience of GDM as the world leader in soybean genetics and future owner, I am convinced that AgReliant will become a stronger player to the benefit of its clients and employees.” With this step, KWS is consistently pursuing its strategy of long-term profitable growth and independent decision-making to support the future needs of farming. This includes the further strengthening of KWS’ leading position in key crops throughout innovations, the development of a strong footprint in the vegetable seed market, the supply for an increasing demand of plant-based protein and driving the hybridization of different crops forward. Regarding the corn business, KWS is realigning its portfolio, focusing more strongly on the European market, where it holds a profitable leading position. In addition, geographically, KWS will expand its existing successful product portfolio of sugarbeet, cereals, and vegetable varieties in North America. The total transaction amount for the KWS shares in AgReliant and related germplasm is in the low three-digit million range (USD). Further details remain confidential. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2025. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3046/wilbur-ellis-talam-biotech-to-collaborate-on-us-food-crop-solution-for-heavy-metals.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3046/wilbur-ellis-talam-biotech-to-collaborate-on-us-food-crop-solution-for-heavy-metals.html Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:37:59 +0530 Companies enter market development agreement for novel approach to reducing toxic elements in food. Wilbur-Ellis, a leading provider of innovative solutions for agriculture, announced that it has entered a US market development agreement with Talam Biotech, a biological technologies start-up, for Talam's natural microbial approach to reducing heavy metal uptake by crops. "Reducing exposure to heavy metals in food demands a system-wide approach that starts at the farm," said John Chrosniak, Talam Biotech Chief Executive Officer. "Collaboration with agriculture innovation leaders like Wilbur-Ellis is key to unlocking the potential of our technology." Talam researchers have developed a technology that uses naturally occurring soil microbes to reduce bioavailability of toxic heavy metals to crops. Reduced uptake by plants means less contaminants in grains, vegetables and fruits, with a direct positive impact on human health and crop yield in some cases. "Talam's technology can make farmers significant players in addressing the challenge of heavy metals in food, with the potential to improve yields as well," said Chris Wooley, Wilbur-Ellis Portfolio Manager-Specialty Actives. "We've been impressed with Talam's early test results and are looking forward to helping bring this important innovation to US customers." Heavy metals occur naturally in the environment and are also a result of human activity. They enter the food supply through the water and soil used to grow crops. Improving the understanding of the content and exposure of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in food and their impact on human health has increased consumer concerns and regulatory scrutiny around the world. An International Food and Information Council survey of US consumers released last fall found that 64 percent of Americans are "very or extremely concerned" about heavy metals in food, with presence in baby food being the top-ranking concern. This report also shows that among this group of consumers, half say they have changed their eating habits as a result. Early in 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration released action levels for lead in baby food. At the same time, California's Bill AB899 introducing requirements for testing and disclosure of heavy metals in baby foods went into effect. Maryland, Virginia, and Illinois have approved similar Bills to California's in the last few months. Talam anticipates commercial launch of a wheat product in 2027. Additional products for vegetables, grains, and root crops will follow. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3044/bayer-advances-tomato-virus-defense-with-gene-stacked-resistance-strategy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3044/bayer-advances-tomato-virus-defense-with-gene-stacked-resistance-strategy.html Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:33:04 +0530 As the global tomato industry faces the challenge of the highly infectious Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), Bayer is leading the charge in developing innovative, long-term solutions to protect crops and ensure profitability for growers. In an exclusive interview, Javier Quintero, Global Lead for Tomato R&D at Bayer's Crop Science division, shares insights into the company's groundbreaking work on multi-stacked resistance an advanced strategy designed to outsmart the virus's rapid mutation rate.Quintero discusses the limitations of first-generation resistant varieties and explains the science behind gene stacking. He also provides details on the results from recent high-pressure virus trials, showcasing how Bayer's latest hybrids combine durable disease resistance with superior fruit quality and yield. Furthermore, he highlights how these innovations are specifically tailored for high-tech glasshouse markets and hints at future applications of the resistance-stacking strategy in other major crops.With new product launches expected in 2025 and strong interest from growers worldwide, Bayer's advancements represent a significant progress in sustainable tomato production and potentially beyond. Could you share what motivated Bayer's focus on developing multi-stacked resistance in tomato varieties? Additionally, could you explain how this approach differs from the first-generation of ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes? This is a very high impact virus, and we did intensive research on plant-virus interactions. The first generation of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) resistant varieties has been useful for immediate solutions to an urgent problem. However, internal and external studies indicated that the virus is actively mutating, and we anticipated for the virus to overcome single gene resistances. For these reasons, several years ago we initiated a horizontal resistance breeding strategy where bringing several genes together provide a good level of resistance that is expected to hold up and be more durable against mutations in the virus. We now have commercial products available with multiple resistant genes, good agronomics, and very nice consumer quality. Furthermore, could you elaborate on the mechanisms by which these multi-stacked resistance genes work to disrupt different stages of the plant-virus interaction? Viruses use host plant replication mechanisms for their multiplication. We have investigated the host-virus interactions in our multiple resistant varieties, and we have found that virus multiplication is significantly slowed down in the new varieties as compared to susceptible varieties. It is our hypothesis that the resistant genes interfere with different steps in the replication process of the virus, and the trials have been supporting this hypothesis. We are also interested in learning more about the key findings from the recent high-pressure virus trials and how these findings validate the durability of these new hybrids. We evaluated the resistance levels of selected candidate tomato varieties through standardized inoculated trials conducted in heated glasshouse conditions. In these trials, plants were inoculated with a Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) suspension 40 days after sowing. Infection was confirmed two weeks later, and symptoms on leaves and fruits were assessed from 25 to 140 days after inoculation using a standardized rating scale. All trials took place in quarantined facilities with the capacity to test approximately 1,000 varieties annually. In a separate study, we tested the performance of four new varieties against a resistance-breaking strain of ToBRFV. Plants were inoculated 15 days after sowing in two parallel trials—one using the standard ToBRFV isolate (St-ToBRFV) and the other using the resistance-breaking mutant strain (RB-ToBRFV). Each trial was conducted in separate glasshouse compartments. Symptom severity was rated at 14 and 21 days post-inoculation using the Gonzáles-Concha (2023) scale, where a score of 1 indicates no visible symptoms and 9 indicates severe symptoms. The susceptible check variety, used as a control, exhibited strong symptoms in both trials—scoring 9 in the St-ToBRFV trial and 5 in the RB-ToBRFV trial—confirming effective inoculation. These results are consistent with findings by Zisi et al. (2024). By contrast, the four Vegetable by Bayer hybrids recorded symptom scores between 1 and 3 across both trials, demonstrating strong and consistent resistance to both the original and mutated virus strains. Could you provide some details on how these new hybrids perform in terms of yield, fruit quality, and shelf life when compared to traditional or earlier resistant varieties? What’s impressive is Bayer products are behaving on par or even better as generations launched before ToBRFV resistance came in. This applies to products we converted ase well as new hybrids, exhibiting durable ToBRFV resistance combined with excellent agronomic features. In others words, no drags are observed linked to ToBRFV resistance within Bayer new launches. We were even able to deliver products with extra specifications and measures of performance that we did not have before. For example, extra resistance to the fungal plant pathogen Passalora fulva, which is absolutely exceptional! This is the type of innovation and benefits that growers appreciate and have been encouraging Bayer to continue developing. With the anticipated launch in 2025, which regions or grower segments are likely to experience the most immediate benefits from these new varieties? Most of the new launches are well adapted to high tech glasshouse growers worldwide. We are currently launching products in major glasshouse market segments (Large Truss, Medium Truss, Beef, Cherries) and are deploying product launches as fast as possible to each market in need of these newly developed solutions. The main challenge we are facing is to supply the high demand for seeds of these new launches, as we need to comply with local regulations. Similarly, we are expecting significant progress in our mid-tech greenhouse program, so stay tuned as additional launches may come soon. We encourage your grower audience to reach out to their local Bayer representatives for the latest information. Finally, looking to the future, does Bayer have plans to apply similar resistance-stacking strategies to other crops that are currently facing threats from fast-mutating viruses? Fast-mutating viruses are a concern across a number of crops, so we’ve established a multi-stack strategy to get and stay ahead of mutation. In tomato, we've already successfully deployed this strategy against TYLCV and TSWV, in addition to ToBRFV, and it’s in development across other solanum crops like peppers and in our cucurbit crops like cucumber, melon and watermelon, to name a few. Shraddha Warde shraddha.warde@mmactiv.com ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3039/kimitec-and-bayer-introduce-two-new-biologics-developed-through-their-alliance.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3039/kimitec-and-bayer-introduce-two-new-biologics-developed-through-their-alliance.html Wed, 18 Jun 2025 10:57:53 +0530 Ambition Complete Gen2 and Ambition Secure Gen2, developed jointly, are currently in the registration process Bayer and Kimitec have announced the launch of two new biological products as a result of their partnership: Ambition Complete Gen2 and Ambition Secure Gen2. Both are currently in the registration process and will join Bayer's portfolio as crop yield enhancers, in line with its commitment to regenerative agriculture. Ambition Complete Gen2 is an innovative gel formulation that improves nutrient uptake, stress resilience, and metabolic activation in plants, delivering more efficient performance. Ambition Secure Gen2 addresses one of the most persistent challenges in plant nutrition: calcium absorption. Its bioformulation, developed from an active matrix, improves calcium mobility and effectiveness in crops, increasing fruit firmness and quality. Both products were developed at the MAAVi Innovation Center, Kimitec's research center, where microbiology, natural chemistry, artificial intelligence, and agronomic knowledge are integrated to design practical and effective solutions for the field. "This launch is not simply an improvement on what already exists, but a true leap forward in the way agricultural solutions are designed," said Alejandro de las Casas, Agro-Business Director at Kimitec. "Our partnership with Bayer demonstrates that biological solutions are now an effective reality, capable of contributing to more resilient, efficient, and sustainable agriculture." This shared vision reflects the commitment of both companies to deliver complementary solutions within a comprehensive agricultural management approach that combines biologicals, crop protection, genetic improvement, and digital tools. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3028/pairwise-grants-gene-editing-tech-to-cimmyt-to-accelerate-smallholder-farm-innovation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3028/pairwise-grants-gene-editing-tech-to-cimmyt-to-accelerate-smallholder-farm-innovation.html Mon, 16 Jun 2025 12:22:09 +0530 Pairwise has signed a landmark licensing agreement with CIMMYT, granting access to its Fulcrum gene editing platform and cutting-edge SHARC CRISPR enzyme. The collaboration aims to fast-track the creation of improved crop varieties for smallholder farmers across 20 countries where CIMMYT operates integrated R&D programs. In a major step toward transforming agriculture in the Global South, agricultural genetics company Pairwise has licensed its advanced Fulcrum™ gene editing platform to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The agreement grants CIMMYT and its National Agricultural Research System (NARS) partners access to powerful gene editing tools—including the SHARC CRISPR enzyme—to accelerate the development of improved, climate-resilient crop varieties for smallholder farmers across more than 20 countries. CIMMYT, headquartered in Mexico and operating in 88 countries, is a key institution within the CGIAR global research network and a leader in food security and climate resilience. The partnership will enable targeted innovation in staple crops such as maize, wheat, and sorghum, as well as regionally important crops like pearl millet, finger millet, pigeon pea, and groundnut. “Advanced breeding techniques replicate what happens in nature in a faster, more focused way,” said Dr. Sarah Hearne, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at CIMMYT. “Access to Fulcrum’s gene editing technology will help us develop and deliver traits that boost resilience and nutrition—tools that smallholder farmers urgently need to improve livelihoods and strengthen food systems.” The Fulcrum™ Platform includes precision tools for cutting, base editing, and templated editing, allowing scientists not only to activate or silence genes, but also fine-tune them—like adjusting a dimmer switch—to optimize desired traits and crop performance. Pairwise Chief Operating Officer Ian Miller noted that the licensing agreement aligns with the company’s mission to make cutting-edge tools available for global agricultural challenges. “Our Fulcrum Platform was built to help scientists tackle urgent, real-world challenges in agriculture,” he said. “By licensing these tools to CIMMYT, we’re enabling real-world solutions for farmers dealing with food insecurity and climate stress.” Gene editing offers the potential to achieve genetic improvements that traditional breeding could reach only over much longer timelines and at higher costs. Through this partnership, such innovations will be brought faster to farmers in regions where they are most needed, with the potential to significantly improve yield, nutrition, and climate resilience. The collaboration also reflects a growing commitment to ensure that the benefits of biotechnology extend to underserved farming communities, supporting food security and sustainable agricultural development across the Global South. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3011/evogene-and-google-cloud-unveil-first-of-its-kind-foundation-model-for-generative-molecule-design.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3011/evogene-and-google-cloud-unveil-first-of-its-kind-foundation-model-for-generative-molecule-design.html Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:34:44 +0530 The new model tackles the complex challenge of designing novel small molecules that satisfy multiple product criteria—an essential capability for applications in both pharmaceuticals and agriculture Evogene Ltd , a leading computational biology company, announced the completion of version 1.0 of its generative AI foundation model for small molecule design, developed in collaboration with Google Cloud. This first-in-class model powers ChemPass AI, Evogene’s platform for small molecule discovery and optimization, and represents a major leap forward in life-science R&D. The model addresses a critical bottleneck in both pharmaceutical and agricultural product development: the ability to design novel small molecules that meet multiple complex criteria—such as efficacy, safety, stability, and patentability—simultaneously. Traditional methods typically handle these challenges in sequence, limiting innovation and IP potential. In contrast, Evogene’s model enables multi-parameter optimization from the start. Trained on a vast dataset of 38 billion molecular structures using Google Cloud’s advanced AI infrastructure, the model has demonstrated approximately 90 per cent precision in generating synthesizable, effective, and patentable molecules—compared to ~29 per cent using conventional GPT-based models. "Completing our foundation model is a major milestone," said Ofer Haviv, President and CEO of Evogene. "It empowers ChemPass AI to create entirely novel, IP-rich molecules, helping to reduce late-stage failures in pharma and bring more effective, sustainable ag-chemicals to market." Boaz Maoz, Managing Director of Google Cloud Israel, added: "Evogene’s innovation showcases the powerful synergy between deep scientific expertise and advanced AI infrastructure. We’re excited to support their work in reshaping drug and ag-chemical discovery." Looking ahead, version 2.0 of the model is already in development, with enhanced flexibility for tailoring molecule design to specific therapeutic or agricultural contexts. It will improve ChemPass AI’s ability to balance real-world constraints—like toxicity, regulatory fit, and cost-effectiveness—making it even more valuable for industry adoption. Evogene is actively engaging with partners in both pharma and ag-tech sectors to integrate ChemPass AI into next-generation product pipelines. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3000/bioworks-introduces-an-advanced-pest-management-solution-for-growers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/3000/bioworks-introduces-an-advanced-pest-management-solution-for-growers.html Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:07:29 +0530 PRINCIPLE WP proves highly effective when used as part of an integrated crop protection strategy BioWorks’ newest biopesticide, PRINCIPLE WP, offers growers a powerful solution for controlling the most stubborn insect pests. Specially formulated to control thrips, aphids, whiteflies, and more, PRINCIPLE WP delivers reliable performance when it’s needed most.   A Cutting-Edge New Solution : PRINCIPLE WP isn’t just another pest control product. Powered by Beauveria bassiana fungal strain BW 149, this newly formulated biopesticide will most certainly improve your pest management program.   “PRINCIPLE WP is a brand-new mycoinsecticide solution for the industry,” says Julie Graesch, BioWorks technical services manager.  “It provides growers with an easy-to-use formulation, broad label with multiple application types including dips, and use in both indoor and outdoor crops.”  Unlike competitive wettable powders that leave behind unsightly residues, PRINCIPLE WP’s formulation offers excellent dispersion in water, minimal dust when mixing, and leaves little to no residue, ensuring crops remain visibly attractive. From food crops to ornamental plants, this biopesticide is ready for action.   In the field, PRINCIPLE WP proves highly effective when used as part of an integrated crop protection strategy. Early adopters have seen effective management of thrips, root aphids, and whiteflies when using PRINCIPLE in a compatible tank-mix or as a rotational partner.  “Depending on a grower’s strategy, it can be tank mixed or rotated with other plant protection products,” Graesch says. “It has a high level of compatibility and pairs well with insect growth regulators, which can be especially important for insects with fast life cycles like aphids and thrips.”  While effective on its own, PRINCIPLE WP works extremely well when paired with insect growth regulators as well as horticultural or essential oil products. These product combinations can quickly knock down high pest populations and give PRINCIPLE WP the upper hand controlling problematic pests.  The spores in PRINCIPLE WP’s formula are designed to target and attack the pests’ vulnerable spots like areas with thin cuticles such as joints and mouthparts. After the spores germinate and penetrate the insect, the fungus will typically kill the insect in 24 to 48 hours depending on the size of the insect.  During this infection period, insects will reduce activities such as feeding and movement.    More than one application is often critical to achieve a consistent high number of spores in the treated environment.  When making applications, ensure full plant or soil coverage to achieve the most effective pest management.  Do not rely on sporulation from infected insects, this will not generate enough spores to control rapidly growing pest populations.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2979/australian-ogtr-accepts-application-for-commercial-approval-of-gm-purple-tomato.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2979/australian-ogtr-accepts-application-for-commercial-approval-of-gm-purple-tomato.html Mon, 02 Jun 2025 12:45:45 +0530 Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received license application DIR 218 from All Aussie Avocados Pty Ltd (operating as All Aussie Farmers) seeking approval for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) tomatoes with purple-colored fruit The GM Purple Tomato is planned for commercial cultivation in greenhouses across Australia, though certain States and Territories may impose restrictions due to marketing or biosecurity concerns. Once approved, the GM Purple Tomato and its derived products would enter general commerce, including human food consumption. Availability in Australia will depend on meeting all regulatory requirements, including clearances from the Gene Technology Regulator, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The OGTR is currently preparing the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan for the application. This document is expected to be released for public consultation in September 2025, inviting feedback from experts, agencies, and authorities, with a minimum 30-day period for submitting comments. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2968/thailands-chula-researchers-culture-global-warming-resistant-corals-for-the-survival-of-marine-ecosystems.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2968/thailands-chula-researchers-culture-global-warming-resistant-corals-for-the-survival-of-marine-ecosystems.html Wed, 28 May 2025 10:18:54 +0530 Corals will be raised in high-temperature environments from birth through artificial insemination Researchers at Chulalongkorn University's Aquatic Resources Research Institute have developed innovative methods to help corals adapt to global warming. Through artificial insemination and raising corals in high-temperature environments from birth, they aim to cultivate corals capable of withstanding rising sea temperatures. In addition, they have introduced cryopreservation techniques to store coral sperm cells for future restoration. Global warming, pollution, and human activities such as tourism and fishing have led to the widespread degradation of coral reefs. Scientists warn that if current trends continue, over 90% of global corals may become extinct within 30 years, threatening marine biodiversity and the global food chain. Professor Dr. Suchana Chavanich, Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Deputy Director of the Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, and Deputy Director of Chula Unisearch, and her team have been conducting coral breeding research since 2005. They found that corals raised in warmer water conditions (32-34 °C") since birth adapt better to global warming. These corals, called "Corals Against Global Warming," have shown promising survival and reproductive rates after being released into the sea. Corals naturally reproduce sexually and asexually, but these methods are slow and increasingly unreliable due to climate change. The team developed artificial insemination techniques, collecting coral eggs and sperm during full-moon spawning events. The fertilized embryos are raised on terra cotta bricks in nurseries for two years and then reintroduced into the ocean to grow for another three years. These corals are ready to spawn at age five, significantly improving survival rates. However, this method is costly, with each coral embryo costing around $100 compared to $1 for the coral fragmentation technique. Despite the cost, the high resilience to bleaching makes the investment worthwhile. To further ensure the survival of coral species, the team collaborated with Taiwanese scientists to apply cryogenic technology. Coral sperm has been successfully frozen for future use, while egg freezing is still being developed. This approach could allow for coral revival when ocean conditions improve. Prof. Dr. Suchana emphasizes that coral conservation must be a collective effort involving reef restoration, pollution reduction, public awareness, and sustained funding. With coordinated action, the revival and long-term survival of coral ecosystems is still possible. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2938/new-east-west-seed-facility-set-to-drive-innovation-in-hybrid-crop-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2938/new-east-west-seed-facility-set-to-drive-innovation-in-hybrid-crop-development.html Wed, 21 May 2025 11:11:11 +0530 Beyond developing disease-resistant vegetables, East-West Seed (EWS) Philippines stands out for its unwavering commitment to putting farmers at the heart of everything it does—guided by the belief that planting seeds of goodness today will yield greater benefits for communities tomorrow This vision was clearly reflected when East-West Seed (EWS) inaugurated its new 36-hectare Hortanova Research Center in San Juan, Batangas. During the inauguration ceremony, EWS CEO Jean-Christophe “JC” Filippi emphasized that this milestone marks not only the company’s dedication to innovation and excellence, but more importantly, its enduring commitment to farmers—who remain the backbone of EWS’s success. “East-West Seed has always been a company driven by innovation. Our mission is simple yet profound: to empower farmers by providing them with the best vegetable seeds—seeds capable of withstanding the challenges of a changing climate, improving yields, and most importantly, securing farmers’ livelihoods,” said EWS CEO Jean-Christophe “JC” Filippi during the inauguration. Filippi further emphasized that the Hortanova Research Center is more than just a research investment—it’s a long-term commitment to the future of Philippine agriculture. According to Ruby Samonte, Country Head of Research and Development at East-West Seed (EWS), the decision to build the Hortanova Research Center in a rice-based area was intentional. She explained that doing so allows the company to develop climate-resilient vegetable varieties that are well-suited to local growing conditions. “This location can serve as a bridge for rice farmers—who make up the majority in this region—to explore vegetable farming as a viable alternative,” Samonte said. While the facility is based in San Juan, Batangas, she emphasized that its benefits will not be limited to the local community. “Breeding in this type of environment opens opportunities across the Philippines for rice farmers to diversify their crop cycles with adaptable vegetable varieties,” she added. Samonte underscored that the key outcome of this facility will be the development of innovative products with superior traits—prioritizing disease resistance, climate adaptability, and ultimately, higher yields. “Most importantly, higher yields mean increased income for smallholder farmers, which directly supports their livelihoods,” she said. She also highlighted the importance of seed accessibility and affordability, which she sees as critical in enabling more farmers to transition into vegetable farming and become agri-entrepreneurs. Adding to this, Henk Hermans, EWS General Manager for the Philippines, praised the new facility, describing it as a “beautiful location” with greater capacity for testing and breeding. “This new space gives us everything we need to do the work that matters—developing the next generation of vegetable varieties that are truly farmer-first,” Hermans said. With the expanded space at the Hortanova Research Center, Hermans noted that the team now has the capacity to work more systematically across a wide range of crops and products. This structured approach, he explained, enables more accurate data collection, which in turn significantly enhances EWS’s breeding capabilities. “It’s a major investment for the company,” Hermans said. “So we expect to see a wave of new vegetable varieties—not just for the Philippines, but also for other markets.” Hermans shared that East-West Seed, which began its journey in the Philippines over 43 years ago, has since grown into a global player. Today, the company is actively involved in Africa and Latin America, with many of the vegetables cultivated in those regions being bred right here in the Philippines. While farmers remain at the heart of EWS’s mission, Hermans emphasized that the company also pays close attention to vegetable consumers, constantly monitoring emerging trends to develop products that are both appealing and relevant to modern diets. “Through this, we also aim to increase vegetable consumption in the Philippines,” he added. Hermans also acknowledged the vital role of traders and financers in the agricultural ecosystem. These partners not only support farmers with access to capital but also help ensure that products are optimized—easy to handle, market-ready, and attractive as investments. Hermans emphasized that the success of the Hortanova Research Center will depend not only on the physical facility, but also on the expertise of the people and the methodologies they apply throughout the breeding process. He explained that the hybridization of vegetable varieties is a meticulous and time-intensive effort, often taking up to 10 years before a new product reaches the market. “We have certain methods here, both in Lipa and at this new location, that help us significantly shorten that timeline,” Hermans said. Speeding up the breeding process is essential, he noted, to stay aligned with the rapid pace of market demands and emerging consumer trends. Among the next-generation hybrids showcased during the inauguration were Suprema Gold, a squash variety with intermediate resistance to Squash Leaf Curl Philippines Virus (SLCPV); Datu F1, a hybrid sweet corn variety; and Galante Todo, a promising string bean variant. Maria Venus Bautista, Crop Breeding Manager at East-West Seed, highlighted that their breeding program follows a market-driven approach, carefully considering the real-world challenges farmers face. She cited Suprema Gold as a prime example, developed in response to the widespread prevalence of SLCPV, a major constraint in squash production in the Philippines. “Because of this resistance, we were able to increase production by 30 per cent,” Bautista said, underscoring how targeted breeding solutions can significantly improve farmers' productivity and resilience. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2935/betterseeds-unlocks-the-full-potential-of-crispr-with-breakthrough-edge-delivery-system.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2935/betterseeds-unlocks-the-full-potential-of-crispr-with-breakthrough-edge-delivery-system.html Wed, 21 May 2025 09:55:25 +0530 Effective delivery and function of the gene editing machinery directly within the plant BetterSeeds has achieved a significant breakthrough in plant biotechnology with the completion of its EDGE (Efficient Delivery of Gene Editing) platform. This innovative technology directly addresses a major hurdle hindering the widespread adoption of gene editing technologies like CRISPR: the reliance on inefficient and crop-specific tissue culture methods.  The limitations of tissue culture mean that currently, only a small fraction of commercially important crops (approximately 10) can be efficiently improved using CRISPR. This critical bottleneck was a key discussion point at the recent CROP Innovation and Business conference in Cologne, Germany, which focused on the applications of CRISPR with leading experts and companies highlighting the urgent need for alternative tissue culture free delivery solutions.  While viruses have long been considered a promising delivery vehicle for CRISPR, the large size of the standard CRISPR-Cas9 system has proven to be a significant obstacle. BetterSeeds' EDGE technology overcomes this challenge through the ingenious use of engineered viruses capable of carrying a reengineered, split CRISPR-Cas9. This allows for the effective delivery and function of the gene editing machinery directly within the plant, bypassing the need for tissue culture altogether and resulting in edited progeny.  The successful development of EDGE means that CRISPR could be applied to a far wider range of crops, eliminating a major constraint in agricultural innovation. Furthermore, this direct delivery method significantly reduces the time and resources required for developing gene-edited plants thereby shortening time to market of introducing new improved crops.  "We anticipate that the increasing clarity in CRISPR regulations in Europe and Globally will drive wider adoption of gene editing technology as a standard tool by the seeds industry," commented Ido Margalit, CEO of BetterSeeds. "Our EDGE technology will facilitate this widespread integration, paving the way for the broad and rapid adoption of this powerful technology."  Dr. Tal Sherman, CTO of BetterSeeds, elaborated, "We are already looking ahead with the development of EDGE V.2, which will utilize smaller CRISPR systems. This next generation of EDGE promises to further enhance the efficiency and broaden the applicability of our delivery platform beyond the current capabilities of CRISPR-Cas9."  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2922/bayer-intends-to-focus-on-production-rd-of-its-crop-science-division-in-germany-on-strategic-technologies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2922/bayer-intends-to-focus-on-production-rd-of-its-crop-science-division-in-germany-on-strategic-technologies.html Mon, 19 May 2025 12:49:06 +0530 Decisions are based on the five-year framework of the Crop Science Division Bayer is reorganizing its Crop Science division's activities in the areas of crop protection production and research and development in Germany. The step is necessary to ensure the division's global competitiveness. Manufacturers of generic crop protection products, particularly from Asia, have built significant overcapacity over recent years and are pushing onto the market with persistently low prices, some of which are below the manufacturing costs of crop protection products in Europe. This is exacerbated by increasing regulatory restrictions and national export barriers. In the future, the focus will therefore be even more on strategic, innovative technologies and products that offer growers differentiated value not matched by generics. As a result of the changes, Bayer will discontinue its activities in Frankfurt am Main after the end of 2028. The company aims to sell parts of the activities, while others will be relocated. Production at the Dormagen site will be streamlined to ensure its competitiveness for the future. Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy and Sustainability of the Crop Science division says "This results in difficult decisions that are painful for many colleagues. However, these steps are urgently needed to counteract the significant overcapacity and a hopeless price competition with generics manufacturers from Asia, so that we can maintain production facilities in Germany and continue to produce products competitively for our customers." Bayer aims to sell production activities in Frankfurt, R&D will be concentrated in Monheim At its Frankfurt site, Bayer runs production operations for herbicide active ingredients and formulations, as well as research and development activities for herbicides, employing around 500 people there. However, not all jobs will be lost: Divestment opportunities are being explored for some production activities, while other production activities will be moved to the sites in Dormagen and Knapsack, or integrated into the European formulation network. Research and development activities will be optimized from a cost perspective, and all essential activities will be relocated to the main site in Monheim am Rhein where research and development for insecticides and, to some extent, for fungicides is already located. About two years ago, Bayer also started construction of a state-of-the-art facility for the development of crop protection products in Monheim. These measures will strengthen Monheim as a focused center for research and development of crop protection products. Germany will thus remain Bayer's most important location for research and development of crop protection products worldwide. Reorganization to secure the future at the Dormagen site The Dormagen site will remain Bayer's production facility with the largest portfolio of active ingredients and crop protection products and will be streamlined to ensure its competitiveness for the future. Capacities will be focused on innovative and strategic technologies and products that differentiate Bayer from competitors. Production of various generic active ingredients and their associated formulations, which are available at significantly lower prices on the global market, will be discontinued. These changes will be implemented gradually by the end of 2028. Based on current planning they will impact approximately 200 positions in active ingredient production and formulation, of the nearly 1,200 employees at the site. "Through the restructuring measures, we are positioning the Dormagen site to be able to continue to play a leading role in Bayer's global production network. We are also working with employee representatives on socially responsible solutions for the affected colleagues in Dormagen," said Frank Terhorst. In March, Bayer presented a comprehensive "five-year framework" to counter the challenges facing the Crop Science division and to ensure global competitiveness. The reorganization at the German sites is a result of the "five-year framework." Bayer is focusing on its strengths as an innovation company to provide new technologies that improve food security worldwide. Innovative active ingredients for crop protection products are critical in doing so with several blockbusters to be launched from the Crop Science research and development pipeline over the next ten years ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2904/biosolutions-and-resource-recycling-are-reshaping-agriculture-and-food-industries-in-singapore.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2904/biosolutions-and-resource-recycling-are-reshaping-agriculture-and-food-industries-in-singapore.html Wed, 14 May 2025 11:20:17 +0530 Novonesis Co-Hosts Partnering Day 2025 in Singapore to advance Biosolutions for a Sustainable Future Novonesis, a world-leading biosolutions company, co-hosted its "Unlocking Value for a Sustainable Future" Partnering Day 2025 in Singapore together with Novo Holdings and Flagship Pioneering. The event focused on reshaping the agriculture and food industries through biosolutions and resource recycling. Leaders from food, agri-business, and waste management explored resource optimisation, while industry executives exchanged insights into scaling innovative biosolutions. Investors identified high-growth opportunities in biosolutions and circular economy models for sustainable business impact. The Partnering Day 2025 provided a platform for leaders in business, capital, and innovation to advance circular, bio-based solutions. Showcasing real-world advances including waste valorisation and resource optimisation, the event highlighted how biosolutions are shaping the future of food and agriculture. Novonesis is a global company specializing in biosolutions. Through microbiology and science, Novonesis transforms the way we live, produce, and consume and benefits over 30 industries. Microbes, enzymes, and other technologies are being used to develop biosolutions for a sustainable food system as the world population reaches 9.8 billion by 2050. Ignacio Martinez, General Partner of Flagship Pioneering Rasmus Bjørnø, Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Danish Embassy in Singapore and Anders Spohr, Managing Partner and Head of Planetary Health at Novo Holdings, outlining the strategic role of biosolutions in reshaping agriculture and food systems. Representatives from three hosting companies shared their insights on what roles that biosolutions and capital play along the way to foster a more sustainable future. Lensey Chen, APAC President of Novonesis, Ignacio Martinez, General Partner of Flagship Pioneering, together with esteemed speakers from industry, NGOs as well as academia explored topics such as resource efficiency, the bioeconomy, and the importance of partnerships in accelerating the bio-revolution. Case studies highlighted how companies are using biosolutions to unlock new value streams and drive sustainable growth. With the planet's resources under growing strain, biosolutions are enabling transformation not just in fields and factories, but across entire value chains. In fields, factories, and homes, they are transforming production by unlocking sustainable protein sources and helping farmers increase efficiency while reducing the use of chemicals, fossil resources, energy, and water. Biosolutions also turn waste into high-value products, enabling economic growth in a sustainable way. Copenhagen Economics Report found that if we made more use of just some biosolutions, we could cut global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4.3 billion tonnes. That's 8% of total global emissions. For every job created in biotech in general, additional 2 jobs are created across the value chain.   Lensey Chen, APAC President of Novonesis, commented: "We know every customer's needs are unique, our portfolio of biosolutions is the market's broadest, and can be used to expand operations through greater flexibility. This is why partnership is key, I am happy to extend an invitation on behalf of Novonesis as a potential partner, we are here to help take our collaboration to a new level of performance by working together with you." Deepa Hingorani, Partner and Head of Planetary Health Asia, Novo Holdings added: "The bioeconomy holds exponential potential, and we see partnerships as essential to unlocking it. We hope today marks the beginning of deeper cross-sector collaboration and a shared commitment to shaping a more sustainable future together." Headquartered in Copenhagen, Novonesis holds a portfolio spanning enzymes, microbes, and fermentation-based technologies. The company plays a pivotal role in advancing biosolutions across food, health, agriculture, and sustainability. Partnering Day 2025 reflects Novonesis' ongoing commitment to driving greater impact through innovation, collaboration, and science-based solutions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2886/a-breakthrough-in-the-development-of-rna-herbicides-to-advance-the-development-of-sustainable-bioherbicides.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2886/a-breakthrough-in-the-development-of-rna-herbicides-to-advance-the-development-of-sustainable-bioherbicides.html Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:44:05 +0530 A non-GMO approach to weed management targets weeds with precision as an alternative to chemical herbicide-resistant weeds GreenLight Biosciences, a pioneering agricultural biotechnology company, has announced a significant breakthrough in its bioherbicide development pipeline. A new era in weed control GreenLight Bio's RNA-based solution introduces a novel MOA that works with biology rather than against it. GreenLight Bio's RNAi platform of foliar-applied sprays precisely targets essential weed plant functions, leaving crops and the surrounding environment unharmed. The RNA molecules break down quickly, reducing environmental persistence while maintaining efficacy and leaving no harmful residue on crops. This approach offers a much-needed alternative that reduces the need for chemical herbicides that persist in the environment and face increasing regulatory and activist scrutiny. Further, GreenLight Bio aims to leverage its RNA platform for agricultural innovation, including developing non-GMO solutions for enhanced crop heat tolerance and improved plant defense mechanisms. The Company's next solution targets control of Varroa mites, a devastating pest of honeybees, which was submitted to EPA for regulatory review in early 2023. A leader in RNA for agriculture, GreenLight Biosciences has a broad pipeline addressing insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide pain points for farmers. According to greenhouse and field trials conducted by the Company, RNA technology is consistent and effective for controlling difficult to kill weeds. In addition to enhancing efficacy, RNA technology can also be used in conjunction with conventional herbicides to reduce overall toxicity and herbicide load. This strategy enables farmers to easily integrate an RNA solution into their current weed management practices. Over time, GreenLight Bio aims to develop a range of standalone RNA-based solutions for row crops and specialty crops that address a wide variety of problematic weed species with precision, further reduce environmental burdens and alleviate resistance issues common among conventional pesticides, including herbicides. The Company's lead product candidate is designed to control horseweed (Conyza canadensis). Using expertise in biology and proprietary AI-enabled design tools, GreenLight Bio created a pipeline of over 180 possible choices and selected the lead candidate. Horseweed is one of the most problematic weeds in no-till agriculture, particularly in soy production. Andrey Zarur, CEO of GreenLight Biosciences said "Our RNA-based platform introduces a revolutionary, non-GMO approach to weed management. This breakthrough not only targets weeds with precision but also paves the way for potential solutions that can help farmers reduce their reliance on traditional chemical herbicides like glyphosate." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2875/icl-to-acquire-the-activity-of-evogenes-subsidiary-lavie-bio.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2875/icl-to-acquire-the-activity-of-evogenes-subsidiary-lavie-bio.html Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:20:35 +0530 Lavie Bio improves agriculture productivity and sustainability through microbiome-based ag-biological products Evogene Ltd. a leading computational biology company focused on revolutionizing life-science-based product discovery and development, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which ICL, will acquire the majority of activity of Evogene's subsidiary, Lavie Bio Ltd. As part of the agreement, ICL will also acquire Evogene's MicroBoost AI for AG platform. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2025, subject to the fulfillment of customary closing conditions. Lavie Bio is a recognized leader in the ag-biologicals industry with a robust pipeline of microbiome-based ag-biological products. Key assets to be transferred to ICL include Lavie Bio's core team, the BDD technology platform, the company's microbial bank and data assets, the majority of the company's development programs, and its commercial products. Additionally, ICL will acquire Evogene's MicroBoost AI for AG platform. Lavie Bio's existing agreements with its current partners will not be transferred to ICL and may generate future revenue for Lavie Bio's shareholders. This transaction follows strategic investment by ICL Planet and more than two years of close collaboration between ICL and Lavie Bio, focused on developing innovative bio-stimulant solutions for row crops facing various abiotic stresses. "Today marks a significant milestone in Lavie Bio's journey," said Amit Noam, CEO of Lavie Bio. "By combining our capabilities with ICL's expertise, we can further accelerate the development of groundbreaking ag-biological products that will provide innovative solutions to farmers around the world."  "This transaction reflects Evogene's ongoing strategy to unlock the value of its assets for the benefit of its shareholders," said Ofer Haviv, CEO of Evogene. "We are confident that the integration of Lavie Bio's activities into ICL will significantly advance the global ag-biologicals field and drive impactful innovation in agriculture." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2838/global-agreement-to-advance-new-high-performance-biological-crop-protection-technology-signed.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2838/global-agreement-to-advance-new-high-performance-biological-crop-protection-technology-signed.html Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:29:53 +0530 Futureco Bioscience and Sumitomo Corporation to evaluate proprietary biological crop protection technology In a strategic move to advance sustainable agriculture and biological innovation, Futureco Bioscience, a Spanish biotechnology manufacturer specializing in environmentally responsible crop protection and biostimulation, has signed a global evaluation with licensing option agreement with Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world’s largest integrated trading companies. The agreement concerns a proprietary biological crop protection technology, developed and patented by Futureco Bioscience, which is currently undergoing registration in both Europe and the United States. The agreement, signed by Rafael Juncosa, President & CEO of Futureco Bioscience and Marcos Mares, Director of the Global Business Development Office of the Agribusiness Strategic Business Unit at Sumitomo Corporation, sets the foundation for a future licensing deal for worldwide commercial exploitation. At the core of this agreement is a novel biocontrol product, based on the proprietary strain B2017 of Pseudomonas alloputida. This biological solution has demonstrated consistent and robust efficacy in both internal studies and independently conducted field trials. It provides broad-spectrum control against key fungal and bacterial pathogens of agronomic importance, including Powdery mildew, Downy mildew, Botrytis spp., Pseudomonas syringae, and Xanthomonas spp. The product is protected under international patents and is advancing through regulatory processes in key agricultural markets. This strategic agreement reinforces the ongoing collaboration between Futureco Bioscience and Sumitomo Corporation—shareholder of the Spanish biotech firm through its European subsidiary, SUMI AGRO EUROPE—and marks a significant milestone in Futureco Bioscience’s international expansion. By leveraging Sumitomo Corporation’s global infrastructure and direct access to key agricultural markets, Futureco Bioscience will reinforce its leadership in scientific innovation, product development, and the positioning of next-generation biological solutions worldwide. Through its Agribusiness Strategic Business Unit, Sumitomo Corporation is working to expand its presence in smart and sustainable agriculture. The collaboration with Futureco Bioscience, a key partner in the development of innovative biological solutions, reflects this strategic direction. Rafael Juncosa, CEO and President of Futureco Bioscience, stated, “Sumitomo Corporation has an inspiring history and exceptional global capacity in agriculture. This agreement marks a key milestone in our strategy to scale our products through trusted global partnerships. We are proud to be working together to bring this innovative solution closer to growers worldwide, offering effective and environmentally sound crop protection.”Ivan Tapia, Global Business Development Manager for Biologicals at the Agribusiness Unitadded: “B2017 is a promising and innovative active ingredient, with exceptional performance over fungal diseases where efficacy of biologicals currently present in the marketplace is rather limited. We are very excited about the prospect of adding this biocontrol agent to our SEIPRO portfolio, our global umbrella brand for biosolutions. Futureco Bioscience brings deep technical expertise that, added to Sumi/Summit Agro’s global footprint and knowledge about go-to-market strategies, will strengthen our presence in the biologicals plant protection segment and clearly reinforce our shared vision of clean, efficient, and sustainable agriculture.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2834/todd-introduces-the-worlds-first-regenerative-vegetable-and-flower-seeds.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2834/todd-introduces-the-worlds-first-regenerative-vegetable-and-flower-seeds.html Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:06:09 +0530 Partners with small and medium scale organic and biodynamic farms to restore farmland and surrounding ecosystems Todd, a generative agriculture firm is introducing the world's first regeneratively grown seed products, developed to reverse the damage caused by over-farming and synthetic fertilizers, by exhibiting tolerance to regenerative farming practices that heal the earth. Committed to setting a new standard in regenerative agriculture, Todd has transformed into a renowned agriculture firm by partnering with small and medium scale organic and biodynamic farms to restore farmland and surrounding ecosystems. This restoration is achieved by naturally enriching soil, increasing biodiversity, and restoring watersheds. Todd has earned widespread recognition from world-class farms, retailers, non-profit organizations, and the larger consumer base of Todd's clients, further moving our economy and culture closer towards a regenerative model. This recognition has allowed clients to differentiate themselves in competitive markets and build farm reputation. Beyond Todd's proven environmental impact, regenerative agriculture has the potential to transform what farmers grow, resulting in more nutrient-rich crops. Healthy soil yields thriving crops, and healthier crops combined with ecologically and socially responsible practices, contribute to a healthier world and society. This marks a strategic move for Todd to go beyond regenerative practices and explore further innovations to combat deteriorating soil and food quality, with an industry-first combination of seed products and farm management. Todd's extensive seed production program is built on decades of experience, from variety selection and trialing to final seed production. Todd has consistently maintained its longstanding reputation as the qualitative benchmark for unparalleled standards. Several of Todd's staple seed products include some of the world's rarest and most acclaimed genetics, which the Todd family is credited with saving from near extinction. This approach positions Todd in a category all its own, one focused on healthier food systems, increased biodiversity, strengthened communities, and improved farmer livelihoods. Todd produces its seed products on its own research farms located throughout the US, and in close partnership with several family-owned regenerative farms to trial varieties and produce seed. Every one of the over 2,000 vegetable and flower varieties are produced and tested each year, allowing complete quality control and traceability. Todd's in-house testing lab ensures quality, genetic purity, performance, and tolerance, while guaranteeing germination minimums that far exceed federal standards, and maintaining some of the highest standards in the industry. Todd seed products will be available to active clients who meet program requirements starting in summer 2025. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2830/syngenta-partners-with-agrauxine-by-lesaffre-to-distribute-biofungicides.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2830/syngenta-partners-with-agrauxine-by-lesaffre-to-distribute-biofungicides.html Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:59:44 +0530 STROVEQ and SPREXIMA utilize Agrauxine’s unique strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast as Biofungicides Syngenta Crop Protection has signed an agreement with Agrauxine by Lesaffre to private label and exclusively distribute Syngenta’s products STROVEQ® and SPREXIMA®. STROVEQ is a systemic resistance inducer and SPREXIMA, is a biofungicide. These products will be sold and distributed in the ornamental market in the US. This agreement further strengthens the collaboration between Agrauxine and Syngenta. Both STROVEQ and SPREXIMA utilize Agrauxine’s unique strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. STROVEQ is a systemic resistance Inducer (SRI) that acts preventively to prepare plants to defend against fungal attacks. SPREXIMA prevents disease infections by protecting fruits, flowers and wounds. “We are extremely excited to partner with Syngenta” states Ariel Gohlke, North American Regional Manager for Agrauxine. “This agreement is another opportunity to expand the reach of our technology. Syngenta will be an excellent partner for us to reach more markets with our unique products.” Syngenta has been investing significantly in strengthening its portfolio of biological solutions for both plant and seed health. It has continued to expand its portfolio of cutting-edge biological solutions through various commercial and research collaborations. “Syngenta consistently looks to bring new innovations to serve the Ornamental market,” says Carson Cashwell, Ornamental Market Manager for Syngenta. “Our partnership with Agrauxine will provide Ornamental growers with new solutions to help protect their crops while leveraging Syngenta’s existing portfolio and team.” The agreement states that Syngenta shall have the right to sell the products at its discretion and is authorized to distribute through its own distribution channels in the US. The initial term of the agreement is 5 years.  STROVEQ and SPREXIMA are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2833/a-global-assessment-of-plant-genetic-resources-for-food-and-agriculture-is-released-by-the-fao.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2833/a-global-assessment-of-plant-genetic-resources-for-food-and-agriculture-is-released-by-the-fao.html Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:52:42 +0530 Global assessment is based on information provided by 128 countries, four regional centres  and 13 international centres through the FAO World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources (WIEWS) A sustainable cropping system is dependent on Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) - plants that are currently harvested or have potential to be harvested for food and agriculture. The publication, The Third Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Third Report), presents the results of a comprehensive assessment of the global status and trends, including progress made and the remaining constraints, regarding the conservation and use of PGRFA since 2011. It documents progress and constraints in the management of PGRFA. The Third Report is part of a series of publications of the results of periodic assessments, which are prepared under the aegis of FAO’s Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The gaps and needs identified in the past reports have triggered a policy response: the rolling Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, a set of agreed priorities to guide FAO Members’ work on these resources that underpin agrifood systems. This global assessment is based on information provided by 128 countries, four regional centres  and 13 international centres through the FAO World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources (WIEWS). Overall, over 1 600 experts, including scientists, curators and breeders, contributed to this publication, which addresses the statuses of in situ conservation and on-farm management, ex situ conservation, and sustainable use of PGRFA, and human and institutional capacities. The report shows a complex situation with regard to the global status of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Overall progress has been achieved in preserving these resources, by expanding conservation areas in the wild, enlarging collections in genebanks, as well as improving documentation and access to them, and, therefore, enhancing their use in breeding and seed systems. However, progress has been uneven and insufficient across regions and countries. This was due to the challenges faced by national programmes in addressing environmental and social pressures. Additionally, the impressive technological advancements achieved in several fields, especially biology and informatics, have not been adequately harnessed in most countries. The report highlights a worrisome level of threatened diversity of PGRFA. This is particularly the case for two important plant groups, crop wild relatives, which can be a unique source of adaptative traits to environmental stressors, and wild food plants. The latter are often used to complement diets by local communities. Wild food plants also provide opportunities for diversifying cropping systems through their domestication. The replacement of local varieties in cropping systems is also a matter of concern, leading to a decline in on-farm diversity and the loss of associated traditional knowledge. Documentation of valuable information on traits, such as drought tolerance, pest resistance and nutritional content also requires attention. Furthermore, too many genebanks around the world don’t take advantage of existing improved genebank management information systems, which can significantly help in carrying out good curation practices, as well as data analysis and dissemination.  In many countries, there is a need for an effective and harmonized policy framework. Many countries still lack dedicated PGRFA strategies that integrate conservation and sustainable use as a seamless process, from conservation to breeding and seed delivery systems. National PGRFA programmes often lack adequate provisions for skilled human resources and efficient infrastructure. Long-term investments for developing capacity and for raising public awareness on the importance of PGRFA, are also often missing or poorly funded. Weaknesses in collaboration and partnerships within and between national institutions, research centres, networks and international institutions also remain unaddressed in many countries. These issues have to be addressed because the stakes are high. Here, food security and nutrition are at stake. The target audience is broad. They range from researchers to PGRFA practitioners, donors, and policymakers. The information contained in the report is a baseline for future assessments and for monitoring changes in PGRFA diversity and their use. The gaps and needs identified will be used to set priorities for the effective management of these resources. They will also feed into updating the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2829/twist-bioscience-and-curio-genomics-collaborate-to-accelerate-and-streamline-ngs-adoption-in-agrigenomics.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2829/twist-bioscience-and-curio-genomics-collaborate-to-accelerate-and-streamline-ngs-adoption-in-agrigenomics.html Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:12:42 +0530 Collaboration to enable cost-effective end-to-end genotyping across large animal and plant populations Twist Bioscience Corporation, a core mid-cap growth and value equity company in the life sciences segment of the health care sector, and Curio Genomics, a pioneer in genomics software, announced a collaboration to accelerate the adoption of NGS workflows in agricultural genomics (agrigenomics) by offering Twist’s FlexPrep™ Ultra-High Throughput (UHT) Library Preparation Kit with Curio’s bioinformatics software and data platform. Despite the flexibility and depth of genomic data provided by NGS workflows compared to microarrays, adoption of NGS in agrigenomics has lagged due to the low cost and familiarity of microarray workflows. Pairing the Twist FlexPrep UHT Library Prep Kit and the CURIO™ platform creates a sequencer agnostic end-to-end solution from library prep through data analysis to provide agrigenomics customers with tools that overcome these challenges and simplify NGS adoption. Specifically, the Twist FlexPrep UHT Library Prep Kit provides researchers with a tool to support a streamlined workflow with favorable economics, while scaling up assay throughput to thousands of samples with high flexibility. FlexPrep enables researchers to expand the depth and breadth of their data beyond just SNPs to generate high complexity libraries for low pass whole genome sequencing with high concordance to arrays. The CURIO bioinformatics software and data platform offers all-in-one genotyping, marker discovery and fine mapping in an intuitive interface. Rapidly delivering analysis results due to its uniquely scalable architecture, CURIO allows agrigenomics researchers to quickly interpret NGS data generated with Twist’s FlexPrep UHT Library Prep Kit alongside historical data from microarrays. This enables them to make decisions faster, while maintaining insights even after changing their workflows. “Our FlexPrep UHT Library Prep Kit eliminates many of the traditional barriers that have slowed NGS adoption in agrigenomics – making high throughput genotyping faster, easier, and more accessible than ever,” said Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “By collaborating with Curio, we can now pair our FlexPrep UHT Kit with a robust easy-to-use, cost-effective software platform to conduct high-volume data analysis across array and NGS data from any animal or plant species. From library prep to data analytics, we believe this streamlined offering will facilitate a shift from microarray to next-generation sequencing.” “With our CURIO platform, we can provide researchers with a scalable, approachable way to analyze their data across species type and depth of coverage, enabling them to transition quickly from data generation to actionable insights,” said Shawn Quinn, CTO & cofounder of Curio Genomics. “By offering our platform with Twist’s FlexPrep UHT Library Prep Kit technology, we are making it easier for researchers to bridge historical microarray and new NGS data, analyze diverse species, and accelerate breakthroughs in agricultural genomics.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2813/moa-and-naicons-join-forces-to-discover-the-next-generation-of-naturally-occurring-herbicides.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2813/moa-and-naicons-join-forces-to-discover-the-next-generation-of-naturally-occurring-herbicides.html Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:40:52 +0530 Moa's proprietary high-throughput screening platform will rapidly test 70,000 micro-bacterial extracts Oxford-based agricultural biotech firm Moa Technology has stepped up the global hunt for a safe, effective and affordable biological herbicide by forming a new partnership with NAICONS, an Italian natural products company. Moa's proprietary high-throughput screening platform will rapidly test 70,000 micro-bacterial extracts from NAICONS' library of natural products, searching for biological leads which could control weeds, while being safe to humans or the environment, either as a standalone new herbicide or to enhance the efficacy, safety, and resistance-breaking potential of existing herbicides. The need for new herbicides to help farmers protect their harvests has never been more urgent, with over 273 species of weeds now resistant to one or more commercially available herbicides. For example, annual crop losses from weeds cost the US economy over $11 billion and the Australian economy over $3.3 billion.  In the UK, the herbicide-resistant weed blackgrass costs farmers around $500 million every year. To date, Moa's platforms have screened almost 800,000 synthetic and naturally-occurring compounds, discovering over 70 potentially novel mode of action herbicides. Three synthetic herbicides with novel modes of action discovered by Moa have already performed strongly in their first two seasons of international field trials. The agreement with NAICONS gives Moa exclusive rights to develop any new herbicides discovered in the library, with value to be shared from future licensing and commercialisation. Dr Virginia Corless, Chief Executive Officer of Moa Technology, said "Our discovery platform is very well suited to screen natural product libraries, as it provides a reliable and early indication when a compound is too weak or too toxic to become a commercially viable herbicide.  We are looking forward to applying our screening technology to NAICONS' high-quality library of actinomycete bacteria to see if we can find a biological compound that can help farmers control weeds effectively and sustainably." Stefano Donadio, Chief Executive Officer of NAICONS said: "We are very excited about this collaboration. Our library has never been screened for herbicides and we are confident promising lead molecules will be rapidly identified through our powerful micro4all platform. Over 150,000 different molecules have been identified in the extracts sent to Moa and our team is eager to help in identifying the most promising herbicide candidates." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2798/agmatix-and-basf-partner-to-develop-soybean-cyst-nematode-detection-tool.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2798/agmatix-and-basf-partner-to-develop-soybean-cyst-nematode-detection-tool.html Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:23:05 +0530 Aims to empower soybean growers with real-time, scalable insights to mitigate yield losses caused by soybean cyst nematode (SCN) Agmatix, a leading provider of AI-powered agronomic solutions, announced a strategic collaboration with BASF, one of the world’s largest chemical and agricultural solutions companies, to develop a cutting-edge digital solution for detecting – and predicting – the presence of soybean cyst nematode (SCN). This collaboration started through AgroStart, an open innovation and partnership platform by BASF, that aims to empower soybean growers with real-time, scalable insights to mitigate yield losses caused by SCN, one of the most damaging and often invisible soybean pests. By providing accurate, predictive data on SCN infestations, the Agmatix-BASF collaboration paves the way for future innovations in pest management and digital agriculture. The joint effort represents a significant leap forward in integrating digital agriculture with crop protection strategies, demonstrating how advanced analytics can drive on-farm decision-making and improve agronomic outcomes.  A Unique, Data-Driven Approach  At the heart of this initiative is Axiom, an advanced AI technology engine developed by Agmatix, which transforms vast amounts of raw agronomic data into highly standardized and enriched datasets. This rigorous data process enables the development of a robust machine-learning model capable of detecting and predicting SCN infestations with unprecedented accuracy and scalability.  Dr. Shai Sela, Chief Scientist at Agmatix. “By harmonizing and enriching SCN field trial data through our AI driven platform, we can ensure consistent, reliable outputs – regardless of region, soil type or cropping conditions. It’s a novel approach that dramatically increases the model’s predictive power, putting actionable insights directly into the hands of growers.”  Combining Expertise for Scalable Impact  Developed through AgroStart by BASF, this initiative combines Agmatix’s AI-driven agronomic platform with the deep expertise of BASF in seed and crop protection solutions and will foster the development of a scalable, user-friendly digital model. The tool will integrate with existing farm management practices, enabling users to access near real-time SCN risk assessments and tailor their pest management strategies accordingly.  “Collaborating with companies like Agmatix allows us to leverage advanced digital technologies and artificial intelligence in parallel with our existing seed and trait, seed treatment and crop protection solutions,” said Mika Eberl, Head of AgroStart and Digital Officer at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “This collaboration not only enhances our current offerings but also complements our future innovations like Nemasphere™, providing growers with a comprehensive, proactive approach to safeguard their soybean yields against SCN.” Addressing the Most Destructive Threat to Soybean Growers  SCN remains the leading pest in soybeans, with infestations frequently going undetected until yields are significantly affected. Traditional detection methods, such as soil sampling or mid-season root digs, are time-consuming, labor-intensive and not widely adopted. A digital tool could help create awareness and compliment these traditional methods. Ron Baruchi, President & CEO at Agmatix said “By digitizing large volumes of field trial data within Axiom, we believe our machine learning model will give growers the power to act before SCN causes irreversible damage.” With planting-time decisions crucial for effective SCN control, growers need a more efficient, scalable solution to detect and forecast pest pressure.  With €919 million in 2024, BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division invests in a strong R&D pipeline, combining innovative thinking with practical action. For farmers, growers, and our other stakeholders along the value chain, BSAF solutions help deliver the best possible outcomes by connecting seeds, traits, crop protection products, digital tools, and sustainability approaches. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2769/singapores-smart-researchers-pioneer-first-of-its-kind-nanosensor-for-real-time-iron-detection-in-plants.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2769/singapores-smart-researchers-pioneer-first-of-its-kind-nanosensor-for-real-time-iron-detection-in-plants.html Wed, 05 Mar 2025 13:18:27 +0530 Real-time, non-destructive monitoring of iron uptake, transport, and changes between its different forms, such as Fe(II) and Fe(III) Singapore researchers have developed a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanosensor capable of simultaneously detecting and differentiating between iron forms - Fe(II) and Fe(III) - in living plants.  A ground-breaking innovation was developed by the Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) interdisciplinary research group (IRG) at Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT's Singapore research enterprise. It was developed in collaboration with the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Iron is crucial for plant health, supporting photosynthesis, respiration, and enzyme function. It primarily exists in two forms: Fe(II), which is readily available for plants to absorb and use, and Fe(III), which must first be converted into Fe(II) before plants can utilise it effectively. Traditional methods only measure total iron, missing the distinction between these forms – a key factor in plant nutrition. Distinguishing between Fe(II) and Fe(III) provides insights into iron uptake efficiency, helps diagnose deficiencies or toxicities, and enables precise fertilisation strategies in agriculture, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving crop productivity. This first-of-its-kind nanosensor by SMART researchers enables real-time, non-destructive monitoring of iron uptake, transport, and changes between its different forms, such as Fe(II) and Fe(III) – providing precise and detailed observations of iron dynamics. Its high spatial resolution allows precise localisation of iron in plant tissues or subcellular compartments, enabling the measuring of even minute changes in iron levels within plants - these minute changes can inform how a plant handles stress and uses nutrients.  Traditional detection methods are destructive or limited to a single form of iron. This new technology enables the diagnosis of deficiencies and optimisation of fertilisation strategies. By identifying insufficient or excessive iron intake, adjustments can be made to enhance plant health, reduce waste, and support more sustainable agriculture. While the nanosensor was tested on spinach and bok choy, it is species-agnostic, allowing it to be applied across a diverse range of plant species without genetic modification. This capability enhances our understanding of iron dynamics in various ecological settings, providing comprehensive insights into plant health and nutrient management. As a result, it serves as a valuable tool for both fundamental plant research and agricultural applications, supporting precision nutrient management, reducing fertiliser waste, and improving crop health. “Iron is essential for plant growth and development, but monitoring its levels in plants has been a challenge. This breakthrough sensor is the first of its kind to detect both Fe(II) and Fe(III) in living plants with real-time, high-resolution imaging. With this technology, we can ensure plants receive the right amount of iron, improving crop health and agricultural sustainability,” said Dr Duc Thinh Khong, DiSTAP research scientist and co-lead author of the paper. “In enabling non-destructive real-time tracking of iron speciation in plants, this sensor opens new avenues for understanding plant iron metabolism and the implications of different iron variations for plants. Such knowledge will help guide the development of tailored management approaches to improve crop yield and more cost-effective soil fertilisation strategies,” said Dr Grace Tan, TLL Research Scientist. The new nanosensor features single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) wrapped in a negatively charged fluorescent polymer, forming a helical corona phase structure that interacts differently with Fe(II) and Fe(III). Upon introduction into plant tissues and interaction with iron, the sensor emits distinct NIR fluorescence signals based on the iron type, enabling real-time tracking of iron movement and chemical changes. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2768/syngenta-acquires-novartis-assets-to-strengthen-global-leadership-in-agricultural-biologicals.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2768/syngenta-acquires-novartis-assets-to-strengthen-global-leadership-in-agricultural-biologicals.html Wed, 05 Mar 2025 13:13:58 +0530 Syngenta will lease Novartis' fermentation pilot plant and science laboratories in Basel, Switzerland As a leading developer of next-generation biologicals products for agricultural use, Syngenta is expanding its biologicals research efforts and development capabilities significantly.  Syngenta has acquired Novartis' repository of natural compounds and genetic strains for use in agriculture, while Novartis retains exclusive rights in the pharmaceutical repository. Novartis' Natural Products and Biomolecular Chemistry team will also be transferred to Syngenta as part of the transaction.  Syngenta gains access to an important source of new agricultural leads due to this move, as well as integrated capabilities in bioengineering, data science, fermentation, downstream processing, and analytics. Syngenta will also lease Novartis' fermentation pilot plant and science laboratories in Basel, Switzerland, as part of the agreement, which is expected to close on June 1st this year. Since 2019, Syngenta and Novartis have collaborated successfully on research projects. This acquisition follows Syngenta's opening of a biologicals production facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The facility is Syngenta’s first world-scale production facility for agricultural biologicals in the US and will support growing demand for science-based and novel biological solutions in both the North and Latin American markets.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2752/israels-forsea-unveils-first-cultured-eel-in-japan.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2752/israels-forsea-unveils-first-cultured-eel-in-japan.html Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:38:00 +0530 FoodTech start-up collaborates with SAIDO restaurant to craft prized Japanese dishes based on cultivated eel Cell-cultured seafood start-up Forsea Foods, Ltd. sails on its mission to save wild eel populations from near extinction by unveiling its first prototype of cell-cultivated freshwater eel. Forsea successfully replicated the traditional Japanese unagi eel (Anguilla japonica) featuring the same tender, succulent texture and rich savory flavor as real eel. The company has achieved a working proof-of-concept that embodies the sensory attributes of real eel meat and is now prepped for scale-up. In the collaboration, Forsea contributes its novel technology for cell-cultivating eel cuts, while Kusumoto contributes his culinary mastery to refine the product to perfection in texture and flavor. Forsea was the winner of the Startup Pitch Hour Prize at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit last October in Singapore. Forsea was founded in 2021 with a mission to turn the tide on the downward spiral of the ocean's seafood populations by developing a cell-cultivated alternatives. Overfishing of eels has turned this aquatic delicacy into an endangered species. The immense popularity of eel meat in Asia, Europe, and the US likewise poses significant challenges for suppliers who struggle to keep up with the surging demand. This leads to supply bottlenecks, illegal trade, and high prices. "This milestone marks a major leap in our journey to deliver delicious cultured seafood products," claims Roee Nir, CEO and co-founder of Forsea. "Forsea is pioneering the fusion of traditional, high-quality Asian cuisine with groundbreaking technology to create the world's first cultured unagi—one that will provide the consumer with a genuine seafood experience without putting further strain on aquatic life." Beyond its contribution to ocean conservation, Forsea's cell-cultivated eel offers a nutritious alternative that is free from any antibiotics, hormones or ocean pollutants. Forsea readying scale-up to fulfill vision of abundant eel supply Unique to its proprietary method for culturing seafood is its application of organoid technology which allows for the crafting of 3D microtissues composed of fat and muscle. These spontaneously differentiate into edible cells, mimicking the natural process of cell formation. The cell lines self-organize into tissue structures without the need for scaffold support, simplifying the production process, and enhancing scalability. This approach should effectively overcome major industry challenges and will ease some of the supply bottlenecks for eel meat. The proprietary practice also allows for the efficient and cost-effective production of cultivated meat by significantly decreasing reliance on costly growth factors. Forsea projects that its inaugural product will be ready for commercial launch in 2025 as it seeks strategic partners in Japan (the largest consumer of freshwater eel) and across Asia. EU and the US also are also on its radar as rapidly developing markets. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2742/novel-bioinsecticide-platform-development-by-israels-ibi-ag-secures-6-1-million-in-funding-led-by-corteva-inc.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2742/novel-bioinsecticide-platform-development-by-israels-ibi-ag-secures-6-1-million-in-funding-led-by-corteva-inc.html Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:42:41 +0530 A revolutionary new way to protect crops from insects that offers novel modes of action IBI Ag, an Israeli bio-insecticide company developing bio-insecticides with lower ecological footprints, has closed the first part of its Series A funding round with a $6.1 million investment. A round led by Corteva, Inc., through its Corteva Catalyst platform and involving Trendlines Group, Iron Nation, Consensus Business Group ("CBG") and the Israel Innovation Authority underscores IBI Ag's strategic importance in helping farmers grow more food by protecting their crops and the global food chain through innovative biological and naturally-inspired solutions. IBI Ag has developed technology that leverages single domain antibodies, to produce highly effective crop protection solutions with a low ecological footprint. This technology—adapted from pharma and modified to fit the agricultural market—provides novel modes of action and represents a revolutionary new approach for protecting crops from insects. The products under development target a broad spectrum of insects, both sucking and chewing insects with minimal impact on non-targeted organisms. The company is targeting high value crops to start and will follow with row crop solutions. "We are thrilled to have the support of our existing and new investors, led by Corteva through their Corteva Catalyst platform," said Arnon Heyman, Chief Executive Officer, IBI Ag. "This investment will help us to accelerate the development of our single domain antibody technology, providing farmers with sustainable and effective crop protection solutions. We believe our single domain antibody technology is a game changer for driving agricultural productivity while preserving the environment, and the investment announced today is a significant step towards delivering this innovation to farmers across the globe." "We see considerable potential for IBI Ag's bioinsecticides to be a smart solution for farmers to tackle devastating insects while minimizing environmental impacts," said Tom Greene, Senior Director at Corteva Inc. and Global Leader for Corteva Catalyst.  A pioneer in the agricultural biotechnology industry, IBI-Ag's investment aligns with the company's commitment to putting cutting-edge technology into farmers' hands. The company's strategic focus is on accelerating the development of next-generation biological and naturally inspired crop protection solutions as well as developing innovative and sustainable crop protection products. Through its proprietary technology platform, the company creates biological insect control solutions that are effective, selective, and safe using nanobodies - antibodies. The breakthrough technology can help farmers protect their crops with a lower environmental footprint and transform the agricultural industry by offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, which will protect the global food chain. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2729/study-reveals-soil-invertebrates-boost-crop-yields-soil-health.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2729/study-reveals-soil-invertebrates-boost-crop-yields-soil-health.html Fri, 14 Feb 2025 12:33:19 +0530 Enhance several soil indicators, including soil conductivity, respiration rate, microbial biomass and plant biomass. Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in China have recently revealed the vital role soil invertebrates play in enhancing soil fertility, texture, and crop yields. Soil invertebrates, such as termites, ants and earthworms, are found across diverse ecosystems worldwide. By disturbing the soil, they create distinct biological structures such as termite mounds, ant nests, and earthworm casts. These creatures are often referred to as "ecosystem engineers" for their role in shaping the environment. The researchers spent a year collecting and reviewing 1,047 relevant documents from six continents, extracting a total of 12,975 data records for meta-analysis. They found that, on a global scale, the soil activities of termites, ants and earthworms can significantly boost the levels of key soil nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium. Moreover, these activities can enhance several soil indicators, including soil conductivity, respiration rate, microbial biomass and plant biomass. Chu Chengjin, who led the research team, highlighted the significant contributions of soil invertebrates to global element cycling, material degradation, and biodiversity maintenance. "Our research indicates that protecting soil invertebrates can boost agricultural production, combat global warming, support ecological restoration, and promote sustainable development," Chu said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2720/syntech-integrates-with-agidea-to-enable-ag-companies-to-outsource-rd-breeding-and-deregulation-projects.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2720/syntech-integrates-with-agidea-to-enable-ag-companies-to-outsource-rd-breeding-and-deregulation-projects.html Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:38:30 +0530 The strategic move strengthens SynTech Research Group's market position in the Americas SynTech Research Group has integrationed with AgIdea, a prominent global player in agronomy, biology and biotechnology applied research. This strategic move strengthens SynTech Research Group’s market position across the Americas, and will create a unique and powerful platform for Ag Companies to outsource end-to-end R&D, Breeding and deregulation Projects. The powerful combination of both companies will result in unprecedented integral solution for Ag Companies from research to registration globally. The integration of AgIdea will enable SynTech Research Group to expand its portfolio of services in Seeds and Traits and Biosolutions testing. AgIdea’s teams, processes and infrastructure will add tremendous value in the areas of technology testing, efficacy and breeding services. AgIdea, currently based in Argentina, also perfectly complements the current geographical footprint of SynTech Research Group in USA, Brazil, Argentina and the rest of Latin America. Yvonnick Jambon, CEO of SynTech Research Group, affirmed the positive impact of this integration: “This acquisition deepens our commitment to serving clients in Argentina, a vital market for agricultural advancements, while leveraging our existing operations across the Americas and beyond. AgIdea teams knowledge and expertise are perfectly aligned with our strategic vision of providing integrated services to our clients.” Gonzalo Grigera, CEO of AgIdea, also added: “We are excited to join SynTech Research Group, a step totally aligned with our ambition to become global leaders in R&D services. The remarkable complementation of both companies and the common vision into the future, will revolutionize the way we serve our customers, and create a thrilling place for talents to develop their careers.” The integration, formalized on January 31, 2025, marks a significant step in consolidating SynTech Research Group the leading agricultural CRO worldwide ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2710/heritable-agriculture-launches-ai-driven-biotechnology-platform-to-improve-crop-yields-and-nutrition.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2710/heritable-agriculture-launches-ai-driven-biotechnology-platform-to-improve-crop-yields-and-nutrition.html Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:33:01 +0530 Moonshot factory aimed at improving crops, ensuring food security, and improving agriculture and forestry worldwide Google's Alphabet's Moonshot Factory incubated Heritable Agriculture, has now emerged from stealth as an independent company focused on improving food and agricultural systems through plant breeding and biotechnology. As part of its mission to improve food and agricultural systems around the world, Heritable has developed an artificial intelligence platform to make plants programmable. The iniitative will deliver higher yields, better nutrition, greater resilience to pathogens and climate stress, and faster seed breeding cycles at lower costs by making plants programmable with AI. Heritable's AI platform was developed with funding from FTW Ventures, Mythos Ventures, Sunrise and Pioneer funds of SVG Ventures. Dr. Brad Zamft, CEO and co-founder of Heritable Agriculture said, “Our AI-powered biotechnology platform has potential to address key challenges faced by the agriculture industry, including lowering crop improvement costs, boosting yields, enhancing disease resistance, and accelerating the development of new plant varieties.” Heritable Agriculture combines advanced AI, the expanding field of multi-omics, new methods of predictive breeding, and high throughput gene editing. Together, these technologies offer groundbreaking possibilities for breeding plants to perform better in specific environments, or dial up particular properties like nutrition, color, or flavor. The Heritable platform offers agriculture partners three key services: identifying important genes, designing specific edits to manipulate those genes, and predicting plant performance in the context of the local environment and management practices. “Heritable combines an exceptional team, industry-leading experience, a huge vision, and breakthrough technology. This aligns perfectly with our fund’s vision to solve the biggest challenges facing our worldwide food system,” said Brian Frank of FTW Ventures, who led the round. Heritable’s founders are machine learning experts and plant biologists with deep expertise in agriculture, artificial intelligence, and plant biology. The team, which includes Dr. Davide Sosso and Professor Tim Beissinger, spent years together incubating Heritable at X, the moonshot factory, where they developed Heritable’s artificial intelligence and published experiments demonstrating the power of multi-omics data to improve plants and predict their performance even in new and changing environments. Dan Voytas, a National Academy of Sciences member who has led the field of plant gene editing both in academia and industry, has joined the team as a fourth co-founder. Heritable’s vision extends beyond edible plants: they have teamed up with ArborGen, a global provider of tree seedlings, to expedite the development of superior loblolly pine trees. Initial research suggests Heritable’s AI can halve the time needed for tree improvement. Both companies are now actively integrating this technology into their seedling production. “By combining cutting-edge AI with deep plant biology expertise, Heritable Agriculture is fundamentally reimagining how we improve crops to meet the growing demands of a changing planet.” said John Hartnett, Founder & CEO of SVG Ventures | THRIVE. Jonathan Eng of Mythos Ventures says “Their ability to generate proprietary data, derive insights across diverse crop species, and build deep industry partnerships will allow them to address one of the most pressing challenges in food production today. This is truly revolutionize agriculture with AI." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2690/ers-genomics-launches-express-license-platform-to-democratise-access-to-crispr-cas9.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2690/ers-genomics-launches-express-license-platform-to-democratise-access-to-crispr-cas9.html Fri, 24 Jan 2025 12:03:29 +0530 The new Express License service removes barriers to accessing this transformative gene editing technology for startups ERS Genomics (‘ERS’), the CRISPR licensing company, announces the launch of its Express License platform to provide small research enterprises and startups with affordable and rapid access to the world’s largest foundational and essential CRISPR/Cas9 patent portfolio.   The goal of ERS Genomics is to make CRISPR/Cas9 technology accessible and responsible. In order to support small and early-stage organizations, ERS now offers a non-exclusive Express License for internal research use, specifically designed for companies with fewer than 15 employees and less than $10 million in funding. This streamlined licensing option enables a broader spectrum of innovators to access CRISPR/Cas9 intellectual property in a cost-effective and efficient way, fostering groundbreaking research and development in areas such as synthetic biology, disease modelling, gene editing, high-throughput screening and functional genomics.  Prof Emmanuelle Charpentier, Nobel Prize Winner & ERS Genomics Co-Founder, said, “Our new express license platform represents an exciting step forward in democratizing access to the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 IP. By simplifying the process and making it more affordable, we’re empowering startups and small companies to innovate and bring groundbreaking solutions to the forefront of science and industry”.  Candidate organizations can secure an Express License by demonstrating their eligibility through scientific credentials such as research publications, academic collaborations, or technology-related patents. Interested organisations can verify their eligibility and submit their application through ERS’ online platform.  John E Milad, CEO, ERS Genomics, said, “Our new Express License platform streamlines and accelerates access to CRISPR/Cas9, making it more affordable than ever for smaller organizations. This initiative represents a major step toward democratizing this Nobel Prize-winning technology, empowering companies of all sizes to harness its transformative potential. We are proud to provide the industry’s most accessible and cost-effective solution for accessing foundational CRISPR/Cas9 intellectual property, honouring Prof. Charpentier’s enduring spirit of innovation.”  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2655/upstream-biotechnology-and-bene-seeds-in-collaborate-to-develop-high-yielding-heirloom-tomatoes.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2655/upstream-biotechnology-and-bene-seeds-in-collaborate-to-develop-high-yielding-heirloom-tomatoes.html Wed, 08 Jan 2025 11:44:39 +0530 Upstream Biotechnology (Upstream), a developer of innovative crop varieties resilient to environmental stress, and Bene Seeds Inc. (Bene Seeds), a provider of high-quality tomato seed products, have announced a strategic business and R&D partnership. Together, they will work to create new tomato varieties that combine genetics for both excellent flavor and shelf life with broad-spectrum disease resistance. These new varieties will be suitable for growth in a wide range of different geographies and will make premium, heirloom-quality tomatoes available to the mainstream markets. Upstream's cutting-edge breeding technologies, which protect plants from yield-threatening diseases, are unmatched in the industry and have already delivered strong results in major crops like soybean and rice. The company is excited to apply its platform to enhance specialty crops, including tomatoes."Field tomatoes and protected tomatoes are vulnerable to many common diseases. By breeding genetics for broad-spectrum disease resistance into tomato varieties, we can significantly reduce crop losses, ensuring more consistent yields and higher-quality fruit," said George Greene, Founder and CEO, Upstream Biotechnology. "This innovation not only enhances the reliability and sustainability of tomato production but also supports growers in meeting the growing demand for premium tomatoes while reducing the need for chemical treatments." Jen Greenstein, Senior Director of Investments at NC Biotech, added "Upstream leverages unique technical capabilities initially developed at Duke University and supported by a loan from the NC Biotech Center. They are an impressive company within the growing NC agtech hub, and this strategic partnership with Bene Seeds will be mutually beneficial." "We are delighted to be working with Upstream," said Oliver Ratcliffe, Co-Founder of Bene Seeds. "Bene Seeds specializes in breeding tomatoes that offer real benefits to the customer; our varieties taste and look great but also have a long shelf life, which reduces food waste. The collaboration with Upstream will further improve the natural resistance of our varieties to various diseases and thereby enhance the fruit yield that is obtained by growers." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2644/cibus-albaugh-llc-and-rtdc-company-limited-to-commercialize-first-gene-edited-weed-management-solution.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2644/cibus-albaugh-llc-and-rtdc-company-limited-to-commercialize-first-gene-edited-weed-management-solution.html Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:00:21 +0530 Cibus’ Rice Herbicide Tolerance (HT-3) Commercialization Efforts Continue Promising Progress to deliver a new Weed Management Solution for Farmers in the U.S. Cibus, Inc. (), a leading agricultural technology company that develops and licenses plant traits to seed companies for royalties announced an agreement affirming its collaboration with RTDC Corporation Limited and Albaugh LLC to provide Clethodim as part of Cibus’ weed management solution for U.S. rice farmers using Cibus’ HT-3 trait. This continued collaboration with Albaugh, a global leader in crop protection, lends complementary market development and herbicide registration expertise and experience to Cibus’ gene editing trait expertise. The collaboration is instrumental to Cibus’ herbicide resistant rice trait commercialization efforts as Cibus also continues its work with its U.S. rice seed customers to bring its Clethodim-tolerant trait to market. These seed and crop protection collaborations are expected to bring together the rice production knowledge and expertise needed to successfully deliver improved rice weed management solutions for U.S. rice growers. Weed pressure impacts crop yield and quality. Herbicide tolerance traits are an important tool for growers to manage weeds and are a key product area of the multi-billion-dollar trait industry globally. Cibus’ Clethodim tolerant HT-3 trait is an important breakthrough for a novel weed management solution for rice farmers and is one of the two herbicide tolerant traits in rice developed by Cibus that are expected to give rice growers excellent new solutions to manage weeds. It expected to be the first of several stacked weed management traits in rice from Cibus. Cibus currently has four seed partners for this trait: two in the United States and two in South America and is in discussion with other major rice seed companies to advance HT-3 rice in Asia. Chad W. Shelton, Albaugh’s Group Director for Herbicide Tolerant Crops, stated, “This strategic collaboration and innovative technology has a strong potential to help rice growers in the U.S. and strategic rice markets around the globe keep pace with the most up-to-date herbicide-tolerant crop technologies for assuring high yields and crop quality. Albaugh is excited to be a part of this strategic partnership to develop for rice growers a cropping system powered by the HT-3 trait to help create and deliver performance value.” Calvin Lu, Vice General Manager of RTDC, commented, “This technology combines the best of Gene Editing technologies from Cibus and superior herbicides provided by Albaugh to help rice growers to increase weed management options with better efficacy against difficult weeds. We are proud to be part of this project combining strengths of three companies in terms of technologies and geographies.” Norm Sissons, Senior Vice President of Seeds and Traits at Cibus, added, “This partnership with Albaugh completes a critical component of our commercial strategy to bring our Clethodim-tolerant HT-3 trait to market. As we further our collaboration with Albaugh and its professional team of experts with a strong commercial focus enabling getting products to market, we see a promising path to bring Cibus’ novel weed management solution to Rice growers.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2643/syngenta-to-maximize-soybean-yield-protection-mechanism-for-2025.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2643/syngenta-to-maximize-soybean-yield-protection-mechanism-for-2025.html Fri, 20 Dec 2024 14:43:01 +0530 Given seasonal uncertainty, Syngenta offers a solution to maximize soybean yield potential, no matter the early-season pest pressure. With reports of high disease outbreaks in 2024, and the World Meteorological Organization (WO) predicting a 60% chance of La Niña1 weather in 2025, this could lead to cooler conditions. If this happens, soybean growers will need to be prepared for any weather condition or disease outbreak next season. Thanks to continued research into Saltro® fungicide seed treatment, Syngenta has confirmed an additional way for soybean growers to unlock soybean yield potential, as well as their ROI potential, regardless of early-season pressure. “Since it entered the market, Saltro has consistently delivered thorough protection against Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) and more recently, Red Crown Rot (RCR)*,” said Dale Ireland, Ph.D., Syngenta technical lead. “We’ve continued to run trials and have found Saltro also improves soybean health and potential yield in situations with no perceived pest or disease pressure, and that’s where the recently confirmed benefit of MagniSafe technology comes in.” This well-documented and unique phenomenon, enabled exclusively by MagniSafe™ technology, results in extraordinary increases in root and shoot mass and enhanced plant-health improvements that can be seen regardless of disease or pest pressure. “In various weather conditions and regardless of variety planted, Saltro-treated soybeans grow stronger, faster and healthier – above and below ground,” said Katie Jaeger, Syngenta product lead. “Compared to other seed treatments or untreated seed trials, we’ve seen Saltro set soybeans up for greater success. It helps soybeans establish a larger root system for maximum nutrient uptake and helps plants emerge stronger and healthier for faster speed-to-canopy. In the field, it’s translated into higher yield and greater return potential.” Under SDS pressure, Saltro delivers a 3-bushel yield advantage over competitor ILEVO® in eight years of trials2. With enhanced plant health and crop safety, Saltro also boosts potential yields in the absence of disease or pest pressure with a 1.5-to-4.5-bushel yield increase compared to a base treatment alone across the broad acre.3 “Soybean growers need higher yield to be profitable,” Jaeger said. “The unique protection from Saltro could bring the extra bushels growers need to bounce back after a challenging season and heading into an uncertain 2025. I encourage growers to try Saltro next season and see how its MagniSafe technology may impact yield and their bottom line.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2623/chickpea-heat-tolerance-traits-identified-by-australian-researchers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2623/chickpea-heat-tolerance-traits-identified-by-australian-researchers.html Mon, 09 Dec 2024 11:19:17 +0530 Researchers from the Plant Breeding Institute at the University of Sydney led by Prof. Richard Trethowan have identified chickpea heat tolerance traits. The research team analyzed chickpea from three sources, including material from the Australian Grains Genebank, Australian cultivars, and lines from India with heat tolerance. Chickpeas were exposed to heat stress, staggered sowing dates (with the late-sown replicates experiencing higher flowering temperatures), and in-field heat chambers to deliver heat stress for five days during the sensitive flowering period. The researchers analyzed the response to heat of anther and pollen development. The associated genetics with interesting traits were mapped using the Chickpea DArTseq technology to identify traits linked to the novel heat tolerance traits. The heat-tolerant materials were also crossed with Australian-adapted chickpea germplasm to develop a population of pre-breeding lines. These new materials show substantial yield advantages under high temperatures, with some yielding almost double when grown in late summer. The project is headed by Professor Richard Trethowan, director of the Plant Breeding Institute at the University of Sydney. Professor Trethowan explains that the targeted germplasm came from three sources: material from the Australian Grains Genebank (AGG) that was collected from hot climates around the world; Australian cultivars identified from an analysis of performance in hot environments in National Variety Trials; and lines from India with heat tolerance. These materials were used to develop a unique germplasm in the Australian Research Council’s Legumes for Sustainable Agriculture (LSA) hub. The LSA hub was established to  drive gains in chickpea growth rates, nitrogen sustainability and resilience against the effects of climate change. It was designed to link trait discovery to breeding outcomes and, therefore, drive up farm production, environmental sustainability and profitability. “The high temperature project was a key subprogram and it was considered vital to achieving the hub’s overall objectives,” Professor Trethowan says. “Much of the initial work was conducted by Dr Angela Pattison, who left the university at the conclusion of the LSA. However, the evaluation and development of new materials continued with the support of GRDC after the hub’s closure.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2616/bioconsortia-and-ht-partner-to-launch-nitrogen-fixing-microbial-seed-treatment-in-new-zealand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2616/bioconsortia-and-ht-partner-to-launch-nitrogen-fixing-microbial-seed-treatment-in-new-zealand.html Fri, 06 Dec 2024 11:19:32 +0530 BioConsortia's FixiN 33 microbial seed treatment will be introduced during the 2024/2025 season BioConsortia, Inc., a leader in agricultural technology specializing in advanced microbial solutions to enhance crop productivity and reduce agriculture’s ecological impact, has announced a commercial agreement with New Zealand-based H&T (Hodder and Taylors Ltd). H&T, known for improving crop and forage systems on New Zealand farms, will introduce BioConsortia's FixiN 33 microbial seed treatment during the 2024/2025 season. This innovative seed coating will be available for corn, brassicas, and cereals, helping growers optimize nitrogen fertilizer use while reducing runoff and environmental impact. Since 2023, BioConsortia and H&T have conducted successful field trials in New Zealand, demonstrating nitrogen-replacement results consistent with earlier trials conducted since 2021 in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Europe. Paul Oliver, H&T Managing Director, stated, “This technology highlights an opportunity to reduce nitrogen fertilizer usage in New Zealand, delivering both economic and environmental benefits while maintaining crop yields.” Marcus Meadows-Smith, CEO of BioConsortia, added, “Our proprietary microbes effectively colonize crop roots, ensuring there is always nitrogen available to influence crop yield. These microbes remain active in the root zone throughout the growing season, converting atmospheric nitrogen into plant-accessible forms even after synthetic fertilizers dissipate.” Setting a New Standard for Shelf Stability and Seed Life BioConsortia's nitrogen-fixing seed treatments boast a shelf life exceeding two years and maintain on-seed stability for an additional two years—far surpassing industry norms. “Our use of Gram-positive microbes, known for their inherent stability and reliability as root colonizers, underpins this breakthrough,” explained Dr. Hong Zhu, Senior VP of R&D at BioConsortia. “Through our proprietary R&D platform, we’ve unlocked the nitrogen-fixing potential of these microbes, creating ideal candidates for seed treatment products.” Revolutionary Microbial Discovery Engine BioConsortia’s flexible microbe discovery platform played a pivotal role in this innovation. Given New Zealand’s regulatory restrictions on gene-edited organisms, BioConsortia identified wildtype microbes from its extensive library that naturally fix nitrogen. These microbes, with intrinsic genetic traits enabling nitrogen fixation, deliver reliable yield performance. A Game-Changing Innovation in Agriculture Combining cutting-edge discovery and advanced gene-editing capabilities, BioConsortia’s platform represents a breakthrough in microbial seed and fertilizer treatments. “Our seed-applied products offer unmatched ease of use for growers, ensuring strong yields without relying on increased synthetic nitrogen,” said Meadows-Smith. The collaboration between BioConsortia and H&T marks a significant step forward in sustainable agriculture, providing New Zealand farmers with tools to achieve higher productivity and reduced environmental impact. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2615/source-agriculture-corp-invests-in-ascribe-bioscience-to-advance-sustainable-crop-protection-solutions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2615/source-agriculture-corp-invests-in-ascribe-bioscience-to-advance-sustainable-crop-protection-solutions.html Fri, 06 Dec 2024 11:02:05 +0530 Phytalix®, acts like a vaccine for plants by priming their natural defense systems against pathogens Source Agriculture Corp., an innovative agri-tech investments, has entered a strategic investment in Ascribe Bioscience, a cutting-edge company dedicated to developing sustainable crop protection solutions. Ascribe, founded in 2017, is focused on discovering natural products derived from the soil microbiome to help farmers achieve more reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible farming practices. Ascribe Bioscience's lead product, Phytalix®, acts like a vaccine for plants by priming their natural defense systems against pathogens. Based on naturally occurring molecules produced by soil organisms, Phytalix® has shown proven efficacy in controlling a broad spectrum of pathogens across multiple crops, including corn, wheat, soy, rice, potatoes, and tomatoes. The product is non-toxic, biodegradable, and non-GMO, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides and expensive biological treatments. Phytalix® works by triggering the plant's immune system, allowing crops to respond more rapidly to stressors such as pathogens. Applied as either a seed treatment or foliar spray, the product requires only small amounts of active ingredient per acre, significantly reducing the cost of crop protection while increasing the sustainability of agricultural practices. Ascribe's proprietary platform uses advanced metabolomics to unlock the potential of the soil microbiome, identifying small molecules that enhance plant health and productivity. This discovery process has led to the development of biobased products that are shelf-stable, durable, and more reliable under diverse field conditions compared to traditional live microbes or complex mixtures. "We believe that Ascribe Bioscience's approach represents the future of sustainable crop protection," said Aman Gill, President and CEO of Source Agriculture Corp. "Their innovative platform and commitment to natural, effective solutions align perfectly with Source Agriculture's mission to support technologies that not only improve farming productivity but also contribute to environmental sustainability. Our investment in Ascribe is a testament to our confidence in their ability to deliver impactful, science-driven solutions for farmers around the world." With this strategic investment, Source Agriculture Corp. continues to strengthen its portfolio of companies focused on advancing sustainable, high-tech solutions for agriculture. Ascribe Bioscience's work is poised to help transform how the global agricultural industry approaches crop protection and environmental stewardship, offering an important alternative to toxic chemicals and expensive biological products. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2589/realseq-biosciences-announces-launch-of-ribomarker-rna-fragmentomics-technology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2589/realseq-biosciences-announces-launch-of-ribomarker-rna-fragmentomics-technology.html Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:33:25 +0530 Next-Generation RNA Detection Solution for Comprehensive Transcriptome Profiling even for agri biotechnology and lab cultures RealSeq Biosciences is proud to introduce the RiboMarker® RNA Fragmentomics Library Preparation Kit, an innovative solution for all-inclusive RNA detection. RiboMarker enables comprehensive transcript and RNA fragment profiling in a single reaction, ensuring accurate and reliable results across diverse sample types. With RiboMarker®, researchers can achieve unparalleled RNA detection, capturing:• Small RNAs such as miRNAs and siRNAs.• RNA fragments, including long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs/tDRs).• Select RNA modifications, offering additional layers of transcriptomic insights. The kit is optimized to work seamlessly with RNA from a wide variety of sources, including biofluids, tissues, and environmental samples. Its low RNA input requirement and compatibility with samples of low RIN (RNA integrity number) values ensure reliable performance even with challenging samples. “RiboMarker® represents a leap forward in RNA research,” said Sergio Barberan-Soler, Ph.D., CEO, RealSeq Biosciences. “Enabling comprehensive profiling in a single reaction, empowers researchers to uncover deeper insights into transcriptomic landscapes with unmatched simplicity and reliability.” Key Benefits:• All-inclusive profiling: Detects small RNAs, diverse RNA fragments, and select modifications.• Bias free library construction: Uncovers novel RNAs/RNA fragments.• Versatility: Compatible with a wide range of sample types.• Sample quality-independent: Effective even with low RIN (RNA Integrity Number) values, ensuring reliable results.• High sensitivity: Delivers robust results with low RNA input ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2559/realseq-biosciences-announces-strategic-service-agreement-with-tropic-to-advance-agricultural-genomics.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2559/realseq-biosciences-announces-strategic-service-agreement-with-tropic-to-advance-agricultural-genomics.html Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:58:36 +0530 Advanced RNA sequencing technologies to support Tropic’s efforts in developing novel solutions for crop improvement and plant health RealSeq Biosciences, a leader in next-generation RNA-fragmentomics and liquid biopsy diagnostics, announced a strategic service agreement with Tropic, an innovative biotechnology company focused on enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability. The agreement aims to leverage RealSeq’s advanced RNA sequencing technologies to support Tropic’s efforts in developing novel solutions for crop improvement and plant health. “This collaboration with Tropic aligns with our mission to drive innovation in genomics and diagnostics through precision RNA analysis,” said Dr. Barberan-Soler, CEO of RealSeq Biosciences. “By applying our unique RNA-seq technology and services to plant biology, we can support Tropic’s efforts to accelerate breakthroughs that address critical agricultural challenges, including food security and crop resilience.” The partnership exemplifies both companies’ commitment to sustainability and the advancement of agricultural science. Tropic, known for its pioneering work in gene editing and plant genetics, will benefit from RealSeq’s expertise in high-sensitivity RNA analysis, which will enhance their ability to develop robust and sustainable agricultural solutions that support the future of global food systems. Dr. Anna Brestovitsky, Senior Bioinformatician at Tropic stated “RealSeq’s innovative RNA sequencing technology further supports our programs to deliver high-performance crops tailored to meet the needs of farmers, consumers, and the environment.” Through this service agreement, RealSeq and Tropic aim to advance research that has the potential to transform the agricultural industry. Both companies anticipate that this collaboration will contribute to further understanding plant gene expression, supporting the development of resilient crop varieties and improved agricultural outcomes. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2558/australia-launches-new-malt-potential-conventional-barley-variety-spinnaker.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2558/australia-launches-new-malt-potential-conventional-barley-variety-spinnaker.html Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:55:05 +0530 Barley variety that requires low plant hormone Gibberellic Acid (GA) for malting A NEW malt-potential barley variety is being launched in Australia in spring, with seed crops currently being grown with Seednet Partners in Northern NSW, Central NSW, Southern NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Spinnaker is a conventional spring-type barley. Spinnaker barley is not an Imi-tolerant variety, and its name is not associated with the crop chemical Spinnaker. Being a conventional barley variety is a positive feature for Spinnaker because chemical residues are become an increasing issue for end-users, and there is less and less conventional barley being produced in Australia. Another end-user benefit with Spinnaker barley is its low requirement for the plant hormone Gibberellic Acid (GA) for malting. GA is often used to assist germination in the malting process and although it is totally safe for human consumption, some brewers prefer less inputs to be used in the production of their beer. In the paddock, Spinnaker is a quick-maturing, high-yielding barley variety broadly adapted to medium and low-rainfall barley-growing regions. It has excellent physical grain quality with high retention, high test weight and low screenings. In terms of plant type, Spinnaker has the same good vigour and competitive nature as RGT Planet, but Spinnaker is earlier to heading and shorter at maturity. Its disease resistance profile is very similar to RGT Planet with Resistance to Powdery mildew and Moderate Resistance/Moderate Susceptibility to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus and Black point, but it is rated Moderately Susceptible to Susceptible for Leaf rust and Moderately Susceptible to Susceptible/Very Susceptible for Net blotches. The breeding process for Spinnaker involved a complex three-way cross combining hardy Australian adaptation and physical grain size with European malt quality. Its pedigree includes the commercial varieties Fathom and RGT Planet, plus a high malt-quality SECOBRA breeding line. As its pedigree suggests, Spinnaker has been bred for malting and brewing and is currently in Stage 1 of evaluation. There are three malting and brewing evaluation crops in production across South East Australia this year that are planned to be malted by Malteurop in Victoria and Coopers in South Australia next year. Breeder analysis to date has found that Spinnaker has very good malt attributes and a high probability of achieving malt quality when it becomes accredited. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2553/twist-bioscience-launches-flexprep-ultra-high-throughput-library-preparation-kit-for-applications-in-agrigenomics.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2553/twist-bioscience-launches-flexprep-ultra-high-throughput-library-preparation-kit-for-applications-in-agrigenomics.html Mon, 04 Nov 2024 11:01:19 +0530 Kit enable throughput at a low cost, and accelerate the adoption of NGS by microarray users in population and agricultural genomics Twist Bioscience Corporation, the providers of high-quality synthetic DNA using its silicon platform, announced the launch of the FlexPrep™ Ultra-High Throughput Library Preparation Kit, designed with a proprietary Twist-developed enzyme to enable throughput at a low cost, and accelerate the adoption of NGS by microarray users in population and agricultural genomics (agrigenomics). The Twist FlexPrep UHT Library Prep kit improves upon standard enzymatic fragmentation library preparation methods with the introduction of a novel Normalization by Ligation™ (NBL) technology, which eliminates the need for time-consuming upfront sample quantitation, and enables sample pooling and multiplexing early in the workflow. This built-in normalization and multiplexing capability simplifies how researchers prepare samples with variable mass at scale, where efficiency in workflow and per-sample cost is critical for NGS implementation1. “Legacy methods of profiling very large numbers of samples for agrigenomics to genotype cows, pigs and other animals as well as for population genomics studies, have not kept pace with evolving NGS methods and are tied to a fixed set of markers. Innovative next-generation sequencing methods provide far superior data to microarray technology, with the Twist FlexPrep UHT Kit surpassing even the most advanced NGS methods to maximize throughput and minimize cost,” said Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “When conducting large scale experiments and running multiple samples in parallel, researchers must ensure that there is equivalent mass of each sample included, and this ‘normalization’ process takes time, energy and effort. Using a novel technology, the FlexPrep UHT Kit self-normalizes, eliminating a critical time-consuming step while at the same time enabling high throughput, streamlining workflows and enabling scalability and customization. In addition to the differentiating capabilities of the kit, we’re collaborating with Gencove to offer a complementary genomic analysis solution to our customers.” With the Twist FlexPrep UHT kit, researchers can run up to 1,152 samples in a single 96-well plate sequencing run, which can save researchers time and costs. And compared to processing samples individually, FlexPrep reduces consumables used by a factor of 12 as well as reduces the number of pipette tips from over 17,000 used in a standard kit to under 4,000 with the FlexPrep UHT kit. Designed for automation and to enable scientists to confidently multiplex, the NBL technology simultaneously tags samples with a unique barcode to enable early pooling of up to 12 separate samples in one reaction, delivering 12x improvement on consumables and reagent efficiency. Utilizing this tagging method together with Twist’s 3,000 unique dual indexes (UDIs) in the FlexPrep workflow, research sample sizes are not constrained by multiplexing capacity or throughput. The FlexPrep UHT kit can also be paired with Twist’s custom target enrichment panels for tunable and uniform coverage of genomic regions of interest. Twist is also collaborating with Gencove, a leader in low-pass genome sequencing methods and analysis software, to offer analysis solutions to customers using FlexPrep UHT to understand their data and deliver fast, cost-effective and accurate genotyping results. Gencove works in a partnership model to design custom assays, optimize sequencing solutions, and build analysis pipelines to effectively bridge the gap from samples to solutions in the fields of agriculture and human health. Joe Pickrell, Co-founder and CEO, Gencove sai “To meet the growing demand for large-scale genomic information, we’ve developed an end-to-end software solution that we’re pleased to offer as an additional tool for Twist’s customers using FlexPrep UHT and embracing NGS technology to expand their high throughput and genomic analysis capabilities beyond what is offered by microarrays.” The Twist Flex Prep™ UHT Kit workflow is purpose-built to streamline and massively scale up Twist’s established enzymatic fragmentation methods. The Normalization by Ligation™ (NBL) technology eliminates the need to measure the mass of each DNA sample and to perform labor-intensive concentration adjustment prior to library preparation, saving significant cost per sample. Following fragmentation and adapter ligation of each sample in a plate, up to 12 samples are pooled together in a single tube. This pooling strategy results in a meaningful reduction in both volumes and costs of reagents required for subsequent bead purification and amplification steps. Libraries prepared from this kit can be leveraged to perform whole genome or targeted sequencing with the use of target enrichment panels. All plate and tube formats are optimized to ensure compatibility with key automation systems, a critical consideration for labs looking to streamline workflows and reduce hands-on time ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2538/origin-agritech-establishes-biotechnology-service-consortium-to-accelerate-licensing-and-commercialization-of-gmo-and-gene-editing-technologies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2538/origin-agritech-establishes-biotechnology-service-consortium-to-accelerate-licensing-and-commercialization-of-gmo-and-gene-editing-technologies.html Wed, 23 Oct 2024 08:17:00 +0530 Consortium is designed to license Origin's GMO insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant (IR/HT) traits to a wider range of industry players Origin Agritech Ltd., a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, has established the "Origin Marker Biological Breeding Service Consortium" in partnership with China Golden Marker Biotechnology Co., Ltd. This consortium is designed to license Origin's GMO insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant (IR/HT) traits to a wider range of industry players and to accelerate the application of Origin's gene editing technology in breeding programs. The signing ceremony for this new initiative took place at the 31st China Seed Industry Conference in Beijing. The consortium represents a significant step in advancing the commercialization of Origin's cutting-edge GMO and gene editing technologies. Following the Company's receipt of a GMO safety certificate for its transgenic maize, BBL2-2, in May 2024, this consortium will play a key role in promoting the licensing of these GMO traits to seed companies and research institutes., providing a wider opportunity for broader adoption by more industrial players across China's key agricultural regions. In addition, Origin Agritech's breakthrough gene editing technology, including the world's first efficient genetic transformation system for maize induction line Hi3, is central to the consortium's mission. This gene editing system rapidly improves key traits such as drought resistance, plant architecture, and disease resilience in maize, reducing the traditional breeding timeline from 3-4 years to just one. By integrating this technology into Origin's breeding programs and its partners, the consortium seeks to accelerate product development while expanding the royalty opportunities for new, high-performing maize varieties. China Golden Marker Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a leading high-tech biotechnology company specializing in next-generation sequencing (NGS), gene chip detection, and molecular marker technology, plays a pivotal role in this consortium. China Golden Marker has invested 67 million yuan to establish a state-of-the-art molecular marker laboratory capable of processing over 1 million samples and generating over 1 billion SNP data points annually. The consortium is currently advancing three key projects: Commercialization of the BBL2-2 GMO Maize Event: Promoting and seeking partnerships for the commercialization of the insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant genetically modified BBL2-2 maize. Advancement of Gene Editing for Maize: Promoting the world's first maize-induced gene editing system, which can accurately improve maize leaf angle, drought resistance, and other traits within a year. Innovation in Maize Germplasm Resources: Utilizing the consortium's rich mutant library and molecular marker-assisted breeding techniques to drive innovation in maize germplasm resources. These efforts will support breeding companies and R&D teams in creating more diverse and resilient maize varieties. The consortium has established cooperative relationships with dozens of breeding companies across China and is improving over 100 corn varieties. These varieties are planted in key corn-producing regions, including Donghua North, Huang Huai Hai, Northwest, and Southwest China. Bill Deng, Head of Research at Origin Agritech, commented: "Origin Marker adheres to the concept of 'making breeding easier.' By leveraging modern biotechnology, we are committed to assisting the industry in breeding higher quality, high-yield, and resilient corn varieties with greater accuracy and efficiency. Our consortium will play a crucial role in advancing sustainable agriculture in China." Weibin Yan, Chief Executive Officer of Origin Agritech, commented: "What matters most about this consortium is how it will significantly accelerate the commercialization of our GMO and gene editing technologies by a bigger team and accessibility to more research institutes and seed companies. By combining our groundbreaking innovations with the advanced laboratory capabilities of China Golden Marker, we are streamlining the path from lab to market. This partnership will enable us to bring our high-impact solutions to the agricultural industry faster than ever before." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2534/usda-approves-the-first-genetically-modified-pea-from-moolec.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2534/usda-approves-the-first-genetically-modified-pea-from-moolec.html Mon, 21 Oct 2024 11:26:24 +0530 Moolec's genetically engineered peas produce high yields of bovine myoglobin, a protein that boosts iron content, making it an ideal alternative for consumers seeking plant-based sources of iron Moolec Science SA, a leader in Molecular Farming technology, announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ("USDA") Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ("APHIS") has completed its Regulatory Status Review ("RSR") for the Company's genetically engineered ("GE") peas which produce iron through bovine meat proteins. This is the third regulatory clearance from USDA-APHIS achieved by Moolec in an 18-month window, alongside its genetically engineered safflower and soybean for GLASO™ and Piggy Sooy™ products, respectively.  Moolec's genetically engineered peas produce high yields of bovine myoglobin, a protein that boosts iron content, making it an ideal alternative for consumers seeking plant-based sources of iron. This product has the potential to revolutionize both the food ingredient market and the $65 billion pea industry by offering a nutritious, iron-rich alternative to traditional meat products. Amit Dhingra, Chief Science Officer for the Company, stated, "The USDA-APHIS Regulatory Status Review for pea marks a significant milestone for Moolec. As the first review for GE pea, it represents a historic development. It validates Moolec's strategic approach and exemplifies our commitment advancing sustainable food production through science and innovation. This approval is a critical step toward enhancing global food supply and meeting the growing demand for innovative, nutritious food solutions for the world." This approval not only showcases Moolec's innovation in Molecular Farming but also highlights the company's commitment to meeting the highest regulatory and safety standards. Moolec has also developed an Identity Preservation Program to ensure sustainable farming practices, promote stewardship for its crops and product quality for partners, clients and consumers alike. According to USDA-APHIS regulation found at 7 CFR part 340, developers may submit a request for a RSR when they believe a GE plant is not subject to the regulation. APHIS reviews the GE plant and considers whether it might pose an increased plant pest risk compared to its non-GE comparator. If APHIS does not identify a greater pest risk relative to the comparator, the GE plant is not subject to this regulation. Regulation 7 CFR part 340 governs the importation, interstate movement, and the environmental release of certain organisms that have been modified or produced by genetic engineering. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2523/acadian-plant-health-and-basf-agricultural-solutions-partner-to-innovate-climate-resilient-solutions-for-sustainable-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2523/acadian-plant-health-and-basf-agricultural-solutions-partner-to-innovate-climate-resilient-solutions-for-sustainable-agriculture.html Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:23:37 +0530 By incorporating Acadian's unique biostimulants with BASF Agricultural Solutions, the two organizations will complement crop care input Acadian Plant Health™ and BASF Agricultural Solutions, two leaders in biostimulant technologies and global agriculture, have announced they are collaborating to develop innovative agricultural solutions to market climate-resilient products for the protection of crop yield and quality.  BASF will leverage Acadian's biostimulant technology to complement its chemistry and biological portfolio and increase solutions that will grow more, and sustainably better crops. "Combining our knowledge and skills creates new agricultural solutions that enhance productivity, sustainability, resilience to climate change, and market access," says Nelson Gibson, President of Acadian Plant Health. "Our goal is to drive greater economic well-being for farmers while ensuring environmental sustainability." By incorporating Acadian's unique biostimulants with BASF Agricultural Solutions, the two organizations will complement crop care inputs, as part of BASF's commitment to transforming the agricultural food system. "Now more than ever, farmers must pursue productivity and sustainability. They are called on to adopt smarter methods and new technologies while earning a living for their families, feed the world while preserving natural resources, and develop resilience to the likes of climate change and evolving, turbulent local and global market economies. By connecting the best products, technologies, and services, we want to positively transform agriculture to impact food systems and, ultimately, society. By pooling our expertise and resources, we can make a meaningful impact," says Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President Global Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions. This action underscores Acadian's leadership in sustainable agriculture and continued dedication to developing solutions that respond to the need for regenerative and climate-smart agriculture. This partnership with BASF will boost economic growth across agricultural communities while reducing environmental impact. Acadian Plant Health is a division of Acadian Seaplants Limited™ – the largest independent marine plant harvesting, cultivation, and extraction company in the world. Acadian is an international leader in sustainable, science-based biological solutions for specialty and broadacre crops. The company is committed to launching patented innovative technology with a focus on sustainability and regenerative agriculture. Acadian Plant Health products are used in over 100 crops in more than 80 countries worldwide. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2511/usda-invests-9-m-in-10-organizations-nationwide-to-support-urban-agriculture-and-innovative-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2511/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/27/2507/syensqo-launches-agrhea-lifextend-plus-to-raise-the-bar-in-biological-formulations.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2507/syensqo-launches-agrhea-lifextend-plus-to-raise-the-bar-in-biological-formulations.html Thu, 10 Oct 2024 15:04:11 +0530 Syensqo's innovative solution to enhance shelf life and efficacy of microbial-based formulations, promoting responsible agriculture Syensqo is launching AgRHEA® LifeXtend Plus, a technology disruptor for microbial-based formulations, that offers unmatched shelf life to accelerate the adoption of more sustainable agriculture methods. In the dynamic landscape of the agriculture industry, the demand for more environmentally friendly farming solutions is higher than ever, and biological formulations—products that leverage natural-based actives present in the environment such as microorganisms or plant extracts—are considered one of the most promising tools. However, the global implementation of these natural-based actives is hindered due to issues such as limited shelf life and inconsistent efficacy. As an industry leader, Syensqo is applying its long-standing expertise to designing innovative formulation solutions that address these specific application challenges. “At Syensqo, we believe that formulation can play a pivotal role in solving the challenges of biological solutions. That is why we have developed AgRHEA® LifeXtend Plus with the aim of significantly increasing shelf life and bringing consistent bioefficacy to boost the use of microbial-based formulations,” says Anaïs Marquilly, Agro Global Marketing Manager at Syensqo. AgRHEA® LifeXtend Plus is a ready-to-use all-in-one solution, which includes a carrier, co-dispersant and rheology agent for the formulation of microorganisms, including beneficial fungi. AgRHEA® LifeXtend Plus is the latest addition to the AgRHEA® range which includes solutions such as AgRHEA® OD-EASY and AgRHEA® SticGuard and demonstrates the strong commitment of Syensqo in supporting the agricultural sector on its path towards increased sustainability.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2462/changqing-biotech-hubei-to-launch-500-ton-methylaniline-and-500-ton-l-glufosinate-projects-at-spend-of-rmb100-million.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2462/changqing-biotech-hubei-to-launch-500-ton-methylaniline-and-500-ton-l-glufosinate-projects-at-spend-of-rmb100-million.html Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:25:40 +0530 Plans to invest RMB100 million yuan Changqing (Hubei) Biotechnology Co., Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Changqing Agrochemical Co., Ltd. announced the EIA of the project of the annual output of 500 tons of methylaniline and 500 tons of L-glufosinate.  The project is located in Zone B of Yaojiagang Chemical Industrial Park, with a total investment of RMB100 million yuan, covering an annual production of 500 tons of methylaniline, 500 tons of L-glufosinate and its by-products. Jiangsu Changqing Agrochemical Co., Ltd is a large agrochemical group that integrates agrochemical research and development, production and marketing. It is engaged in production and business operation of pesticides inclusive of three major pesticide categories: Insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. Jiangsu Changqing Agrochemical principally engaged in the production and distribution of agricultural chemicals. The Company provides its products through three categories: herbicide, including fomesafen, acifluorofen, clomazone, fluoroglycofen, bromoxynil octanoate, lactofen and imazethapyr; pesticide, including imidacloprid, mathamidophos, chlorpyrifos and triazophos, as well as germicide, including tricyclazole, dimethomorph and methylene bithiocyanate, among others. The company is also engaged in the manufacture of fertilizers and seeds. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2461/chinese-scientists-creates-two-novel-biofungicides-for-rice-disease-control.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2461/chinese-scientists-creates-two-novel-biofungicides-for-rice-disease-control.html Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:23:02 +0530 Two novel fungicides have performed satisfactorily in the prevention and control of rice bacterial streak China’s Guizhou University announced the successful development of two novel biofungicides, a significant breakthrough in preventing and controlling rice bacterial diseases. The successful development was announced at the National Key R&D Program-oriented Field Trial Evaluation, held in Xiangyang City, Hubei Province. Experts believe that the two novel fungicides have performed satisfactorily in the prevention and control of rice bacterial streak, recommending that the product registration be processed speedily and be applied to trials on the control of diseases in other crops. The two novel fungicides, namely pleuromutilin 20% SC and chloroacetyl-pleuromutilin 20% SC, are pure natural biological pesticides, as developed by the National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides of Guizhou University after four years of efforts and more than 1,000 experiments. The two products have the advantages of less use, good effect, low cost and environmental safety, having been fully tested in many provinces with fruitful results.  In the field trials, the two novel products showed a high safety for rice growth and effective prevention and control of rice bacterial streak. The results of field trials have revealed above 85% effect of control of rice bacterial streak at per-mu use of 75ml of chloroacetyl-pleuromutilin 20% SC in aerial application and per-mu use of 100ml of pleuromutilin 20% SC, which appears superior to a farmer’s pesticide applications. The trials also show that the above products are not only effective in controlling of rice bacterial streak, and against rice bacterial leaf blight and citrus canker.  Experts suggest that the research on the mixture of the two products and the safety for use in different rice varieties be accelerated to grasp the best time for application, to be supported by the speedy promotion and registration process. Overall, the successful development of the two novel biofungicides is not only of great significance to the prevention and control of rice diseases but also provides new ideas and methods for the control of major diseases and new references to the green crop protection initiative. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2457/corteva-pairwise-to-accelerate-gene-editing-to-advance-climate-resilience-in-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2457/corteva-pairwise-to-accelerate-gene-editing-to-advance-climate-resilience-in-agriculture.html Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:56:45 +0530 Corteva to invest $25 million to acquire equity stake in gene editing innovator, Pairwise Corteva, Inc. , a global leader in agricultural technology and Pairwise, a technology company pioneering the application of gene editing in food and agriculture have collaborated to accelerate the delivery of advanced gene editing solutions to farmers. The initiative will benefit both the environment and everyday consumers. With gene editing, growers can make precise changes to a plant's DNA, able to keep pace with climate change's challenges to food production. Anchoring the collaboration is Corteva's $25 million equity investment in Pairwise, made under the umbrella of Corteva Catalyst, the company's new investment and partnership platform focused on accessing agricultural innovation to drive value creation. The investment aims to help expand the reach and benefits of gene editing to a wide variety of staple and specialty crops. In addition, Corteva and Pairwise have formed a joint venture to accelerate and expand the delivery of advanced gene edited technologies aimed at increasing crop yield for food, fuel and fiber production, despite increasing climate change. The joint venture, which spans five years, will leverage both companies' advanced gene editing capabilities to accelerate the delivery of gene edited products by generating and evaluating unique gene edits across multiple traits in a range of crops. Building on Corteva's longstanding leadership in plant breeding and genetics, the companies will collaborate on the development and deployment of gene edited products that are more resilient to extreme weather events and climate change. This is the first joint venture and major equity investment in gene editing made by Corteva Catalyst, the company's new investment and partnership platform. The investment reflects Corteva's nearly century-long track record (through its Pioneer brand) of championing innovation through partnerships, including with the global scientific community. Tom Adams, Pairwise CEO and co-founder. "Through our Fulcrum™ Platform, we're proud to be at the helm of applying this transformative technology in agriculture and, alongside partners like Corteva, accelerate the realization of these benefits across global stakeholders." Pairwise is a leader in using gene editing to make differentiated crops. Last year, the company launched the first CRISPR food in North America, and has multiple products in development across significant crops, including corn, soy, wheat, canola, blackberries, and more. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2455/braskem-expands-global-footprints-by-unveiling-new-renewable-innovation-center-in-lexington-massachusetts.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2455/braskem-expands-global-footprints-by-unveiling-new-renewable-innovation-center-in-lexington-massachusetts.html Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:33:07 +0530 Prime focus to conversion of biomass-based feedstocks, including sugars, cellulose, plant oils, and lignin, to sustainable chemicals and materials. Braskem the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, as well as a market leader and pioneer producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, announced the opening of its Renewable Innovation Center at Lexington, Mass. Braskem’s new 35,000-square-foot innovation center will accelerate innovation in renewable chemicals and materials. This innovation center is the latest expansion of Braskem’s global Innovation & Technology footprint. Capabilities at the new center will expand Braskem’s competencies in biotechnology, catalysis, and process engineering. A particular focus will be given to early-stage science and engineering related to the conversion of biomass-based feedstocks, including sugars, cellulose, plant oils, and lignin, to sustainable chemicals and materials. This will enhance Braskem’s resources focused on the discovery of technologies that will drive new growth-oriented offerings centered around combating climate change. Mark Nikolich, CEO of Braskem America, stated, “This is a great moment for Braskem and the bio-based industry as we continue to lead the change to a sustainable future. Braskem has a strong ambition to be a key player in carbon capturing through the production of materials with renewable raw materials. This innovation center even better positions Braskem to forge solutions that meet the needs of today and the future.” The new center is strategically based in Greater Boston’s world-class biotechnology and innovation ecosystem, located within a one-hour drive of more than 60 universities and colleges. Work in the Renewable Innovation Center will complement Braskem’s global research and development work currently being conducted in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, and Germany. From promoting plastic circularity to driving the bio-based materials revolution, Braskem is committed to diminishing the dependency on finite resources and reducing carbon emissions while generating a positive impact for a better society. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2452/renaissance-bioscience-named-by-agtech-breakthrough-global-awards-2024-as-crop-protection-solution-of-the-year.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2452/renaissance-bioscience-named-by-agtech-breakthrough-global-awards-2024-as-crop-protection-solution-of-the-year.html Tue, 17 Sep 2024 20:03:26 +0530 Annual Awards Program Recognizes Innovation in Agricultural and Food Technologies around the Globe Renaissance BioScience, a leader in yeast bioengineering, announced that it has been selected as the winner of the “Crop Protection Solution of the Year” award in the fifth annual Global Awards program conducted by AgTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies, innovations and products in today’s global agriculture and food technology markets. In the area of global agricultural crop protection, Renaissance has developed and is commercializing through collaborative partnerships the world’s first yeast-based RNA interference (RNAi) precision biopesticide platform technology that can be individually customized to target many different pests. This technology offers a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides by targeting specific essential genes in the pest of interest with precision and efficacy. RNAi biopesticide platform technology can precisely target many different pests Renaissance’s platform technology can be used to express specific RNAi bioeffector molecules in yeast strains. Target sequences for different pests of interest can be developed and inserted, resulting in the ability to create customized and unique strains. These strains are inactivated prior to product formulation and can be manufactured at scale for low cost. The biopesticide can be seamlessly integrated into traditional crop protection application processes, helping to streamline adoption by farmers and agricultural industries worldwide. The biopesticide product is applied to the crop plants using traditional application methods. Once the inert yeast are consumed by the target pest, the RNAi bioeffectors are released inside the insect, effectively silencing the target genes and killing the pest. Any residual yeast degrades in the environment without harming humans, plants or other insects. One initial pest successfully targeted using this platform is the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), a notorious threat to the global potato industry due to its accumulated resistance to many pesticides. The company’s customized yeast strains are a practical, sustainable solution for large-scale agricultural use, and Renaissance is actively working with industry leaders to develop innovative crop protection solutions for other devastating pests.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2448/vitales-launches-bionematicide-gratto-nema-in-brazil.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2448/vitales-launches-bionematicide-gratto-nema-in-brazil.html Mon, 16 Sep 2024 11:26:24 +0530 Gratto Nema, a solution that controls eggs, juveniles and adults of the main phytonematodes. Vitales, part of the UbyAgro Group, a company specializing in biological control solutions has launched Gratto product portfolio, which includes the highly efficient and sustainable Gratto Nema solution for integrated pest management. Gratto Nema, a solution that controls eggs, juveniles and adults of the main phytonematodes. Formulated with the fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum, strain PL11, the product is recommended for soil application and seed treatment to control the nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne javanica. The prodcut is expected to have proven agronomic efficiency in lettuce, carrot, and soybean crops, and can be used in any crop where the biological target occurs. Vitales unveiled the product at the Brazilian Congress of Nematology (CBN) held in the city of Foz do Iguaçu (PR) in support of Brazilian Society of Nematology, the Organization of Nematologists of Tropical America and the State University of Maringá (UEM). “Nematodes are difficult to control. They attack plant roots, causing the formation of lesions, galls and cysts that impair the absorption of water and nutrients by the roots. Recommended for different crops, the producer obtains a series of benefits, such as the reduction of the nematode population through parasitism of the female, eggs and nematodes in the mobile phase, without causing any imbalance in the soil microbiota or harm to the environment, thus improving their productivity” explains Fernando Sousa, Marketing and Biologicals Manager at Vitales.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2443/worlds-largest-premium-cannabis-clone-nursery-launched-by-iwantclones-com.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2443/worlds-largest-premium-cannabis-clone-nursery-launched-by-iwantclones-com.html Fri, 13 Sep 2024 01:45:31 +0530 Spearheads cannabis clone market by expanding genetic strains SeedsHereNow.com, the premier cannabis seed bank in the United States, has launched IWantClones.com, a groundbreaking premium cannabis clone nursery offering the largest selection of clones in the world. With more than 200 current strains and plans to expand to 300 selections, IWantClones.com is set to revolutionize the cannabis clone market. IWantClones.com is powered by SeedsHereNow.com, a trusted name in cannabis genetics since 2010 and the longest-running seed bank in the United States. By leveraging its extensive network of breeders and expertise, IWantClones.com delivers unparalleled quality and variety to cannabis enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. “We are thrilled to introduce IWantClones.com to the cannabis community,” said James Bean, founder of SeedsHereNow.com. “As passionate advocates for both hobby growers and commercial cultivators, we understand the critical importance of reliable genetics. IWantClones.com embodies these values, offering the widest selection of premium clones while ensuring a seamless growing experience for our customers.“ The cannabis clone market is experiencing significant growth, driven by an increasing demand for high-quality clones among both hobbyists and professionals. IWantClones.com meets this demand by providing a diverse array of unique and sought-after strains, ensuring that growers have access to the best genetics available. An 2018 Farm Bill, IWantClones.com has enabled legal shipping clones to all 50 states. This pivotal legislation allows for safe and discreet shipping of products containing less than 0.3 percent THC, making it easier for cannabis professionals to access top-tier clones from anywhere in the country. “We are excited to bring our expertise in cannabis genetics to the clone market. By combining our extensive strain library with our unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, IWantClones.com is poised to become the go-to destination for cannabis enthusiasts and professionals seeking the best possible growing experience“ added Bean. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2433/vitales-collaborates-with-ginkgo-to-launch-advanced-biocontrol-products-for-brazilian-agri-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2433/vitales-collaborates-with-ginkgo-to-launch-advanced-biocontrol-products-for-brazilian-agri-market.html Mon, 09 Sep 2024 10:58:13 +0530 Ginkgo has announced new partnership with Vitales, a subsidiary of Uby Agro, to accelerate the development and launch of two new Generation 1 biocontrol products. These innovative products aim to combat critical soybean diseases in Brazil, including Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and target spot, caused by the pathogens Fusarium virguliforme and Corynespora cassiicola, respectively. Leveraging Ginkgo’s extensive strain collection, the strains selected for Vitales previously underwent rigorous in vitro and in planta screenings so that Vitales can introduce these biocontrol solutions to the market more swiftly. This partnership showcases Ginkgo’s capability to provide pre-validated strain assets, allowing for a faster product development cycle. Additionally, Ginkgo’s expertise in formulation will enable the development of various prototype formulations, such as seed treatments and foliar applications, specifically tailored for the unique needs of Brazilian agriculture. The growing bioinputs market, which includes control products, inoculants, biostimulants, and solubilizers, is especially vital for Brazilian agriculture. According to Kynetec, a firm that tracks agricultural inputs, biocontrol products have enjoyed an average growth rate of 35% a year for the past five seasons and now constitute 4.2% of the entire crop protection market. This surge highlights the importance of developing sustainable agricultural solutions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2417/bioceres-crop-solutions-secures-approval-to-cultivate-drought-tolerant-hb4-wheat.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2417/bioceres-crop-solutions-secures-approval-to-cultivate-drought-tolerant-hb4-wheat.html Fri, 30 Aug 2024 11:17:42 +0530 Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has favorably concluded its Regulatory Status Review (RSR) for HB4 wheat technology. The USDA, through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), reviewed HB4 wheat and concluded that it does not pose an increased plant pest risk relative to comparator wheat plants. As such, it is not subject to regulations under the 7 CFR part 340 for organisms modified or produced through genetic engineering. The determination clears the U.S. market for production of HB4 wheat and complements the FDA’s previously obtained favorable review for food and feed use. The United States is the fourth largest wheat producer in the world ― the largest in the Americas ― and is the fourth country in the world to greenlight production of HB4 wheat, following Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, Thailand, Indonesia, Colombia and Chile have all approved the technology for food and feed use. In Australia, an important wheat producing geography that is increasingly prone to water deficits, the company has recently received a license to undertake field trials to gather the necessary data for an eventual production application as well. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2404/caudill-sprouting-reinforces-sprouting-industry-with-international-sprout-growers-association-isga.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2404/caudill-sprouting-reinforces-sprouting-industry-with-international-sprout-growers-association-isga.html Mon, 26 Aug 2024 11:30:27 +0530 Corey Caudill has been re-elected as Vice President of the International Sprout Growers Association (ISGA) Caudill Seed's subsidiary, Caudill Sprouting, continues to strengthen its leadership in the sprouting industry through its association with the International Sprout Growers Association (ISGA). Through quality and innovation, Caudill Sprouting contributes valuable expertise to the ISGA, helping to shape industry standards and promote best practices. Caudill strives to advancing food safety, enhancing sprout production processes, and supporting sustainable practices within the industry. Corey Caudill has been re-elected as Vice President of the International Sprout Growers Association (ISGA) for his third consecutive term. This underscores the vital role Caudill Sprouting plays in the sprouting industry, leading and guiding the sector through complex challenges based on its expertise in sprouting seed cultivation. Under the current guidance of ISGA leaders, the industry continues to evolve, setting standards that ensure safety, quality, and innovation within the sprouting sector. Caudill Sprouting also has representatives within the ISGA's Membership Committee. Caudill Sprouting, is also focused on growing the association’s membership and ensuring that the diverse voices within the sprouting industry are heard. With this dynamic partnership, Caudill Sprouting continues to foster a community of growers who are committed to upholding high industry standards. With deep expertise in sprouting seeds, Caudill Sprouting provides essential insights into the best practices for seed cultivation. Using this expertise, Caudill Sprouting contributes meaningfully to industry discussions, influencing the direction of the sprouting industry while promoting innovation and sustainability. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2398/silvec-biologics-to-combat-citrus-greening-disease-with-rna-based-plant-protection-products.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2398/silvec-biologics-to-combat-citrus-greening-disease-with-rna-based-plant-protection-products.html Fri, 23 Aug 2024 11:12:47 +0530 Secures EPA Pesticide Regulation Improvement Act (PRIA) registration process Silvec Biologics, a Maryland based agtech company that develops RNA-based plant protection products, has announced that a first-of-its-kind RNA vector delivery product, developed in collaboration with Southern Gardens Citrus (a subsidiary of U. S. Sugar), University of Florida, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, to combat the devastating and incurable citrus greening disease. Silvec Biologics is processing the EPA Pesticide Regulation Improvement Act (PRIA) registration and approval process following successful completion of Milestone #4 – Technical Screen earlier in July 2024. Citrus greening has had a massive impact on citrus production globally. Silvec product is based on a mild and naturally untransmittable version of a virus found in most citrus trees that has been reprogrammed to express a natural antimicrobial peptide found in spinach. A single application has been demonstrated in field trials to provide long-term reduction in yield declines caused by the citrus greening bacteria. This product is the first of its kind to use a viral vector to reduce damage from pathogens, is compatible with all commercial citrus varieties, and does not genetically modify the tree or its fruit. The citrus vector product has been approved by USDA for commercial use in all Florida counties following a positive Environmental Impact Statement issued by USDA in June 2020. Silvec, along with its regulatory partner, the IR-4 Project, filed an EPA registration application in January 2024 which commences an 18-month review process. According to Rick Dantzler, Executive Director of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, a partnership between Florida citrus growers and government agencies, “CRDF sees the citrus vector technology as playing an instrumental role in helping to reduce the catastrophic effects of citrus greening on Florida citrus production and Silvec has our full support with its regulatory approval process.” Silvec develops RNA platforms for delivering traits into plants without modifying their genomes. Its products can enhance plant traits as well as protect against pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and pests with products developed at a fraction of the cost of other approaches. With plant pathogens causing hundreds of billions of dollars of annual damage and a strong demand for non-GM trait enhancement, Silvec’s proprietary RNA technology can revolutionize agriculture similar to how RNA therapies are revolutionizing human medicine ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2376/novel-biological-fungicide-partnership-peps-up-disease-control-efforts.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2376/novel-biological-fungicide-partnership-peps-up-disease-control-efforts.html Thu, 22 Aug 2024 11:01:00 +0530 Ground-breaking biological fungicide technology is set to increase Australian growers’ efforts against the growing foliar disease threat in broadacre crops Leading US life sciences company Elemental Enzymes, which specialises in novel biotechnology and enzyme solutions, is partnering with ADAMA Australia to introduce the new biofungicide to the local crop protection market. The innovative new product, expected to be launched for the 2026 winter cropping season and spring turf market, targets the management of foliar diseases in cereals, canola and turf applications.  Featuring Elemental Enzymes’ patented peptide technology, the new biofungicide will introduce a novel mode of action for disease control. Comprising of naturally occurring amino acid peptides, the technology will prime plants’ immune systems to defend against fungal diseases such as septoria tritici and septoria nodorum in wheat. The new partnership grants ADAMA Australia an exclusive licence to distribute the locally-tested biofungicide in broadacre crops and turf, while it will also actively explore additional use patterns for the technology via its extensive research and development program.  Steve Scott, CEO at ADAMA Australia, said there was a strong need for a new approach to manage fungal diseases and limit resistance development to conventional fungicides on many Australian farms. “This innovative peptide technology will support conventional fungicides by activating the plant’s natural immune response to diseases,” Steve said. “The global biological crop protection market is experiencing rapid growth. In future seasons, growers will have access to this exciting technology, which will complement conventional crop protection chemistry. “At ADAMA, we are committed to leveraging our extensive local and global R&D footprint to rigorously test new technology, ensuring predictable paddock performance and demonstrating a measurable return on investment for growers by improving crop health and yield. “We are excited to partner with Elemental Enzymes to develop and introduce its patented technology to the Australian market.”  ADAMA Australia plans to incorporate the technology into its expansive fungicide portfolio, complementing existing and future innovative disease management solutions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2299/epa-approves-rust-fungus-to-combat-invasive-grass-on-farms.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2299/epa-approves-rust-fungus-to-combat-invasive-grass-on-farms.html Thu, 22 Aug 2024 04:09:00 +0530 Rust fungus is highly host‐specific New Zealand has approved the release of a rust fungus to control the spread of Chilean needle grass, an invasive weed that not only harms animals, but has the potential to cost farmers millions of dollars in lost production. Marlborough District Council applied to use a strain of rust fungus, Uromyces pencanus, as a biocontrol agent against Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana) in New Zealand. In recent years the EPA has approved other biocontrol agents for weeds such as old man’s beard, Sydney golden wattle and moth plant, amongst others. “We hope the introduction of this rust fungus will help slow the spread of this aggressive weed and reduce harm to livestock and other farm animals. Testing shows this rust fungus can successfully slow infestations, killing the foliage of the Chilean needle grass as well as reducing its growth and seed production. This rust fungus is highly host‐specific, meaning it only lives on Chilean needle grass. The testing results provided to us showed it is highly unlikely to harm native plants or animals. There is also no risk to people.” says Dr Chris Hill, General Manager, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms. Chilean needle grass is a perennial grass from South America and was first identified in New Zealand in the 1920s. The seeds have sharp tips that can bore into the eyelids and pelts of animals, resulting in severe animal welfare issues, including blindness. Plants form dense clumps, which exclude pasture species and are less palatable to stock, reducing farm productivity. Methods for managing Chilean needle grass infestations on farms, such as destocking for the three-month period when seeds are present, or by applying herbicide, can be both difficult and expensive. One study estimates that across the sector, the potential cost of lost production could reach as much as $1.16 billion, if the weed is left unchecked. Chilean needle grass is well established in some regions, particularly Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, Auckland and Canterbury “Our panel of independent experts approved this release following a rigorous, evidence-based investigative process which included the consideration of public submissions, international best practice and engagement with mana whenua.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2386/biolumic-partners-with-becks-hybrids-and-other-major-seed-companies-to-boost-corn-productivity-via-uv-light.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2386/biolumic-partners-with-becks-hybrids-and-other-major-seed-companies-to-boost-corn-productivity-via-uv-light.html Fri, 16 Aug 2024 11:14:05 +0530 Novel technology exposes seedlings or seeds to a short-duration “light recipe” that can trigger genetic expression of certain crop traits. A breakthrough has been achieved by BioLumic in enhancing these inbred corn lines, and its UV light signaling technology will be incorporated into partnerships with major seed companies including Beck's Hybrids, Peterson Farms, Breeder Direct, and many others. BioLumic’s technology exposes seedlings or seeds to a short-duration “light recipe” that can trigger genetic expression of certain crop traits. In the case of the inbred corn, the company specifically targeted target improved germination, seedling vigor, and yield. The 2023 trials demonstrated a more than 7.3% yield gain compared to the growers’ standard practice, says the company, which is targeting double-digit yield gains for 2024. Inbred seeds are critical to the production of hybrid seeds, which most farmers favor when it comes to their crops. For example, 95% of the corn in the US is planted using hybrid seeds that can produce greater yields on less acreage, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. “Seed companies look for varieties that have traits that they desire, and they try to keep those varieties pure,” explains Steve Sibulkin, CEO of ag biotech company BioLumic. The challenge is that these “pure” lines — that is, the parent lines of hybrid seeds — eventually start to suffer from a depression in the form of reduced germination, poor seedling emergence, susceptibility to environmental stressors and other negative factors. This in turn impacts the quality of the hybrid seeds. BioLumic is also examining what Sibulkin calls “the cross-generational passthrough” of inbred seeds’ beneficial traits to the hybrid seeds. Currently the company is working with Beck’s Hybrids, one of the largest seed brands in the US, as well as Breeder Direct, which is owned by Gro Alliance and which last year gained full breeding access to Farmers Business Network’s pool of corn germplasm. The company is commercializing its technology for both inbred and hybrid corn cultivars in partnership with Gro Alliance for the first quarter of 2025, so that seeds will be available to farmers for that year’s planting season. BioLumic will also advance trait development of soybean parent lines, with plans to initiate trials this year. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2374/australias-grdc-invests-3-million-in-soybean-breeding-by-germplasm-evaluation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2374/australias-grdc-invests-3-million-in-soybean-breeding-by-germplasm-evaluation.html Tue, 13 Aug 2024 10:53:32 +0530 Worth $6 million in total, the new breeding program will accelerate the delivery of new varieties to growers by ‘speed breeding’ using technology The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will invest $3 million in a new five-year soybean breeding program that will be led by the University of Adelaide and aims to deliver new elite soybean varieties to Australian growers. Since 2012, GRDC has invested over $5 million in soybean breeding that has developed new varieties and advanced breeding material. Worth $6 million in total, the new breeding program will accelerate the delivery of new varieties to growers by ‘speed breeding’ using new technology to improve germplasm evaluation and other key breeding processes. GRDC genetic technologies, biosecurity and regulation general manager Juan Juttner says GRDC and the University of Adelaide had joined forces in a quest to deliver higher yielding soybean varieties suitable for a broader range of growing environments. “The important new, national soybean breeding program will build on previous investments GRDC has made in this area that have delivered significant gains for Australia’s soybean growers,” Dr Juttner says. GRDC oilseeds and genetic technologies manager Allison Pearson says the investment would evaluate breeding material with the goal of improving yield potential and ensuring that new varieties meet the quality parameters of domestic and international end users. Australian soybean production is around 40,000 tonnes per year. Its expansion has been limited due to inconsistent and unreliable production, exacerbated by environmental factors, crop price and variety choice. Within 10 years, Soy Australia wants to increase annual production to 150,000 tonnes per year – equating to $75 million – by improving production in existing areas and expanding soybean into new regions. The national soybean breeding program will focus on improved varieties for the existing soybean growing regions in Queensland and New South Wales and work towards expansion for new regions such as Central Queensland and South Australia. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2366/adama-and-elemental-enzymes-partners-to-launch-innovative-bio-fungicide-to-the-australian-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2366/adama-and-elemental-enzymes-partners-to-launch-innovative-bio-fungicide-to-the-australian-market.html Mon, 12 Aug 2024 10:53:41 +0530 The Bio-Fungicide will combat Foliar Diseases in Australian Crops and Turf ADAMA, a global leader in crop protection solutions, has announced a partnership with Elemental Enzymes, a US-based life sciences company, to introduce an innovative biological fungicide to the Australian market. The new bio-fungicide, set to launch in 2026 for winter crops and spring turf, addresses the growing challenge of foliar diseases in cereals, canola and turf applications. Utilizing Elemental Enzymes’ patented peptide technology, the product will offer a novel mode of action to protect against fungal diseases like septoria tritici and septoria nodorum in wheat. By stimulating plants’ natural defenses, the bio-fungicide will complement existing chemical fungicides, helping to manage disease resistance and improve crop health. This innovative peptide technology will support conventional fungicides by activating the plant’s natural immune response to diseases. ADAMA Australia will exclusively distribute the bio-fungicide for broadacre crops and turf, while also exploring additional applications through its research and development program. “We are excited to partner with Elemental Enzymes to bring this innovative technology to Australian growers,” said Steve Scott, General Manager of ADAMA Australia. “The increasing prevalence of fungal diseases and the growing resistance to traditional fungicides highlight the urgent need for new solutions. This bio-fungicide offers a promising approach to enhance crop protection and sustainability. We are committed to rigorous testing and development to ensure this product delivers tangible benefits to Australian farmers.” This partnership aligns with ADAMA’s strategy to provide innovative and sustainable crop protection solutions that deliver high return on investment and meet the evolving needs of farmers worldwide ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2359/new-zealands-biolumic-to-enhance-inbred-corn-lines-through-uv-activation-of-genetic-expression.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2359/new-zealands-biolumic-to-enhance-inbred-corn-lines-through-uv-activation-of-genetic-expression.html Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:18:23 +0530 Pioneers New Seed Traits with Seed Company Partners BioLumic, the world’s only company treating seeds with light to activate genetic expression for new crop traits, has achieved a breakthrough in enhancing inbred corn lines. These genetically 'pure' parent seeds are crucial for producing the world’s high-performing hybrid seeds favored by most farmers. After achieving significant performance milestones in 2023 field trials, BioLumic is partnering with Beck's Hybrids, Peterson Corn Genetics, Peterson Farms Seed, Breeder Direct and other seed companies to use BioLumic’s Genetic Expression Trait™ light-activated technology on a wide range of inbred and hybrid corn lines aiming to enhance their productivity. The inbred trials specifically target improved germination, emergence, seedling vigor, yield, and hybrid seed quality – all issues often associated when working with inbred seed corn breeding and production. BioLumic harnesses ultraviolet (UV) light signaling, a scientifically-proven process, to rapidly activate natural genetic expression in plants for improved yield, quality, and plant defense traits without requiring genetic modification or chemical additives. BioLumic’s technology is being commercialized for inbred and hybrid corn cultivars, with plans underway for light-treated seeds to be available to farmers for the 2025 planting season. “By activating Genetic Expression Traits in corn parent lines and showing the ability to lock in those traits to hybrid corn progeny without any ensuing treatments, our UV light technology is rewriting the playbook for seed production,” said Steve Sibulkin, BioLumic CEO. “It eliminates years of trait identification and breeding work for driving yield, quality and plant health without the multi-year regulatory process associated with genetic modification.” BioLumic’s light treatments for inbred seed are tailored to solve the problems associated with inbreeding depression. In 2023 trials, treated inbred corn lines with the stand establishment and yield trait package demonstrated a more than 7.3% yield gain without any changes compared to the grower’s standard practice – and the company is targeting double-digit yield gains this year. These substantial improvements in inbred uniformity and yield were driven by enhanced early-season germination and increased seedling vigor, including an average 16% advantage in root biomass. BioLumic’s Genetic Expression Traits can also be stacked together as trait packages to target multiple traits, such as improved stand establishment, yield, and composition (e.g. lipid content). BioLumic is set to commercialize Genetic Expression Traits for both inbred and hybrid corn in partnership with Gro Alliance in Q1 2025. The company is actively collaborating with genetics providers to develop new traits for their cultivars. Additionally, BioLumic is advancing trait development of soybean parent lines, with initial trials commencing this year. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2336/biome-makers-launches-new-agronomic-insights-tool-becrop-farm.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2336/biome-makers-launches-new-agronomic-insights-tool-becrop-farm.html Tue, 30 Jul 2024 05:56:00 +0530 Biome Makers, a leading global agtech company on a mission to recover soil health and improve farmer profitability, has announced the latest evolution of BeCrop technology. BeCrop Farm is the first digital platform designed to maximize the potential of every acre. This innovative solution evaluates over 1,000 parameters, including complex biological data and environmental factors, to provide precise input recommendations and tailored agronomic insights on soil health, disease risk, and management practices. For nearly a decade, Biome Makers has led the industry in building the largest global soil microbe database and scientifically verifying the claims of over 400 biological input products and management practices from ag input manufacturers, retailers, and other agribusinesses around the globe. Biome Makers has now taken a step further to revolutionize agriculture by empowering the industry with real actionable insights to save time and money and recover soil health. With the increasing adoption of biological products and the expanding options available to farmers each season, proven and precise product recommendations are becoming essential for ensuring consistent performance and ROl. BeCrop Farm addresses this by eliminating guesswork and providing farmers and retailers with tools to help them choose the right products and receive agronomic insights and recommendations that are easy to visualize and implement. “Understanding the impact of products and management practices on soil is complex and most often requires experienced scientists and agronomists to make sense of the data,” said Alberto Acedo, co-founder and CSO at Biome Makers. “BeCrop Farm combines biological, chemical, and environmental data and utilizes advanced AI to provide farmers and retailers with an actionable recommendation to make informed decisions and maximize impact.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2304/syngenta-collaborates-with-ginkgo-bioworks-for-rapid-launch-of-innovative-biologicals.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2304/syngenta-collaborates-with-ginkgo-bioworks-for-rapid-launch-of-innovative-biologicals.html Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:49:32 +0530 Syngenta will leverage Ginkgo’s Ag Biologicals capabilities to optimize secondary metabolite production for a pioneering biological solution Syngenta Crop Protection, and Ginkgo Bioworks, which is building a platform for cell programming and biosecurity, has announced a new cooperation aimed at accelerating the launch of a new biological solution. The two companies have previously collaborated on next-generation seed technology. Through this new collaboration, Ginkgo plans to develop and optimize a microbial strain that can meet the productivity targets of a secondary metabolite from the Syngenta Biologicals pipeline. This molecule is earmarked by Syngenta as a pioneering biological solution. Successful cost-effective and large-scale production of this targeted metabolite would significantly expedite Syngenta's go-to-market timeline for its latest biological solution. To achieve this, Ginkgo will use its Ag Biologicals capabilities to calculate theoretical performance and guide rational strain engineering strategies to develop the microbial strain that is robust enough to meet Syngenta’s goals. Ginkgo will leverage its biological knowledge and machine learning approaches to develop insights from multiple complex data sources and apply this toward diagnosing strain performance limitations as well as biological feature discovery. “Biologicals are increasingly important in addressing the need for efficient and sustainable agricultural solutions worldwide. At Syngenta, we are committed to providing farmers with greater complementary product and technology choices that promote sustainable agricultural practices,” said Camilla Corsi, Global Head of Research at Syngenta Crop Protection. “We are excited to work with Ginkgo, and are confident that their distinctive capabilities will enable us to achieve our productivity goals for our targeted molecule, expediting our time to market.” Magalie Guilhabert, Head of Ag Biologicals at Ginkgo Bioworks, said: “We’ve built a successful relationship from our work together on plant traits and now look forward to doing the same with ag biologicals. Ginkgo is proud to put our excellent assets and experience against some of our customer’s toughest challenges. We’ll work to achieve productivity levels to realize commercial viability for Syngenta’s innovative ag biologicals product launch.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2302/innovafeed-completes-third-expansion-phase-at-nesle-industrial-site.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2302/innovafeed-completes-third-expansion-phase-at-nesle-industrial-site.html Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:26:00 +0530 With this expansion, Nesle becomes the largest insect production site in the world Innovafeed (Next 40, B Corp™) announced the completion of the third phase of expansion of its production site in Nesle . This is a crucial step that marks the ramp-up of its production capacities, as announced in September 2022, on the occasion of its last record fundraising of €250M (Series D) . This new extension brings the total floor area to 55,000m² . In doing so, it multiplies the larval production capacity by five and improves breeding conditions thanks to automated and optimized management of production flows. Through this extension, Nesle now becomes the largest insect production site in the world .This success demonstrates not only the viability of Innovafeed's disruptive technology but also its ability to evolve towards large-scale, profitable and sustainable production . Innovafeed thus demonstrates the strength of its innovative industrial model. A new industrial phase enabling the mastery of innovative technology and ensuring volume growth The construction of this latest extension in Nesle is the result of an industrial development designed in three phases to control and de-risk the development of its model. The first two phases, inaugurated in 2020 and 2023 respectively , made it possible to address the technological risks inherent in the creation of a new innovative industrial sector based on living organisms. After having carried out the ramp-up, stabilized the technology and demonstrated the economic performance of the site during these first 2 phases, this 3rd phase will make it possible to achieve the target production capacity and profitability. Innovafeed, a pioneer among industrial start-ups Innovafeed is one of the pioneers of a dynamic of creation of industrial start-ups in France. This movement within French Tech affects many impact sectors such as mobility, energy production or agro-industry. It allows the emergence of new technologies and new industrial sectors contributing to the industrial sovereignty of France as well as the decarbonization of strategic sectors . This process of emergence of industrial start-ups goes through several successive stages: the laboratory stage aimed at confirming technical feasibility, the demonstration pilot stage on a semi-industrial scale and finally the “head of series” stage of demonstration on an industrial scale. This last stage is a pivotal phase of transition between design and industrial maturity. The success of Innovafeed on Nesle is thus a very strong symbol for the ecosystem of industrial start-ups in France. A Sustainable and Efficient Model Through this extension, Innovafeed also demonstrates the acceleration of the development of the Insect Sector and the success of its industrial symbiosis model . This model guarantees the production of proteins intended for animal feed while ensuring a low carbon impact (80% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to other models without industrial symbiosis) and respect for biodiversity. This low-carbon food alternative is widely acclaimed by agribusiness leaders including ADM and Cargill , who are among Innovafeed's main customers and investors. Innovafeed has more than 1 billion signed contracts over 10 years , underlining the trust of its partners. Commitment to the Future The completion of this phase will strengthen the 170 existing positions by creating 40 jobs . These jobs include production operators, maintenance technicians and team coordinators, all from the Hauts-de-France region . Some of these positions have already been filled, and a majority of the remaining positions will be filled through internal mobility, thus continuing our commitment to developing our teams.Labeled B Corp since 2022 , winner of the Impact 40 since 2024 and listed in the Next 40 for the second consecutive year, Innovafeed aims to contribute to the growth of a new innovative industrial sector with a global impact.This new expansion marks a major milestone for Innovafeed, consolidating its  technological know-how and its local socio-economic impact . With this crucial step, Innovafeed demonstrates the innovation, sustainability and profitability projection of its industrial model, while anticipating the challenges of the industry and reaffirming its commitment to French green reindustrialization. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2300/chinas-origin-agritech-updates-on-its-gmo-commercialization-and-gene-editing-business.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2300/chinas-origin-agritech-updates-on-its-gmo-commercialization-and-gene-editing-business.html Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:13:13 +0530 In a recent media interaction, Origin Agritech Chairman and CEO Dr. Gengchen Han provide you with an update on our recent developments, including our progress in GMO commercialization, the performance of our commercial hybrids, and advancements in our gene editing business. GMO Commercialization DevelopmentsRecently, Origin Agritech achieved a significant milestone by obtaining China's GMO safety certificate for our transgenic maize, BBL2-2. This maize GMO event, developed in collaboration with the Biotechnology Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, exemplifies our commitment to innovation and sustainable agricultural practices. The BBL2-2 maize event is engineered with two insect-resistant genes, Cry1Ab and Cry3b, and one herbicide-tolerance gene, Cp4-epsps. These genetic traits provide robust protection against various pests, including corn borer, cotton bollworm, armyworm, and Firefly bimaculata, making it the only maize variant in China resistant to coleopteran pests. We are also progressing with several hybrids incorporating these traits, which are entering GMO variety registration trials. Commercial Hybrid PerformanceAt Origin Agritech, we have always focused on developing hybrid crops that deliver superior yield, resilience, and sustainability. Our latest commercial hybrids have performed exceptionally well in field trials and commercial plantings, demonstrating significant advantages over traditional varieties. These hybrids are engineered to thrive under high-density planting conditions, which are crucial for maximizing yield per acre. By optimizing plant architecture, including improved leaf angles and root structures, our hybrids allow for higher planting density without sacrificing plant health or productivity. One of our standout performers is the new corn hybrid, OY728, which has shown excellent results in various planting environments. Its robust growth and high yield potential have made it a preferred choice for farmers looking to increase their productivity and profitability. The improved version of OY728 will be in production and sales in 2025. Additionally, our NEC hybrids have also performed well in large-scale demo plots, offering superior yield and nutritional value. Gene Editing Business ProgressOur gene editing business is a testament to our commitment to developing next-generation solutions that enhance crop productivity, resilience, and sustainability. Through precise gene editing techniques, we have achieved remarkable breakthroughs that are transforming the agricultural landscape. One of our most notable achievements is developing a high-yield corn inbred line. Over two years of rigorous multilocational field trials, this gene-edited line has demonstrated a yield increase of more than 50% compared to the non-edited check inbred. This leap in productivity addresses global food security challenges and sets a new standard for crop efficiency. In addition to increased yields, our gene-edited crops offer significant cost reductions in hybrid seed production. By enhancing specific genetic traits, we can create more productive and cost-effective crops for farmers to grow. Another groundbreaking development is establishing the world's first induction line genetic transformation system. This innovative system allows us to quickly and accurately edit major maize inbred lines with diverse genetic backgrounds. It breaks the technical barrier of improving maize inbred lines through gene editing, enabling us to enhance crop traits within just one year. We have developed various gene editing platforms to precisely improve commercial hybrids, including optimizing plant architecture to increase planting density, drought tolerance, disease resistance, and other characteristics. The gene-edited high-yield inbreds and related hybrids are currently in production trials and demo plots this season, with the gene-edited plant architecture hybrids soon to enter commercial production. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2266/integra-biosciences-pipettes-empower-agri-genomic-research-with-robust-micropipettes.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2266/integra-biosciences-pipettes-empower-agri-genomic-research-with-robust-micropipettes.html Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:45:43 +0530 VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipettes streamlines phenotyping and genotyping workflows in agriculture research activities To streamline its liquid handling workflows, the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) in Fundulea, Romania, uses electronic multichannel pipettes from INTEGRA Biosciences. In order to address current agricultural challenges, such as climate change, land scarcity and biodiversity loss, the institute's phenotyping and genotyping laboratory uses these pipettes to extract and analyze DNA from hundreds of samples each day. NARDI Fundulea is recognized as the main agricultural research center in Romania, and has developed over 400 cultivars of field crops – including sunflower, maize, wheat, durum wheat, barley and soybeans – in its breeding program. To support this work, the institute conducts a variety of genetic diversity and association studies for important agronomic traits, including disease resistance, heat and stress tolerance, drought yield and quality. The facility introduced its first VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette to the laboratory in 2015, and the pipettes quickly became an integral part of laboratory workflows. Daniel Cristina, a researcher in the genotyping and phenotyping laboratory, explained: “We investigate many different genomic and phenotypic markers in crops that we harvest from local fields, and our results help our in-house breeders to create new plant varieties with desirable traits. This requires us to perform a large number of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays – as well as more specific types of genotyping experiments, such as competitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) assays – which involve many liquid handling steps. We therefore rely on our VOYAGER pipettes – with their unique, motorized tip spacing adjustment – to efficiently and simultaneously transfer multiple samples between different labware sizes and formats, including from tubes to plates.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2251/dovetail-genomics-and-agrf-announce-transformative-partnership-set-to-advance-genomic-research-in-australasia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2251/dovetail-genomics-and-agrf-announce-transformative-partnership-set-to-advance-genomic-research-in-australasia.html Fri, 28 Jun 2024 10:06:00 +0530 Collaboration establishes Cutting-Edge Genomic technologies, boosting innovation in agri-genomics access across Australia and New Zealand Dovetail Genomics, a pioneering leader in the development of genomic solutions, today announced a new strategic partnership with Australian Genome Research Facility (AGRF). As Australia's premier nonprofit genomic sequencing service provider, AGRF powers genomics through a national network of services and expertise. This collaboration is aimed at bolstering genomic research and innovation across Australia and New Zealand, launching AGRF as the premier provider of Dovetail's cutting-edge products and services in the Australasian market. Australasia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising Australia, New Zealand, and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. Under this partnership, AGRF will offer Dovetail's comprehensive 3D genomic portfolio of proximity ligation-based products, including Dovetail® Omni-C®, Micro-C, and the new family of LinkPrep™ Technology based products, TopoLink™, AssemblyLink™, and VariLink™ Kits. This alliance not only redefines the accessibility and application of advanced genomics across various sectors, including biomedical, agri-genomics, and clinical research, but it also significantly enhances and expands AGRF's service offerings. By integrating Dovetail's proprietary technologies, such as the rapid, single-day LinkPrep™ chemistry which is crucial for advanced genome assembly, genetic variation and epigenetic applications, AGRF will provide localized, high-quality genomic services, transforming the way researchers study the 3D genome. Mathew Easterday, Ph.D., J.D., Chief Executive Officer of Dovetail Genomics,  shared his enthusiasm for the new strategic partnership, stating, "Our collaboration with AGRF is not just a partnership; it's a powerful union that combines Dovetail's cutting-edge technological platforms with AGRF's extensive and robust service network to unlock new research opportunities in Australasia. Together, we are committed to advancing genomic research and setting new benchmarks for what can be achieved in the realms of biomedical, agricultural, and clinical research." The collaboration aligns with global industry trends as Hi-C technologies gain traction across a plethora of genomic applications and disease states. By joining forces with AGRF, Dovetail Genomics underscores its commitment to expanding its global footprint and supporting the scientific community with advanced genomic solutions. Cath Moore, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at AGRF, elaborated on the significance of the partnership, stating, “AGRF is very excited to partner with Dovetail Genomics. 3D genomics is transformative for researchers utilising AGRF’s genomic services.  Unlocking the spatial mysteries of DNA; how it folds and loops and how that impacts gene regulation, cell differentiation, genome stability, and disease mechanisms. Bringing this capability to AGRF, and so to the Australian research community, provides a comprehensive understanding of genome function beyond linear DNA sequences, transforming our knowledge of cellular biology and disease mechanisms.  AGRF’s mission is to partner with the genomics community to make profound improvements to people’s lives by delivering a world-class, innovative, and integrated capability. This strategic partnership helps us to deliver that capability.” The full suite of Dovetail products is available immediately through AGRF, providing Australasian researchers with advanced genomics tools aimed at transforming the way researchers study the 3D genome during this critical period of scientific advancement. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2230/syngenta-and-instadeep-collaborate-to-accelerate-crops-seeds-trait-research-using-ai-large-language-models.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2230/syngenta-and-instadeep-collaborate-to-accelerate-crops-seeds-trait-research-using-ai-large-language-models.html Thu, 20 Jun 2024 06:32:19 +0530 Large Language Models (LLMs) aim to reduce research cycle time and bolster decision science to bring valued solutions to farmers. Syngenta Seeds, one of the world’s leading global agriculture technology companies, today announced a collaboration with AI company, InstaDeep, to bring Syngenta’s proprietary trait research and development capabilities together with InstaDeep’s Large Language Model (LLM) platform to accelerate the development of solution-providing crop traits for farmers. InstaDeep has developed a state-of-the-art language model, AgroNT1, trained on trillions of nucleotides from agriculturally relevant crop species, to interpret the complex language of the genetic code. This next-generation AI technology learns from nature and was designed to accurately predict how genes are regulated, potentially enabling a new level of trait control and crop performance. “We are excited to collaborate with InstaDeep and bring forward insights from advanced AI to accelerate the advancement of our proprietary trait pipeline, enabling us to bring innovative and effective solutions to challenges facing agriculture,” said Gusui Wu, Global Head of Syngenta Seeds Research. “The potential of LLMs to understand the language of DNA opens new opportunities to gain insight and to more quickly deliver traits farmers need to enhance and protect yields.” “Our collaboration with Syngenta Seeds is a major milestone for InstaDeep and the transformative agricultural science our Genomics AI team is helping pioneer,” said Karim Beguir, InstaDeep CEO and Co-Founder. “We’re excited by AI’s potential to discover and deliver new traits critical for advancing a more sustainable, resilient, and productive food system.” The initial phase of the collaboration will focus on AI-mediated trait design for both corn and soybeans. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2227/australia-delivers-national-soil-action-plan-funding.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2227/australia-delivers-national-soil-action-plan-funding.html Mon, 17 Jun 2024 02:25:36 +0530 Australia aims to build a more sustainable agriculture sector has taken another step forward, with $20 million in funding awarded to 17 projects across states and territories to implement the National Soil Action Plan. Project delivery will commence in the second half of this year, with all projects finishing by June 2028.  Delivery of the projects will help develop soil workforce capabilities, accelerate the adoption of land use and management practices that protect soil, and support the collection and use of soil data to inform best practice management and decision making, amongst other benefits. One project will be based in the Northern Territory and will train and mentor graduates in all aspects of soil investigation and survey. Graduates will gain experience in soil survey planning, remote area field programs, synthesising data, and presenting and publishing new land resource information and mapping products. Another project will increase drought resilience in Victoria by targeting agriculture management practice changes that improve soil structure and function. This will enable greater water storage for plants, reduce nutrient loss to the environment, and increase the potential to build soil carbon. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt said the Albanese Government is committed to ongoing work to protect soils and improve soil health. “These projects will strengthen Australia’s soil health and provide security for future productivity and sustainability in Australia’s agriculture sector. We’re partnering with states and territories to progress the action plan through clear, measurable commitments to localised action. Knowledge from farmers, land managers, soil researchers, and natural resource management groups will help advance the protection and improvement of our soil health” said Minister Watt. The projects complement investments under the Natural Heritage Trust Climate-Smart Program, including $36 million to improve soil information and soil expertise, and $130 million for on-ground project funding to support farmers to adopt climate-smart sustainable agriculture practices. The National Soil Action Plan 2023-2028 is the first action plan under the National Soil Strategy. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2224/koppert-global-and-fresh-energy-forge-partnership-for-pest-control-in-horticulture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2224/koppert-global-and-fresh-energy-forge-partnership-for-pest-control-in-horticulture.html Mon, 17 Jun 2024 01:58:34 +0530 To embark several Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs Netherlands headquartered Koppert has signed a contract with Egyptian agricultural company Fresh Energy. The agreement, signed by Boaz Oosthoek, Business Unit Manager Middle East Africa at Koppert, and Mohamed Mohab, CEO of Fresh Energy, marks the beginning of several Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs to be implemented. Egypt, renowned as Africa's largest horticultural producer, plays a pivotal role in the global fruits and vegetables market. Both Fresh Energy and Koppert share a vision of fostering healthy and sustainable food systems, with a strong commitment to enhancing food safety standards. Mr. Ayman Youssef, Managing Director of Fresh Energy, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership. "We are always looking to collaborate with reputable and innovative companies for long-term cooperations to meet our clients' demands. With Koppert, we are confident that we can reduce Minimum Residue Levels (MRL), boost yield volumes, and improve the quality of our end products," said Youssef. Yassin Lahiani, Koppert’s Area Manager, also expressed pride in the new collaboration. "We are delighted to partner with Egypt’s Fresh Energy. . Koppert has been striving for many years to establish a presence in Egypt. This is just the beginning, and we see a multitude of opportunities for growth and development in the long term," said Lahiani. This partnership underscores Koppert and Fresh Energy's dedication to advancing agricultural practices in Egypt, ensuring sustainable production and higher food safety standards for consumers. The initial phase of the project sets a promising foundation for a fruitful and impactful collaboration. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2218/mgi-tech-launches-whole-workflow-solution-for-agricultural-genome-sequencing.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2218/mgi-tech-launches-whole-workflow-solution-for-agricultural-genome-sequencing.html Fri, 14 Jun 2024 10:50:01 +0530 Large-Scale Low-pass Whole genome sequencing model designed specifically for Low-pass WGS applications with a new plate-based library preparation reagent module MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (MGI), a company committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life science, announced a highly efficient whole workflow solution for agricultural large-scale Low-pass whole genome sequencing (Low-pass WGS) based on its proprietary DNBSEQ™ platforms. The new solution consists of an automated full-process product portfolio designed for large-scale molecular breeding genotyping of agricultural diploid species. The full workflow covers extraction, library preparation, sequencing, and SNP & InDel calling. The new MGIEasy Large-scale PCR-Free FS Library Prep Set for Low-pass WGS, available in two specifications, 96RXN and 384RXN, is designed specifically for Low-pass WGS applications with a new plate-based library preparation reagent module. Compared with common PCR-free library preparation sets on the market, this kit cuts the purification step and completes library construction in three easy steps, reducing the time and consumables required. In combination with MGI's advanced automation platforms, the Low-pass WGS solution breaks through the limit on throughput as seen in ordinary library preparation. It utilizes the fewer number of automated tools to match ultra-high throughput, as while maintaining a high degree of automation. As a result, large-scale library preparation can be done in a short time, at low cost, and with great automation friendliness. For sequencing, the product bundles for high throughput and medium throughput Low-pass WGS feature the ultra-high-throughput DNBSEQ-T7 sequencer and the versatile DNBSEQ-G400 benchtop sequencer respectively, empowering large-scale agricultural genomics research projects in a short time. "Since genome selection was widely used in agricultural breeding, genotyping tools went through several iterations, sequencing technology gradually shows its irreplaceable advantages," said Duncan Yu, President of MGI. "Low-pass WGS has been applied in both animal and plant breeding, but not without implementation challenges. Our new total solution for large-scale pig breeding addresses these user pain points and promises flexible automation needs, simplified library preparation, high throughput sequencing, and efficient data processing." Bolstered by MGI's powerhouse instruments, this agricultural Low-pass WGS solution has a daily throughput of 96 to 1,536 samples and annual throughput of 24,000 to 384,000 samples (based on the 1.0X depth of a pig genome and an average sample data output of 3G). It has also obtained high-accuracy SNP results from 0.5~1X Low-pass in pig ear tissue samples, demonstrating 98.4% consistency with the SNP array and 98.1% with 50X WGS. Together with MGI's self-developed MegaBOLT bioinformatics analysis accelerator, it can analyse 192 pig 1.0X samples daily, and approximately 1,536 per day with ZBOLT Pro. Compared to traditional genotyping by microarray, MGI's new solution offers genome-wide data at the same cost but captures a broader range of genetic variation, enhances the discovery of new variants, and increases the statistical power of genome-wide studies, all while eliminating high design and start-up costs associated with microarrays. The dynamic features of this solution enable continuous updates and optimizations in genomic analyses. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2210/syngenta-opens-rights-to-genome-editing-and-breeding-technologies-to-boost-agricultural-innovation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2210/syngenta-opens-rights-to-genome-editing-and-breeding-technologies-to-boost-agricultural-innovation.html Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:08:44 +0530 Providing intellectual property rights to academic research globally to enable solutions to complex challenges and driving sustainability in food and agriculture Syngenta Group, the global agri-tech company, will provide rights to selected genome-editing and breeding technologies for academic research globally, as part of its commitment to foster innovation and drive sustainability in agriculture. These rights are accessible through its innovation collaboration platform Shoots by Syngenta. The initiative is expected to have tremendous potential to not only result in exciting technology innovations, but to also drive critical crop solutions that will support farmers worldwide. The rights to certain intellectual property are related to optimized CRISPR-Cas12a as well as to gene-editing enabled breeding tools. Through CRISPR gene-editing, it is possible to deliver an improved plant that does not include DNA from a different species – more quickly and efficiently than otherwise possible in nature or through conventional breeding methods. Gusui Wu, Head of Global Seeds Research at Syngenta says “CRISPR can transform the way we approach plant breeding, accelerating the discovery and deployment of innovations that provide growers more productive and resilient crops. We are inviting universities and academic institutions from around the world to help us drive innovation to improve the sustainability of agriculture.” As a leader in this wave of technological innovation, Syngenta scientists have been continuously innovating to improve CRISPR-Cas genome editing technologies. Syngenta’s scientists have engineered CRISPR Cas12a to increase both its efficiency as well as utility, significantly optimizing it as a tool for crop improvement.  Syngenta has long been open to sharing technology with public and private entities, enabling straightforward, quick, and easy access to its proprietary technologies for academic and non-profit research use. One example is Syngenta’s vegetable licensing platform, which allows breeding companies and academic institutes to access and breed with Syngenta germplasm.   The Shoots by Syngenta global innovation collaboration platform was created in 2023 with a goal to create partnerships aimed at finding solutions to some of the most complex challenges in food and agriculture. It brings together the external innovation ecosystem – comprising academics, research institutes, and other entities – together with Syngenta’s global network of more than 6,000 scientists, to develop solutions that mitigate climate change, enhance biodiversity, and better serve smallholder as well as large-scale farmers. The platform is built upon the values of openness and transparency. Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative, states: “By accessing these innovative technologies from Syngenta, the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative and North Carolina State University can more broadly accelerate its capabilities in genome editing.  We are excited about the application of these technologies in our research programs as they will certainly enable improvement to a variety of crops to the benefit of the grower community.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2209/researchers-explore-plant-nanobiotechnology-by-adopting-nanomedicine-and-digital-twin-technologies-in-smart-agricultural-practices.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2209/researchers-explore-plant-nanobiotechnology-by-adopting-nanomedicine-and-digital-twin-technologies-in-smart-agricultural-practices.html Wed, 12 Jun 2024 10:58:18 +0530 Carnegie Mellon researchers develop sustainable solutions for Global food security Researchers in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University are using findings from nanomedicine and digital twin technologies to understand the new field of Plant Nanobiotechnology, address unsustainable agricultural practices, and meet increasing global food demands. Currently, agriculture accounts for 14-28% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 70% of all freshwater withdraws. This, in addition to a range of other factors from extreme weather events, rampant crop pests, and rapidly degrading soil underlines the need for new agricultural practices and technologies. Researchers highlight that Plant Nanobiotechnology approaches can be used to deliver nanoforms of active agents, such as micronutrients or plant protection products, to specific biological targets. As a result, plants become more resilient against disease and harmful environmental factors like extreme heat or salt contents in soil, thus increasing crop yield and overall efficiency. However, because the field of Plant Nanobiotechnology is still in its nascent stages, many of the challenges to implementing new tools like nanocarriers are still unknown to researchers. To overcome this obstacle, civil and environmental engineering professor Greg Lowry, in collaboration with co-corresponding author Juan Pablo Giraldo at University of California Riverside, colleagues, and students, is looking beyond plants and agriculture to find solutions inspired by nanomedicine. Similar to nanomedicine, researchers found that nanocarriers are most successful when they interact well with the organism they’re targeting, navigate key biological barriers, and take advantage of natural processes while minimizing unintended consequences. The study also explored the potentially transformative approach of creating “digital twins” of plants for assessing the efficacy of different nanocarrier designs. Digital twins are breakthrough modeling technologies that have been widely used throughout infrastructure management, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing. Their unique ability to analyze a structure and its surrounding conditions, process the information, and use it to inform, predict, and modify what happens in the physical world has revolutionized the way researchers process data. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2204/syensqo-partners-with-agtech-innovation-in-brazil-to-drive-open-innovation-in-agricultural-technologies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2204/syensqo-partners-with-agtech-innovation-in-brazil-to-drive-open-innovation-in-agricultural-technologies.html Tue, 11 Jun 2024 14:01:42 +0530 The collaboration is set to elevate Syensqo's agribusiness capabilities and forge stronger ties within the dynamic regional agribusiness ecosystem Syensqo teams up with Agtech Innovation located in the Piracicaba Technology Park, São Paulo, Brazil to boost Syensqo's agribusiness capabilities and strengthen connections within the South American agribusiness ecosystem. “Demonstrating Syensqo's keen interest in innovation within the South American agricultural landscape, our partnership with Agtech Innovation positions us to establish robust connections with both major corporations and burgeoning startups,” says Ana Paula Bodemeier, Research & Innovation Agro Lab manager for LATAM at Syensqo. Agtech Innovation, is recognized as a leading center for agricultural innovation. It is dedicated to fostering initiatives that bring together startups, producers, investors, academics, scientists, and various stakeholders to develop technological solutions that enhance sustainability, competitiveness, and social inclusivity across the entire agribusiness value chain. Supported by industry leaders, Agtech Innovation cultivates an ecosystem characterized by openness, connectivity, collaboration, and agility. Syensqo’s close ties to Agtech Innovation's extensive partner network provide invaluable opportunities to help accelerate the group’s innovation agenda for the agriculture market, including formulation solutions for biologicals. This partnership embodies the essence of open innovation and underscores our commitment to being a catalyst of responsible agriculture. Through the use of living microorganisms, natural substances, or semiochemicals, biopesticides prevent or reduce damage from pests, weeds, and pathogens, emerging as one of the most promising tools to empower a sustainable future of agriculture. As the industry leader in the development of agrochemicals for pesticide formulation, Syensqo aims to design innovative ingredients and formulation solutions for biopesticides, to address each specific application challenge of biopesticide formulations.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2166/revolutionary-novel-technology-ushers-new-era-of-crop-productivity-sustainability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2166/revolutionary-novel-technology-ushers-new-era-of-crop-productivity-sustainability.html Tue, 28 May 2024 12:53:16 +0530 Ohalo™ announces the discovery of Boosted Breeding™ which doubles the yield potential of most agricultural crops Ohalo™ announced the discovery of Boosted Breeding™, an entirely new plant breeding technology that will revolutionize agriculture and sustainably improve crop productivity. Much like hybrid plant breeding systems discovered in the early twentieth century, Boosted Breeding introduces an unprecedented leap forward, with the potential to unlock unimaginable yield, change inefficient agronomic practices, and vastly increase the adaptability and resiliency of nearly any agricultural crop. "The demands on agriculture have never been greater, with estimates that global food production must increase by at least 50% over the next 25 years, according to the UN," said Dave Friedberg, CEO of Ohalo. "At the same time, crop growing regions are shifting, and food production is becoming increasingly more volatile due to changing weather patterns. Boosted Breeding will accelerate agriculture adaptation and increase productivity, helping crops survive and thrive in new environments while reducing the cost and footprint of agriculture." Boosted Breeding Ohalo's Boosted Breeding system enables each parent plant to pass its entire genome to its offspring, rather than a random half of the genes of each parent. These new Boosted™ offspring plants then possess an expanded genome containing all of the genes from each parent, unlocking the following major benefits: Combining Beneficial Traits - Because parent plants pass on a random selection of half of their genes to their offspring in traditional plant breeding, combining beneficial traits (like disease resistance or drought tolerance) is difficult and time-consuming, sometimes taking decades or longer to accomplish, and often requiring trade offs in plant health and growth. Boosted plants immediately inherit all the beneficial traits of both parents, allowing for an unprecedented improvement in Boosted crops. Vastly Increased Health and Growth - With a larger genome, Boosted plants benefit from radically improved genetic diversity and the novel gene networks that arise as a result, leading to plants that are healthier and grow bigger and faster, with overall yield gains of 50-100%+ in early trials. Genetically Uniform True Seed™ - For many crops that are vegetatively propagated, like potatoes, instead of grown from seed, Boosted Breeding unlocks scalable seed-based planting systems for the first time. True Seed™ systems carry lower disease risk and require a fraction of the cost and time associated with vegetative propagation. The Boosted Breeding discovery, resulting from nearly five years of research by Ohalo into the underlying mechanisms of plant reproductive biology, alters the reproductive circuits in parent plants using Ohalo's proprietary proteins and process. This discovery brings an unprecedented level of precision and speed to plant breeding that can deliver vastly improved varieties faster than ever before. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2164/new-frontiers-in-sustainable-agriculture-can-be-found-in-consortia-of-bacteria-or-fungi.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2164/new-frontiers-in-sustainable-agriculture-can-be-found-in-consortia-of-bacteria-or-fungi.html Tue, 28 May 2024 11:41:34 +0530 Microbial consortia were also effective in mitigating plant abiotic stresses, such as exposure to heavy metals, water deficit and soil salinization Researchers at Federal University of Lavras (UFLA)  report that the use of microbial consortia offers significant benefits for plant growth, surpassing traditional inoculation methods with single species. Recent studies have revealed that the combination of microorganisms like Bradyrhizobium and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans increased soybean yield by 11% in comparison with individually treated plants. The approach also promoted more robust root growth and better nutrient accumulation. Based on a comprehensive literature review, researchers report researcher at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) Peterson Nunes explains, consortia involving four mycorrhizal fungi (Funneliformis constrictum, F. mosseae, Gigaspora margarita and Rhizophagus irregularis) and the fungus  Beauveria bassiana, found in the soil, significantly improved cotton growth. Those combinations not only increased protein and carbohydrate contents in plants, but they also reduced the growth of a pest, the caterpillar Spodoptera littoralis. The synergy between different strains of Beauveria resulted in 100% mortality of another pest, the moth Plutella xylostella. By the same token, a consortium of two strains of B. bassiana showed higher efficienct against Duponchelia fovealis caterpillar larvae. Additional studies indicates that microbial consortia can be effective in mitigating abiotic stresses, including those caused by heavy metals, water deficit and soil salinization.  For the Embrapa Environment analyst Gabriel Mascarin, os micróbios benéficos têm um papel crucial na agricultura moderna, atuando como biopesticidas, bioestimulantes e biofertilizantes. Eles também contribuem para a saúde e sustentabilidade das culturas, alinhando-se com os princípios da agricultura regenerativa. The use of microbial consortia is gaining recognition due to their many potential advantages, such as their stability under different environmental conditions and reduced application costs. The approach also increases microbial biodiversity in plants' rhizosphere and phyllosphere (which refer to the environments near the plant roots and above the ground, respectively), contributing to a more balanced ecosystem. Recent studies have indicated that microbial consortia can even help to reduce traces of pesticides. A consortium of Aspergillus versicolor and bacteria that had been isolated from sewage sludge showed higher efficiency in the degradation of carbendazim and thiamethoxam molecules. Likewise, a consortium made of Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and two Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates degraded organophosphate insecticides more efficiently than when they were individually applied.The combination of different microorganisms also demonstrate benefits in controlling plant diseases and promoting growth. In tests with chickpeas, the combination of Purpureocillium lilacinum and Rhizobium sp. provided superior protection against the nematode Meloidogyne javanica and promoted vigorous plant growth. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2159/research-develops-environmental-indicators-for-agroecological-production-in-goias.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2159/research-develops-environmental-indicators-for-agroecological-production-in-goias.html Mon, 27 May 2024 11:12:04 +0530 Indicators to verify the dynamics, changes and balance of the agroecological-based production system Researchers from Embrapa and the Goiana Agency for Technical Assistance, Rural Extension and Agricultural Research ( Emater Goiás ) developed a method to measure the impacts of family farm activities on the environment. The work proposes indicators to verify the dynamics, changes and balance of the agroecological-based production system, with the aim of generating better results for agriculture and the ecosystem. The work was conducted in partnership with family farmers linked to the Association of Agroecological Producers of Anápolis and Region (Aproar), located in the municipality of Anápolis (GO). All participants carry out activities following agroecological precepts, production linked to the conservation and regeneration of the diversity of plant, insect and animal species and natural resources (water and soil). The work is based on ten environmental indicators aimed at measuring soil quality and another ten to measure crop health. These indicators consist of attributes, characteristics that can be observed, which consider the entire extent of each rural unit and not just the productive activity. For each indicator, there was an evaluation with scores on a scale of zero to ten. For example, in relation to soil quality, notes were applied to measure its compaction, its microbiological activity, the presence of erosion and invertebrate organisms (insects, spiders, earthworms, etc.). In the case of crop health, the issues considered involved the natural vegetation surrounding the crops, the abundance and diversity of natural enemies of pests, the incidence of diseases, among others. According to one of the work coordinators, Embrapa Arroz e Feijão (GO) researcher Agostinho Didonet , the environmental indicators were established considering the farmer's management practices and coexistence with local resources, always bearing in mind the already existing agroecological principles. incorporated by rural properties. Also according to Didonet, the proposition of indicators that express and quantify environmental sustainability was determined, through a participatory methodology that combined technical knowledge with that of farmers, based on the leveling of concepts and in order to measure the management practices that most influence on the quality of crops. The objective was to help farmers recognize the types of management that most influence the quality of their crops and identify the agroecological practices most appropriate to the conditions of the agroecosystem, which can bring improvements in environmental sustainability and production. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2153/essential-oils-help-to-control-fungi-that-attack-mangoes-post-harvest.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2153/essential-oils-help-to-control-fungi-that-attack-mangoes-post-harvest.html Tue, 21 May 2024 17:54:29 +0530 Findings pave the way for the development of natural products that control fungi and replace chemicals Scientists from Embrapa and the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) have recorded antifungal activities of seven essential oils against four fungi that cause post-harvest diseases in mangoes. The study also identified the minimum inhibitory concentration of the four most efficient ones and the chemical composition of each of them. The findings showed that oregano, pepper-rosmarin (also known as rosemary pepper), cinnamon bark and clove basil esssential oils inhibited 100% of the growth of the pathogens under study.  Despite having a complex composition, essential oils have been widely studied for their effectiveness against microorganisms. The results of the study showed that the action varies according to the pathogen.  The minimum inhibitory concentration varied according to the oil and target fungus. Oregano stood out for its inhibitory effect on the pathogens C. siamense, L. theobromae and B. dothidea, demonstrating excellent antifungal activity at the lowest concentration tested. Meanwhile A. alternata was more sensitive to cinnamon bark essential oil than to oregano. More sustainable and competitive fruit According to Elke Vilela, an Embrapa Environment researcher, the use of fungicides in post-harvest mango treatment has been a common practice aimed at reducing the incidence of diseases and extending the shelf life of the fruit; however, given the awareness of their possible health risks, more sustainable treatments have been sought out, according to Vilela. The use of alternative treatments, which do not use chemical products, also helps to circumvent non-tariff barriers by countries that do not buy fruits that contain traces of agrochemicals. "Moreover, the excessive use of agrochemicals not only causes chemical contamination of fruits, but can also cause the rise of pathogen strains that are resistant to the fungicide, making it difficult to control post-harvest diseases", the analyst warns. Mango is a climacteric fruit, which is usually harvested while it is still unripe and ripens even after the harvest, in storage. Mango ripening involves physiological and biochemical changes, including a marked increase in respiration and ethylene production. “During this ripening process, fruits become more susceptible to pathogen attacks, especially during storage and transportation, causing severe losses”, the Embrapa researcher Daniel Terao explains. He reports that fungi are the main causes of fruit quality and productivity losses. "With fungi, having quality fruits reach consumers is a challenge," Terao says, citing that anthracnose, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum siamense, is the most common post-harvest disease in mangoes. In addition to this pathogen, the fruit is also the target of Alternaria alternata, a fungus that causes alternaria spot; Lasiodiplodia theobromae, and Botryosphaeria dothidea, which cause severe rots in fruits. The essential oils' mechanism of antifungal action is attributed to their components, which work in a synergistic (one complementing the action of the other) or additive way as they perform their effects. Therefore, according to the researcher, knowledge of the antifungal activity of these constituents can help to understand the effectiveness of essential oils and their activity against fungi. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2150/bioceres-commercializes-first-hb4-transgenic-wheat-in-argentina.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2150/bioceres-commercializes-first-hb4-transgenic-wheat-in-argentina.html Mon, 20 May 2024 11:16:53 +0530 According to Bioceres CEO Federico Trucco, the first seeds were aimed at agricultural input retailers in Argentina. The Argentine company, Bioceres Crop Solutions, has announced its first sales of HB4 transgenic wheat seed, the first time this genetically modified (GM) wheat technology has become commercially available to any interested country. The company offers four varieties of HB4 wheat in its Argentine portfolio, which are Bermejo, Paraná, Traful, and Iruya HB4. One solution would be the adoption of weather-tolerant genetically modified wheat varieties. But embracing biotechnology, particularly when it comes to a food grain like wheat, has never been simple. Despite the preponderance of scientific evidence showing that GM wheat, as well as other grains, are safe to consume, a significant and vocal minority of consumers are adamant in their disdain for all things genetically modified. Thus, flour millers and other downstream wheat-based food processors, many of whom are privately intrigued by the possibility of GM wheat commercialization, take a cautious public stance to not upset customers or potential customers. For example, World Grain reached out to a number of people in the global flour milling community for comment on this issue, but most declined. In the eye of this stormy situation is Argentinean biotech company Bioceres Crop Solutions, the maker of HB4 wheat, a genetically modified, drought-resistant variety that during the past two years has gained acceptance and regulatory approval in several South American countries and also has cleared preliminary regulatory hurdles in Australia and the United States. According to Trucco, transgenic wheat is gaining more acceptance as it receives more approvals from governments and industry groups. In Brazil, the HB4 transgenic wheat was approved over a year ago by the National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio). The application was submitted by the Brazilian company, Tropical Melhoramento e Genética (TMG), which has a partnership with Bioceres. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2146/innovative-hydrosome-labs-technology-poised-to-usher-in-new-era-of-precision-fermentation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2146/innovative-hydrosome-labs-technology-poised-to-usher-in-new-era-of-precision-fermentation.html Fri, 17 May 2024 11:18:55 +0530 Research Shows New Process Doubles Precision Fermentation Yields and Decreases Production Time A new research with innovative technology from Chicago-based Hydrosome Labs is poised to solve multiple problems faced in precision fermentation, a process that involves the customization of yeast and/or bacteria to produce specific molecules for use in a wide variety of applications including food, ingredients, biofuels, industrial enzymes, and pharmaceuticals. This new technology also has the potential to help solve a global industry bottleneck in fermentation capacity and equipment, allowing for the production of dramatically higher yields in the same size or previously unsuitable tanks. The breakthrough comes through Hydrosome Labs’ development of a natural and chemical-free process improving the power of water through the emerging science of ultrafine bubbles. The clean, green technology delivers active ingredients to cells more efficiently and completely. In addition to more efficient precision fermentations, commercial applications include helping plants grow faster and healthier with less fertilizer, improving nutrient uptake in skin care, and delivering faster, longer lasting, and enhanced hydration in performance drinks. "It’s truly exciting to see how easily the ultrafine bubbles produced by Hydrosome’s technology integrated into our pilot scale reactors and showed immediate benefit to microbial growth,” said Brian Jacobson, Associate Director of Strategic Operation at the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “While there have been significant advances in synthetic biology resulting in a tremendous number of new products capable of being made through fermentation, we have seen very little innovation in the fermentation process or equipment to assist in scaling these discoveries. This technology has the potential to positively impact the economics of new products in a wide range of industries and can also be applied to existing processes or retrofit last generation fermentation equipment currently unsuitable for these new products,” said Jacobson. Hydrosome’s preliminary evaluation at IBRL showed that substituting Hydrosome H2O for regular water in an example fermentation resulted in: 2X faster cell doubling rate 25% less overall fermentation time 2X higher peak cell biomass The bottom-line benefits to the industry include faster fermentations, higher yields, lower energy and nutrient inputs, lower labor costs, higher efficiencies, no added chemicals, and no regulatory impact. Paul Gadbut, CEO of Hydrosome Labs said the “future is now” and called the breakthrough “a win for manufacturers, consumers, and investors alike.” He also noted the sustainability benefits of allowing manufacturers to do more with less, use fewer chemicals, fewer nutrients, reduce environmental impact, and shorten supply chains. Precision fermentation encompasses a portion of a nearly $200 billion-dollar biomanufacturing industry spread across contract manufacturers and vertically integrated global companies. Hydrosome Labs completed a seed funding round last year and expects to close a Series A Round this summer. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2143/gea-begins-construction-of-technology-center-for-alternative-proteins-in-the-usa.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2143/gea-begins-construction-of-technology-center-for-alternative-proteins-in-the-usa.html Fri, 17 May 2024 10:57:58 +0530 New technology center will develop industry-ready alternatives to meat, dairy, seafood and egg GEA has begun construction of its technology center for alternative proteins in Janesville, WI (USA). Scheduled to open in 2025, the center will scale up the production of novel plant-based, microbial, and cell-based foods. Here, GEA aims to support manufacturers in meeting the demand for complementary proteins and ingredients to traditional animal-based products. “This investment underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability in the food industry,” said Arpad Csay, who leads GEA’s new food activities in North America, at the groundbreaking ceremony on May 8, 2024. The center will house pilot lines for cell cultivation and precision fermentation, bridging the gap between benchtop and commercial production of alternative proteins. “The technology center will offer foodtech businesses a platform to develop and derisk their processes to ensure technological and commercial viability. It helps startups in the sector implement a business strategy that requires little upfront investment. This way, we help accelerate the development of market-ready products.” Educational cluster for food technology and the local economy Senior GEA representatives have emphasized the importance of this project as an engine for future growth and innovation in the Midwest, a region with a strong agricultural tradition. Arpad Csay: “Novel food production methods are going to gain prominence in the coming decades. This development will require a diverse pool of skilled professionals from operators in the plants to bioprocessing engineers designing production systems and scientists pushing boundaries through research and development. Our technology center will help develop this future workforce by educating students and young professionals about the underlying biology and bioprocesses. We are excited to work with community colleges and universities to build these competencies in the region.” Pioneering project aligned with sustainability goals All of the energy needed for the 1,200-square-meter building will be obtained from renewable sources. For instance, heat pumps and systems powered by electricity will replace the natural gas conventionally used for building technology and process equipment. A ground-mounted photovoltaic system is to generate 290 MWh of electricity per year, exceeding the energy requirement by at least a quarter. The surplus energy will be fed into the grid. This photovoltaic system is expandable, so that green energy can continue to be generated when process demands increase in the future. This setup underscores GEA’s strategy to become a net-zero operation by 2040. Ongoing commitment to resource-efficient food tech The new plant, which will complement an existing production facility in Janesville, underscores GEA’s commitment to innovative, sustainable technologies. It is slated to be fully operational in 2025. By diversifying the industries based locally, the center is expected to strengthen the grassroots economy as well as enhance the region’s attractiveness for collaborative research projects and other services. As a scaling partner for market players in this field, GEA will contribute to reducing the environmental impact of food production and improving food security. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2142/new-zealand-biostimulant-company-raises-1m-to-foster-effective-and-sustainable-farming.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2142/new-zealand-biostimulant-company-raises-1m-to-foster-effective-and-sustainable-farming.html Thu, 16 May 2024 11:49:31 +0530 Metrovate has announced a $1 million capital raise by Sprout Agritech LP to fund the development of New Zealand's first precision biostimulant for agriculture. Merging agricultural science with cutting-edge computational methods that utilize 3D modeling and machine learning, Metrovate aims to develop products with precise modes of action that improve plant growth and immunity while being safe to apply and biodegradable in service of more planet-friendly farming practices. "Globally, there is mounting pressure on farmers to clean up their environmental impact. In addition, climate change is driving outsized losses that could lead to national food security challenges that in turn are driving exorbitant pricing. Metrovate's goal is to improve the tooling we use to help growers achieve crop resilience, faster recovery and better yields," explains Metrovate's Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Nikolai Macnee. Most growth-promoting agricultural products - including plant growth regulators and biostimulants - cause an increase in growth to whatever they're applied to at a cellular level. This could include the weeds and even surrounding flora and fauna that come into contact with it, with potentially harmful 'off-target' consequences. Using molecular biology, Metrovate has isolated the natural signalling molecules needed for a precision-targeted biostimulant that only affects the intended parts of the target crop. Most growth-promoting agricultural products including plant growth regulators and biostimulants cause an increase in growth to whatever they're applied to at a cellular level. This could include the weeds and even surrounding flora and fauna that come into contact with it, with potentially harmful 'off-target' consequences. The same can be said for pesticides and herbicides that are intended for plant pests but often have damaging effects on the broader environment. Using molecular biology, Metrovate has isolated the natural signalling molecules needed for a precision-targeted biostimulant that only affects the intended parts of the target crop. This is the eighth investment Sprout has made with its investment partners US-based Finistere Ventures, Kiwi dairy giant Fonterra and venture builder OurCrowd, as well as with the support of Te Pokapū Auaha Callaghan Innovation's Deep Tech Incubator programme. The program supports the commercialization of early-stage deep tech ventures in New Zealand. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2138/novel-five-year-project-can-develop-bacteria-for-environmental-cleanups.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2138/novel-five-year-project-can-develop-bacteria-for-environmental-cleanups.html Thu, 16 May 2024 10:56:31 +0530 WPI researcher Receives $1.2 Million award to determine how environment impacts Gene Expression in Bacteria Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researcher Natalie Farny is launching a $1.2 million, five-year project that could advance the use of bacteria for environmental cleanups by determining how a critical biological process regulates genes in bacteria as they adapt to conditions outside of laboratories. Farny, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology, will examine the role of methylation on gene expression in Pseudomonas putida, a soil bacteria that was first identified in Japan and is considered a versatile organism for industrial and environmental engineering. The National Science Foundation has awarded Farny a prestigious CAREER Award to fund the project, which will provide research opportunities for WPI students and generate new undergraduate educational resources focused on synthetic biology, a field that applies engineering design principles to build novel biological systems for use in fields such as medicine, manufacturing, and agriculture. “Genetically engineered bacteria have the potential to break down contaminants in soil, whether they are explosive materials deposited on military firing ranges or chemicals left behind by industry,” Farny said. “To engineer stable bacteria that behave in predictable and desirable ways once they are released into the environment, however, it will be essential to better understand how their genes are impacted by the environment.” Farny’s project focuses on methylation, a biological process that can be triggered by environmental factors. Methylation adds a chemical, known as a methyl group, to an organism’s genome. This addition can influence how the organism’s genes are expressed. In bacteria, which are single-cell organisms abundant in nature, methylation is a key factor in regulating gene expression. Farny will investigate the impact of methylation on gene expression of P. putida in soil and in a laboratory system that uses a liquid containing organic matter extracted from soil. She also will build gene circuits, which are networks of genes and regulatory elements that interact with each other, to test engineered P. putida under soil-like conditions. As part of her project, Farny will create free educational resources to introduce undergraduate students to synthetic biology, develop material for her synthetic biology course, and integrate synthetic biology into research projects for undergraduates in her lab. Project funds also will support at least two graduate students a year in their work, as well as summer research opportunities for two to three undergraduates a year. The project builds on Farny’s previous research into cell stress responses, biological sensors that could assist in remediating environmental contaminants, and methods for studying bacteria. The fundamental knowledge gained from insights into cells and their environment could lead to advances in cleaning up soil to grow food for Earth’s growing population, which makes the research important and compelling, Farny said. “The interaction between a cell and its environment has always fascinated me,” Farny said. “This project explores an interaction that has the potential to impact a matter critical to humanity. If we want to feed a growing population, if we want clean drinking water from ground sources, we will need to nurture and reclaim compromised soil. Engineered bacteria are good candidates for this work.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2130/lavie-bio-furthers-biofungicides-joint-validation-trials.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2130/lavie-bio-furthers-biofungicides-joint-validation-trials.html Tue, 14 May 2024 11:51:45 +0530 A subsidiary of Evogene Ltd., Lavie Bio Ltd. is a leading agricultural biotechnology company that develops novel microbiome-based, computationally-driven biostimulants and biopesticides. Bayer AG, a global leader in agriculture, conducted joint validation trials for its biofungicides after successful first-year testing in laboratories and greenhouses. Lavie Bio's biofungicides have been shown to be effective in combating devastating diseases that affect fruits and vegetables around the world. Based on these positive results, the companies are moving forward with a second year of field trials for validation. “This is an important step in our open innovation strategy to bring new biological solutions to growers,” said Benoit Hartmann, Head of Biologics at Bayer Crop Science. “Biofungicides are a real opportunity for innovation, and we are looking forward to the new solutions this partnership with Lavie Bio helps us deliver together.” “We are delighted with the consistently positive results we have observed in our experiments, which has led to the decision to extend the validation trials for another year in the field,” said Amit Noam, CEO of Lavie Bio. “This not only highlights the immense business potential of our product and its meaningful impact on farmers worldwide but also reinforces our dedication to collaborative partnerships within the industry as we work together to deliver innovative solutions to the market.” The emergence of innovative ag biologicals, particularly biofungicides, provides a sustainable and responsible approach to disease management at a time when farmers are left with limited options to effectively address diseases that can pose a major threat to crop yield. These products demonstrate high efficacy in controlling oomycetes while minimizing environmental impact, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Lavie Bio’s commitment to refining its promising bio fungicides through joint validation trials with Bayer AG serves as a powerful testament to the company’s development capabilities, leveraging its innovative BDD platform powered by Evogene’s MicroBoost AI tech-engine. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2127/china-approves-first-gene-edited-wheat-in-step-to-open-up-gm-tech-to-food-crops.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2127/china-approves-first-gene-edited-wheat-in-step-to-open-up-gm-tech-to-food-crops.html Mon, 13 May 2024 13:06:13 +0530 China has in the past year ramped up approvals of genetically modified (GM) corn and soybean seeds China has approved the safety of gene-edited wheat for the first time as Beijing cautiously moves forward with commercial growing of genetically modified food crops. China has in the past year ramped up approvals of genetically modified (GM) corn and soybean seeds that are higher-yielding and resistant to insects and herbicide to secure its food security, but the uptake remains slow and cautious due to concerns about the impact to health and ecology. Unlike genetic modification, which introduces foreign genes into a plant, gene editing alters existing genes to change or improve its performance and is viewed by some scientists as less risky than genetically modifying them. China mostly imports GM crops such as corn and soybeans for animal feed and grows non-GM varieties for food consumption. Many Chinese consumers remain concerned about the safety of GM food crops. The approval for the gene-edited disease-resistant wheat is seen as a milestone, as the ingredient - used to make pasta, noodles and bread - is predominantly grown in China for food consumption. China is the world's largest wheat producer and consumer. "It is a big step, we can see the light for China to open up approvals for other food crops," said a seed industry executive. Beijing is also expected to pass new rules this year for the labelling of genetically modified crops used in food products, state media reported in March. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2121/usda-breaks-ground-for-the-precision-agriculture-research-center-at-nebraska-innovation-campus.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2121/usda-breaks-ground-for-the-precision-agriculture-research-center-at-nebraska-innovation-campus.html Fri, 10 May 2024 09:46:16 +0530 The state-of-the-art research center will focus on the challenges and opportunities in agricultural innovation for the 21st century The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), and Nebraska Innovation Campus held a groundbreaking ceremony to launch the construction of the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture. The state-of-the-art research center will be located on Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska. It will primarily focus on the challenges and opportunities in agricultural innovation for the 21st century. The Center will focus on key research areas to address these challenges and promote sustainable, resilient, and highly efficient agriculture practices. Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics explained that “Updated facilities ensure our best and brightest scientists work in the environment and with the tools they need to successfully meet the challenges agriculture faces.” “This project is a testament to the long history of innovation, ingenuity, and adaptability of agricultural producers across the United States and right here in Nebraska. It celebrates an incredibly productive 120-year partnership between USDA-ARS and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and it exemplifies the passion and dedication of agricultural, state, and federal leaders,” said Mike Boehm, NU Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor for UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Construction will start with state-of-the-art greenhouses that will allow ARS to perform research on wheat, barley, sorghum, forage and bioenergy grasses and other crops. Research on how these plants respond to emerging pests and pathogens under a full-range of environmental conditions will empower scientists to make cutting-edge discoveries with the goal of developing climate-resilient crops for the U.S. agriculture industry. Once fully completed, the 120,000-square-foot agriculture research complex will function as a central hub for multidisciplinary experts, scientists and engineers who will collaborate with industry and producers to improve water and food security, increase the resilience of agricultural landscapes, and enhance agricultural profitability. The establishment of the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture will further strengthen the long-lasting collaboration over the past century between ARS and UNL. These partnerships are instrumental in advancing research on sustainable bioenergy crops and production systems in an age where agriculture is expected to supply 40 percent of U.S. liquid fuels within the next three decades, in addition to providing food and fiber to the nation’s growing population. The Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit and the Agroecosystem Management Research Unit are currently located on UNL’s campus. The scientists working at these units are making significant contributions to crop and livestock production systems by improving productivity, stability of production, sustainability, and profitability. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2114/origin-agritech-receives-gmo-safety-certificate-for-its-triple-stack-maize.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2114/origin-agritech-receives-gmo-safety-certificate-for-its-triple-stack-maize.html Fri, 10 May 2024 07:06:00 +0530 Commercial Rollout to Begin Shortly Origin Agritech Ltd., a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, announced the issuance of a GMO safety certificate for its transgenic maize, BBL2-2, marking a significant milestone for the Company and the agricultural sector, heralding a new era in crop innovation. The newly certified BBL2-2 maize contains two insect-resistant genes, Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb, and one herbicide-tolerance gene, Cp4-epsps. This genetic composition makes the maize resistant to various lepidopteran pests such as corn borer, cotton bollworm, armyworm. BBL2-2 is a product with substantial commercial value and extensive application potential. The certification of BBL2-2 confirms its adherence to stringent safety standards and paves the way for its commercial launch. The introduction of BBL2-2 is expected to significantly enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability, providing a powerful tool for farmers to manage pests more effectively and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. Dr. Gengchen Han, Chairman and CEO of Origin Agritech, commented, "Receiving this GMO safety certificate is a transformative moment for Origin Agritech and agricultural biotechnology in China. BBL2-2 exemplifies our capabilities in genetic innovation and sets a new standard in sustainable agriculture. We are eager to lead the commercialization of this technology, which promises significant improvements in crop resilience and yield." In addition to its work on BBL2-2, Origin Agritech continues to advance its agricultural technology portfolio with significant progress in gene editing. Recently, the Company developed a high-yield corn inbred line through precise gene editing techniques, which has shown a yield increase of more than 50% over traditional corn in extensive multilocational field trials. The gene-edited event is now in the process of agricultural biosafety assessment. This development is expected to greatly enhance the productivity and cost-effectiveness of corn production, reinforcing Origin's commitment to sustainable and efficient agriculture. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2111/singapores-croplife-asia-names-new-board-leaders-for-2024.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2111/singapores-croplife-asia-names-new-board-leaders-for-2024.html Thu, 09 May 2024 10:35:19 +0530 CropLife Asia is the CropLife International’s regional non-profit organization advocating a safe and secure food supply for food security enabled by innovative agriculture Singapore’s CropLife Asia, advocates of crop protection and plant biotechnology to enhance sustainable farming in the plant science industry, has announced its new leadership board members.  Rahoul Vijay Kumar Sawani will be the new President of CropLife Asia with immediate effect. Rahoul Sawani has been serving as President of Asia Pacific with Corteva Agriscience since 2022. In his long term role, Sawani has been instrumental in delivering the company’s regional strategy and overseeing the growth of the business in the Asia-Pacific region. With extensive experience in the agricultural sector, Sawani has held various positions across the plant science industry in his nearing to two decades service with Corteva Agriscience.   CropLife Asia's new board members entail: Rahoul Sawani, President, Asia-Pacific, Corteva Agriscience as President Pramod Thota, President FMC Asia-Pacific, Vice-President, FMC Corporation as Vice-President Alexander Berkovskiy, Regional Director, AMEA, Syngenta as Treasurer Simone Barg, Senior Vice President, Agricultural Solutions Asia Pacific, BASF as Secretary “As climate change intensifies and farmers in Asia face increasing challenges with crop production, plant science plays an important role in ensuring a robust, resilient and sustainable food system for the region. We’re grateful to have experienced and strong leaders comprising our CropLife Asia Board of Directors at such a consequential time for our region,” said Dr. Siang Hee Tan, Executive Director of CropLife Asia. CropLife Asia is the CropLife International’s regional non-profit organization advocating a safe and secure food supply for food security enabled by innovative agriculture. CropLife Asia supports the work of 15 member associations across Asia and is led by six member companies at the forefront of crop protection, seeds and/or biotechnology research and development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2108/21st-bio-unveils-a-new-pilot-plant-facility-to-accelerate-impact-of-biotech-innovations-globally.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2108/21st-bio-unveils-a-new-pilot-plant-facility-to-accelerate-impact-of-biotech-innovations-globally.html Wed, 08 May 2024 11:01:22 +0530 The pilot plant is focused on scaling up the production of recombinant proteins and peptides with applications in nutrition, food and beverages, agriculture, biomaterials, and biopharma 21st.BIO unveiled a new pilot plant facility in its Danish headquarters, designed to support companies upscale their bioproduction.  21st.BIO provides services ranging from strain construction to industrial production upscaling to customers worldwide. Combining world-class industrially proven technology with fermentation capacity, the company will help customers get to scale faster, in a risk-mitigated and cost-effective way.  21st.BIO offers this pilot facility to the market to facilitate and accelerate the step between internal lab-scale fermentation and large-scale production. 21st.BIO's pilot construction and deep experience are ideal to define the important parameters and equipment needed for optimal large-scale production of proteins via fermentation. This will, on top of the best fermentation protocols, for example also help customers select the best CMO for individual project needs and limit the risk of costly failures.  21st.BIO's pilot facility is designed for industrial production upscaling  The facility and all processing equipment are state-of-the-art, with much equipment designed for 21st.BIO.  With over 3000 liters of fermentation capacity, the facility offers a full range of capabilities, equipment, and competences to help customers optimize their own specific processes. The pilot plant is focused on scaling up the production of recombinant proteins and peptides with applications in nutrition, food and beverages, agriculture, biomaterials, and biopharma.   The pilot plant is designed to enable strong collaboration between 21st.BIO and customer teams during scaling. The facility is strategically located in the same building as the company's strain development laboratories, allowing for joint work on further improving the customers' production strains and fermentation processes.  Europe has an opportunity to bring this leading technology and know-how to benefit the world. Therefore, 21st.BIO's grand opening began with an exclusive roundtable, where twenty C-level participants from the political, financial, and industrial horizons had a lunch conversation over EU countries' leadership in the industrial scaling of biomanufacturing.   21st.BIO founders saw that too often; great bio innovations and molecules fail to translate into commercial success. The molecule innovation is ready and exciting, the market is there, but production costs most often have remained too high for the products to go mainstream and hence have real relevance for the world.   21st.BIO is now making the most advanced and most productive production technology and know-how available to innovators in industrial biotech as well as global food majors for bulk products to be produced via fermentation. The pilot facility will support customers' journey from the lab to large scale manufacturing, but the journey towards industrial biomanufacturing does not stop there. During the inauguration, senior leaders from key players of the financial, political, and industrial sectors participated in a roundtable discussion on what it will take to start building the first large-scale protein factories with all the benefits of industrial manufacturing to cost and efficiency.    ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2081/singapores-smart-researchers-pioneer-sensor-multiplexing-for-real-time-decoding-of-plant-stresses.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2081/singapores-smart-researchers-pioneer-sensor-multiplexing-for-real-time-decoding-of-plant-stresses.html Fri, 26 Apr 2024 11:15:39 +0530 Leveraging the real-time insights from nanosensor multiplexing, researchers have formulated a mathematical model Researchers from the Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) of Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, in collaboration with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), have developed a cutting-edge nanosensor that allows for the real-time monitoring of salicylic acid (SA) during the early stages of stress response. SA is a crucial plant hormone for growth, development, and stress response to pathogens, temperature, drought, salinity, metals, UV light, and osmotic stress. The researchers also pioneered a method to multiplex, or combine, this sensor with others for simultaneous and real-time tracking of multiple plant hormone profiles and chemical signals. This insight into the complex communication within stressed plants is vital in cultivating crops that are resilient to various stressors, including climate change. Traditional methods of stress detection in plants are reliant on laborious lab tests, time-consuming, and both destructive and disruptive to plant growth, while emerging technologies like chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging focus on the metabolic changes that occur when reparative measures are limited and only after the initial stress perception and signalling. SMART researchers achieved double breakthroughs in plant health monitoring. Firstly, the development of the first-ever nanosensor, validated in-planta in living pak choi (commonly known as Chinese cabbage), that specifically detects SA, a plant hormone key in mediating plant stress response and adaptation. Secondly, the researchers also pioneered a method to combine this sensor with others, paving the way for simultaneous and real-time tracking of multiple plant chemical signals and stress markers during early stress stages, which can, in turn, enable earlier diagnoses and, ultimately, improve plant stress tolerance and mitigate crop losses due to environmental stress. This research and technology builds upon SMART DiSTAP's long-standing body of work with innovative plant sensors based on the concept of corona phase molecular recognition (​​CoPhMoRe) pioneered by the Strano Lab at SMART DiSTAP and MIT. This includes a breakthrough by DiSTAP in 2021 in the development of the first-ever nanosensor to enable rapid testing of synthetic auxin plant hormones;  followed by another world-first in 2023 with the first-ever nanosensor designed to detect and distinguish gibberellins (GAs) – a class of hormones important for plant growth. This success of the CoPhMoRe concept has now been further advanced with this latest development of a highly selective plant nanobionic sensor for SA through a distinct and unique process of design, synthesis and testing. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2057/adama-launches-new-multi-crop-broad-spectrum-fungicide.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2057/adama-launches-new-multi-crop-broad-spectrum-fungicide.html Mon, 15 Apr 2024 11:22:32 +0530 For Improved Disease Control and Increased Yield ADAMA Ltd. has announced the launch of Maxentis, a new versatile fungicide that delivers reliable control over a broad range of diseases in wheat, barley, and oilseed rape, to increase yields and improve income. Maxentis delivers dependable control of Septoria, Yellow Rust, and Brown Rust in wheat; Leaf Blotch, Net Blotch, and Rust in barley; and Sclerotinia and Alternaria in OSR, helping bring peace of mind to farmers while simplifying and reducing the expense of their spray programs. In high potential wheat areas Maxentis can be used as a T1 application in a spray program with other fungicides, or as a standalone T1 or T2 broad spectrum product in lower-potential areas. The non-SDHI formulation makes it an excellent partner for spraying programs, allowing farmers the flexibility to use an SDHI combination at the critical flag leaf stage of the wheat. Two modes of action are combined to enhance the impact of Maxentis. This means that fungal diseases are controlled across multiple growth stages of the disease, resulting in greater efficacy and healthier crops. Maxentis improves yields, while the ability to control numerous diseases in multiple crops with a single product increases convenience, reduces complexity and lowers costs, resulting in increased income for farmers. “Farmers across Europe expressed a need for more versatile, broad label products that can serve multiple crops and combat a range of diseases, without requiring them to juggle a complicated mix of products,” says Alex Mills, Global Head of Fungicides at ADAMA. “We responded with the value innovation that is an integral part of ADAMA. Maxentis delivers dependable control of the most important diseases in wheat, barley, and OSR, in a single convenient product that’s ready to go when you are. Thanks to its flexibility and reliability, farmers can produce higher yields with less stress.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2056/ginkgo-bioworks-acquires-agbiomes-platform-assets.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2056/ginkgo-bioworks-acquires-agbiomes-platform-assets.html Mon, 15 Apr 2024 11:19:14 +0530 Creates one of the deepest and most advanced ag biological discovery and development platforms as well as a rich resource for the development of AI models for biological R&D. A leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity is being built by Ginkgo Bioworks. AgBiome's platform assets, including 115,000 fully sequenced and isolated strains, 500 million gene sequences, relevant functional data and metadata, and AgBiome's development pipeline, will be acquired by Ginkgo Bioworks.  As part of Ginkgo's acquisition of a Bayer agricultural biologicals R&D facility in 2022, these assets will be integrated into Ginkgo Ag Biologicals Services, which will expand Ginkgo's proprietary metagenomics database. The combined platform is one of the most advanced and comprehensive ag biological discovery and development platforms, along with a rich resource for developing AI models for biological research. AgBiome has worked on developing an extensive collection of biological products and technologies through its Genesis Discovery Platform since its founding in 2012. AgBiome has successfully commercialized multiple biological products, including the Howler and Theia product lines, which were not acquired. Over 8,000 geographically diverse environmental samples have been used by AgBiome to build a massive microbial strain library.  The isolates have been fully sequenced, resulting in a library of over 500 million unique gene sequences. A robust product concept pipeline, including a dozen product candidates with greenhouse or field validation, is also included as part of the acquisition — these validated assets provide a solid foundation for future collaborative programs, as well as a diverse resource of metagenomic data for genomic mining and artificial intelligence modeling. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2047/japanese-ministry-of-agriculture-grants-new-approval-for-broccoli-solutions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2047/japanese-ministry-of-agriculture-grants-new-approval-for-broccoli-solutions.html Fri, 12 Apr 2024 10:43:29 +0530 SmartFreshTM SmartTabsTM and SmartFresh ProTabs now approved for use on key crops grown in and exported to Japan AgroFresh Solutions, Inc., a global leader in post-harvest solutions for fresh produce, is pleased to announce the approval by regulatory authorities in Japan of 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), the active ingredient in SmartFresh, for use in broccoli and other key crops exported to Japan. This grants growers and exporters the option to now manage the quality of their produce using two products from the SmartFresh™ Quality System: SmartFresh SmartTabsTM and SmartFresh ProTabs. The measure represents a significant advance for the fresh produce industry, offering exporters an additional tool to help ensure the quality and freshness extension of fruit and vegetables during transportation and storage. This expansion also unlocks opportunity as broccoli is considered a highly valued crop and Japan represents a growing market for broccoli consumption. “We understand broccoli will be added to the agriculture ministry’s list of important ‘designated vegetables’ that are consumed in mass quantities in Japan. We are excited to support local broccoli growers in bringing high-quality produce to market,” said Masami Shinozaki, Commercial Manager for AgroFresh in Japan. “This approval in Japan is a significant milestone, opening new opportunities for exporters in Latin America,” said Narciso Vivot, Commercial Director of AgroFresh in Latin America. “We are excited to offer innovative solutions that not only address the high standards of product efficacy but also sustainably deliver an abundant supply of quality fresh produce around the world.” SmartFresh technology helps to maintain the color, hydration and crispness of broccoli and many other approved crops, and extend its freshness, offering growers and packers increased flexibility in storage and transport and ultimately leading to increased revenue potential. Moreover, SmartFresh technology can eliminate the need for ice during transportation, reducing costs and environmental impact through water use and energy needs for cold storage. AgroFresh pioneered the commercialization of 1-MCP in 2003, which has come to be known as its flagship product, SmartFresh. SmartFresh technology has already revolutionized the post-harvest treatment of numerous crops in Japan, including apple, pear, kiwifruit, persimmon and potato. The approval for use on broccoli is the result of a review and update of freshness solution application use for produce. There are currently 14 vegetables, on Japan’s list of “designated vegetables.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2045/wur-vision-robotics-researchers-to-develop-a-new-technology-to-automate-horticultural-process.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2045/wur-vision-robotics-researchers-to-develop-a-new-technology-to-automate-horticultural-process.html Wed, 10 Apr 2024 11:22:25 +0530 AI to transplant only healthy young plants into greenhouse The Dynamic Machine Learning project aims to model and predict complex quality traits in fresh produce. One of the work packages is looking to create an automated method to make a selection of only healthy young plants to transplant into the greenhouse.  WUR Vision + Robotics researchers have teamed up with Viscon to develop a new technology that can automate this horticultural process. The technology could enable growers to sort out non-viable plants before moving them into the greenhouse, saving their resources for the healthy plants. The project focuses on plants from tissue culture as one of the current key commercial agricultural crops, but the technology the researchers aim to develop could be applicable to various other important agricultural crops. The plants start out as tissue culture, are then transplanted into trays, and lastly the young plants are transferred into a greenhouse. The sorting and selection of healthy plants that are to be transplanted into the next stage of cultivation is often done manually by growers. The visual examination of the plants at each stage is a laborious task. In Dutch greenhouses the sorting process is already automated, but what makes the current research unique, is that the grading of the plants and the prediction if they can survive the adaptations to the greenhouse would be done by AI. Machine learning and plant phenotyping could make selecting and sorting healthy young plants easier Suzane Pols, team lead of Plant Science at Viscon: “Machine learning and plant phenotyping are two hot topics in agriculture and horticulture. We want to make use of these fields to add value in the cultivation process of tissue-culture-grown plants. The question is, can we transform what we visually observe in plants, and the data that we gather from those observations, into useful pieces of information growers can work with? The goal is to make the selection and sorting of healthy young plants for transplanting a fully automated and less laborious task for growers.” And what is a healthy plant? “That is highly debated in plant science. We hope the machine learning helps us to identify what key characteristics are predictors of plant health and then helps us to separate those healthy plants so that we can help improve and make the sorting process more efficient.”, says Pols. RGB camera with pecicentric lens “What we are developing is a technology that can take a photo of the roots and the shoot of the plant, and use image processing and eventually deep-learning to identify if that plant is healthy. We want this method to be automated, reliable, repeatable, and scaleable.”, explains Lydia Meesters, project leader and scientist Computer Vision at WUR’s Vision + Robotics programme. The project has already brought about a new technological innovation: the team have developed an RGB-camera with a pericentric lens that can capture 360 degrees in every direction in one single image. The lens not only visualizes the bottom of the young plant plug, but also the sides, giving the researchers a complete image of the roots of the plant. “We are in the middle of our feasibility study: can we take images of the plant characteristics that are needed to determine plant health? And if yes, how can we visualize these traits optimally using an easy and scaleable technique? That’s something we will continue to explore in the coming period”, concludes Meesters. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2036/bti-unveils-state-of-the-art-plant-high-throughput-phenotyping-facility.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2036/bti-unveils-state-of-the-art-plant-high-throughput-phenotyping-facility.html Mon, 08 Apr 2024 11:19:28 +0530 New facility holds significant potential for delivering unparalleled insights into plant growth, development BTI announce the opening of its cutting-edge plant phenotyping facility, PhenoSight. This new facility holds significant potential for delivering unparalleled insights into plant growth, development, and response to environmental conditions. “The opening of this facility marks a significant milestone in our research capabilities at BTI,” shared Dr. Magdalena Julkowska, Assistant Professor at BTI and lead of the PhenoSight facility. “With this state-of-the-art technology, we are poised to make further groundbreaking discoveries in plant biology and contribute to addressing pressing global challenges such as food security and environmental sustainability.” The PhenoSight facility is equipped with advanced imaging capabilities designed to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery in plant biology. The facility includes a high-throughput imaging system capable of analyzing up to 64 large plants or 1280 smaller plants simultaneously. This system integrates advanced chlorophyll fluorescence and RGB imaging techniques to extract real-time data on plant health and vigor, enabling researchers to precisely measure plant height, area, and digital biomass. Beyond its cutting-edge technology, PhenoSight emphasizes practical applications for research. The vast data sets generated by PhenoSight can be analyzed using advanced computational methods, enabling researchers to uncover hidden patterns and make predictions in plant biology and genetics.  “As we celebrate BTI’s centennial, this new facility stands as a testament to the Institute’s dedication to innovation and excellence in plant science research,” said Dr. Silvia Restrepo, President of BTI. “We are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of plant science and making meaningful discoveries that have a positive impact on our world.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2033/australia-approves-planting-of-gm-banana-for-commercial-supply-chain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/2033/australia-approves-planting-of-gm-banana-for-commercial-supply-chain.html Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:09:08 +0530 Queensland University of Technology (QUT), to commercially cultivate QCAV-4, a genetically modified (GM) variety of Cavendish banana resistant to the fungal disease Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued license DIR 199 to Queensland University of Technology (QUT), to commercially cultivate QCAV-4, a genetically modified (GM) variety of Cavendish banana resistant to the fungal disease Fusarium wilt tropical race 4 (TR4), also known as Panama disease. On February 16, 2024, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) also notified the Food Ministers' Meeting (FMM) that it has approved QCAV-4 as suitable for human consumption. FSANZ approved this GM banana for sale as a food in Australia and New Zealand. The GM bananas and any derived food products are subject to mandatory GM labeling. The QCAV-4 banana is the world's first GM banana to be approved for commercial production and also the first Australian GM fruit approved for growing in Australia. QCAV-4 offers a potential safety net against the devastating Panama Disease tropical race 4 (TR4) which threatens the global $20 billion banana industry. Panama Disease TR4 has already crippled Cavendish banana production in Asia, has started to take a foothold in South America, and occurs in Australia in the Northern Territory and North Queensland. QCAV-4 is a Cavendish Grand Nain banana that has been bioengineered with a single banana resistance gene, RGA2, from the wild, south-east Asian banana, Musa acuminata ssp malaccensis. The GM banana plants may be grown in all banana growing areas in Australia, subject to restrictions in some Australian States and Territories for marketing reasons. The Regulator has not imposed any specific measures to manage risk, as the risk assessment concluded that this release of GM banana plants poses negligible risk to the health and safety of people or the environment. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1983/vietnam-partners-with-iaea-to-leverage-atomic-energy-for-sustainable-agricultural-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1983/vietnam-partners-with-iaea-to-leverage-atomic-energy-for-sustainable-agricultural-development.html Mon, 25 Mar 2024 10:54:37 +0530 MARD has developed two projects by applying mutation technology and biotechnology to breed some key irises (peanuts, soybeans, oranges), rice varieties with high yield and quality and more Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien had meeting with Hua Liu - Deputy General Director of the International Energy Agency (IAEA) to exchange results of cooperation between the agricultural sector and the IAEA and propose priorities for cooperation in the future. Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that Vietnam's Agriculture sector highly appreciates the results of cooperation with the IAEA, especially in Vietnam's role as a member of the Council of Governors of the Agency. World Atomic Energy Agency on 3rd week of March. Vietnam's agricultural sector has had very effective cooperation with the IAEA in applying nuclear technical advances to serve industry development such as: Technical measures for insect sterilization (dragon fruit flies) bring about Much better productivity and production efficiency Applying mutagenic nuclear technology to select and create new rice varieties adapted to drought, salinity, flooding and applying radioactive isotopes to improve the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer use in main vegetable growing areas Providing technical support, molecular biology equipment to screen mutant breeds, research equipment to diagnose animal diseases, diseases transmitted from animals to humans and transmitted across borders, increasing Strengthen testing capacity of key laboratories, capacity training for staff, and study tours. In addition, the two sides also cooperate in building a cooperation network between countries and agencies to improve capacity and share experiences to have more effective applications of nuclear technology for intervention. industry in the context of climate change and current disease risks. Currently, the Agriculture industry is very interested in using atomic technology to create mutations for breeding. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has developed two projects: Applying mutation technology to breed some key irises (peanuts, soybeans, oranges); Application of mutation and biotechnology to create rice varieties with high yield and quality, chaired by Viet Dien. In the future, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will coordinate more closely with the Ministry of Science and Technology to continue reviewing and conducting research on applying high technology to the agricultural sector more effectively. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien believes that with effective cooperation, Vietnam's Agriculture sector will better adapt to climate change and disease risks, contributing to the sustainable development of Vietnam's Agriculture sector in the near future. next. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1978/origin-agritech-achieves-high-yield-corn-production-through-gene-editing.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1978/origin-agritech-achieves-high-yield-corn-production-through-gene-editing.html Fri, 22 Mar 2024 08:59:00 +0530 Inbred Line Yield Increased Over 50% in Trials Origin Agritech Ltd., a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, announced a major breakthrough in corn production technology. Building on the Company's track record of innovation, Origin Agritech has developed a high-yield corn inbred line that significantly surpasses the productivity of traditional corn. This groundbreaking advancement was achieved through precise gene editing techniques, marking a significant milestone in the company's commitment to sustainable and efficient agriculture. Over the course of two years of rigorous multilocational field trials, the new gene-edited corn inbred line demonstrated a yield increase of over 50% compared to the original line. This leap in productivity has the potential to addressing global food security challenges through cutting-edge agricultural technologies. Dr. Gengchen Han, Chairman and CEO of Origin Agritech, stated, "The significant increase in yield potential heralds a new era in corn production, offering a sustainable solution to meet the growing global demand for food. We believe that our gene-edited high-yield corn will play a crucial role in enhancing food security and sustainability worldwide." The Company plans to fully integrate this trait into its elite commercial corn line by the end of 2024. This integration is expected to greatly enhance seed yield and significantly reduce the cost of hybrid seed production. In addition, Origin will conduct field demonstrations and seed production trials in the summer of 2024. These events will showcase the technology's performance and its potential impact on the agriculture industry. Headquartered in Zhong-Guan-Cun (ZGC) Life Science Park in Beijing, Origin Agritech is a leader in crop seed biotechnologies, with its phytase corn being the first transgenic corn to receive the Bio-Safety Certificate from China's Ministry of Agriculture. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1963/moa-to-develop-next-gen-bioherbicides-in-new-10-year-commercial-partnership-with-croda.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1963/moa-to-develop-next-gen-bioherbicides-in-new-10-year-commercial-partnership-with-croda.html Mon, 18 Mar 2024 08:42:20 +0530 Moa’s next-generation bioherbicides, designed to tackle the global threat to food production from increasing weed resistance Moa Technology, the leading agricultural biotech company, and Croda International plc, the global life sciences and consumer care company, have formed a strategic partnership to tackle the global problem of declining food crop yields by using marine science. The partnership aims to develop next-generation bioherbicides for land-based farms by combining Croda’s extensive research into the marine microbiome – developed by its Nautilus Biosciences subsidiary in Canada – with Moa’s own unique herbicide discovery engine. Croda’s advanced manufacturing capabilities will help bring to the field new products identified from the collaboration. The $5 billion biopesticide market is growing at around 8% a year, according to Croda estimates, as farmers urgently seek better ways to tackle weeds and pests which have become resistant to conventional methods. Fast-growing herbicide-resistant weeds, such as pigweed, mare’s tail and water hemp, can reduce crop yields by over 50%, threatening food security for millions of people around the world. Spun out of the University of Oxford in 2017 to develop new and more sustainable ways to help ensure global food security, Moa today employs over 70 people and is backed by leading agritech and life sciences venture capital firms. Alongside its proprietary biotechnology platforms which work to identify herbicides with novel modes of action (MOAs), Moa deploys state-of-the-art AI/machine learning and operates its own world-class glasshouse testing facilities. Moa already has a diverse pipeline of new herbicides – both biological and synthetic – some of which it is developing on its own, and some with industry partners. Virginia Corless, Chief Executive Officer of Moa Technology, says “We are using the wealth of data in Croda’s marine library to create the biopesticides of the future. That Croda have chosen to partner with us for this 10-year exclusive agreement is an endorsement of Moa’s cutting-edge research and development capabilities and the great progress we have made in finding diverse new ways to tackle the huge global problem of food security.”   Dave Cherry, VP Strategy Life Sciences at Croda, says “The partnership will allow Croda to explore new approaches to sustainable agriculture by working with Moa and using their biotechnology platforms to screen our extensive library of natural marine compounds. Together we can unlock potential commercial solutions as we work towards a mutually beneficial relationship between Croda and nature for a thriving planet and society.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1936/biome-makers-worlds-largest-soil-database-reaches-over-24m-microorganisms-paired-with-ai-to-decode-soil-biology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1936/biome-makers-worlds-largest-soil-database-reaches-over-24m-microorganisms-paired-with-ai-to-decode-soil-biology.html Fri, 08 Mar 2024 10:20:59 +0530 Biome Makers, further solidifying its position as a global leader in soil genomics Biome Makers, a global soil genomics company, announces its soil database has surpassed 24M microorganisms, further expanding the world's largest database of soil data paired with AI. As this powerful database grows, it continuously enhances its ability to feed actionable intelligence to the industry, critical to recovering soil health and growing more resilient crops and nutritious food.  Housed inside Biome Makers’ BeCrop® Technology, an AI tool sifts through millions of microorganism references and answers the most impactful agronomical questions, such as detecting disease risks, predicting yield improvements, and evaluating adoption of regenerative agriculture. The soil data includes soil samples collected across six continents and 56 countries over the last decade.    “Being the sole firm in the world that can provide the most accurate predictions and recommendations for specific soil and crop conditions for the agricultural industry,” states Alberto Acedo, Co-Founder and CSO at Biome Makers. Biome Makers’ soil intelligence has positively impacted more than 21,000 farmers on their sustainability journey and over 2,000 agribusinesses, including Syngenta, Bayer, UPL, among others, leading to enhanced yield improvements and reduced on-farm costs.  "As an investor in Biome Makers, we’re happy to see the company's soil database surpassing 24 million microorganisms, further solidifying its position as a global leader in soil genomics. This milestone underscores Biome Makers' commitment to providing actionable intelligence to the agricultural industry, ultimately leading to improved soil health and more resilient crops," states Ting-Ting Liu of Prosus Ventures. The company’s technology offers valuable insight for ag-input manufacturers and retailers in developing and recommending the right ag-input products, in addition to assisting other industries like Consumer Packaged Goods (CPGs) companies in building supply chain resilience and addressing scope three emissions. “Our ability to integrate the world's largest soil database with industry-leading technology means that we can support the whole agroecosystem with precise recommendations that ultimately result in improved yield, lower costs, and provide a clear path forward to the future of sustainable farming,” states John Appel, Global Head of Commercial at Biome Makers. Biome Makers is on a mission to empower farmers and recover soil health worldwide. As a part of this commitment, the company is continuing to open this technology through API connection, making it accessible to researchers, scientists, and industry experts to unlock the potential of soil data and create a more sustainable and resilient future for the planet ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1920/fluence-launches-raptr-and-vypr-next-generation-green-house-lighting-solutions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1920/fluence-launches-raptr-and-vypr-next-generation-green-house-lighting-solutions.html Mon, 04 Mar 2024 10:45:22 +0530 LED lighting solutions for global food and ornamental growers Fluence, a leading global provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial cannabis and edibles production, announces its latest lighting solutions LED lighting for food and ornamental growers: RAPTR 2 and VYPR 4. Fluence's latest LED innovations were developed in parallel with the company's global research program, which includes partnerships with industry leaders around the world and internal analysis of spectral optimization for various crops . The new RAPTR and VYPR offerings build on Fluence's existing portfolio of lighting solutions to deliver robust devices with higher wattages, increased efficiencies and enhanced ROI for growers around the world. RAPTR 2: Higher wattages and tunable spectra help growers maximize light output and efficiency with reduced installation cost The RAPTR 2's wide power range (up to 1400 W), multi-channel tunable spectra and up to 5050 μmol/s light output make it the optimal lighting solution for upgrading HPS lights in greenhouse environments. With steerable spectra, including built-in far-red light wireless dimming capability and efficiencies up to 4.0 μmol/J, growers can achieve better crop performance and lower operating expenses with the new RAPTR 2. “The new RAPTR and VYPR Series luminaires demonstrate that Fluence’s core mission remains the same: helping the world become smarter with the highest-performing LED lighting,” said Steve Graves, senior vice president, strategy and development. commercial, Fluence. “We are excited to launch our most powerful and efficient solutions to date and look forward to advancing the industry with partners around the world".  VYPR 4: increased versatility and control that maximizes crop results Featuring the signature design of the VYPR range, the VYPR 4 offers more spectral options, light uniformity regardless of mounting height, easy installation and higher light intensities with reduced power consumption. “VYPR 4 is a leading all-purpose solution,” said Jordon Musser, Product Manager, Fluence. “This new generation focuses on what every grower expects: more efficient production that gives a clear return on investment. Installation is quick, the fixtures are extremely durable, and growers benefit from Fluence's multiple spectral options to curate a lighting program that specifically meets their growing goals. » The VYPR 4 has an output of up to 3030 μmol/s and an efficiency of 3.9 μmol/J. The solution also includes dual-channel far-red light spectra as well as Fluence's extensive PhysioSpec™ spectral array to give growers a variety of lighting strategies. The VYPR 4's compact design creates as little shading as possible in a greenhouse environment and now offers wide beam optics for optimized light diffusion. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1891/syngenta-and-lavie-bio-announce-partnership-to-discover-and-develop-novel-bio-insecticide.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1891/syngenta-and-lavie-bio-announce-partnership-to-discover-and-develop-novel-bio-insecticide.html Wed, 28 Feb 2024 09:36:47 +0530 Agreement reinforces both companies’ commitment to developing and bringing innovative biological solutions to farmers Syngenta Crop Protection, a leader in agricultural innovation, and Lavie Bio Ltd., a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd., and a leading ag-biologicals company, has announced an agreement for the discovery and development of new biological insecticidal solutions. The collaboration will leverage Lavie Bio's unique technology platform to rapidly identify and optimize bio-insecticide candidates, as well as Syngenta’s extensive global research, development and commercialization capabilities. Insects pose a major challenge to the health of crops worldwide, directly injuring plants as they feed on the plant’s stems, fruit and roots, as well as indirectly by transmitting bacterial, viral and fungal infections to crops – costing the global economy an estimated $70 billion a year, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Experts predict such losses will worsen with global warming widening the spread of invasive insect risk and rising resistance to available insecticides. “Syngenta is a leader in advancing sustainable agriculture and we are thrilled to collaborate with Lavie Bio in biocontrol innovation and bring novel modes of action in the growers’ toolbox to combat insect resistance,” said Camilla Corsi, Global Head of Research at Syngenta Crop Protection. “This collaboration underscores Syngenta's commitment to collaborating with cutting-edge agricultural technology companies, merging digital and experimental approaches to accelerate and diversify innovation.” Amit Noam, CEO of Lavie Bio said "Both companies share a mutual commitment to sustainable farming and together, we aim to develop an impactful bio-insecticide product. Lavie Bio's unique computational capabilities and Syngenta's vast experience in developing and commercializing innovative products make this partnership significant. We enthusiastically look forward to joining forces to achieve the mutual task of insect management in agriculture." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1890/origin-agritech-achieves-breakthrough-in-hybrid-corn-breeding-by-incorporating-wild-genes.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1890/origin-agritech-achieves-breakthrough-in-hybrid-corn-breeding-by-incorporating-wild-genes.html Wed, 28 Feb 2024 09:22:02 +0530 The integration of the wild corn gene marks the world's first instance of using genetics from wild corn Origin Agritech Ltd., a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, has achieved a breakthrough development in its commercial corn hybrid offerings. Origin Agritech has successfully integrated a gene from wild corn into one of its elite commercial corn hybrids for the first time in the industry. This approach represents a significant scientific milestone and sets a new benchmark for crop yield performance and efficiency. The integration of the wild corn gene marks the world's first instance of using genetics from wild corn—a type of grass—to enhance the performance of commercial corn hybrids. This innovative genetic modification has improved plant type and photosynthesis efficiency, enabling the hybrid to achieve higher yields by supporting increased plant density per acre. One of Origin Agritech's mainstay commercial hybrids, which has been a market leader for over 20 years due to its superior performance, has been the focus of this enhancement. The improved version of this hybrid can now be planted at a 10-15% higher density, offering a potential yield increase of more than 10%. This advancement is expected to drive the new hybrid to replace the current version within two years, further solidifying Origin Agritech's market share and leadership in the agricultural sector. Dr. Gengchen Han, Chairman and CEO of Origin Agritech, stated, "By harnessing the untapped potential of wild corn genes, we have significantly improved our hybrid's performance, setting a new standard for efficiency and yield in the industry. We anticipate the enhanced hybrid will replace its predecessor and capture more market share with its superior performance and adaptability." Origin Agritech is dedicated to leveraging cutting-edge biotechnological research to develop crops with higher yields, improved nutritional profiles, and better adaptability to environmental challenges. This latest innovation underscores the company's role as a leader in the global agritech industry and its commitment to enhancing food security and farming efficiency worldwide. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1887/csiro-breakthrough-to-boost-disease-resistance-in-crops.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1887/csiro-breakthrough-to-boost-disease-resistance-in-crops.html Tue, 27 Feb 2024 09:52:48 +0530 Scientists at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have achieved a breakthrough in molecular plant pathology, marking a technological leap forward for breeding durable disease-resistant crops.   Plant pathogens – organisms which cause plant diseases – greatly reduce agricultural productivity and are a persistent threat to global food security.   Annually, rust pathogens lead to crop losses of US$1 billion worldwide.   The scientists developed a novel rapid gene-screening platform which can identify new avirulence (Avr) effector genes in plant pathogens, building on decades of CSIRO research in synthetic biology, genetics and molecular plant pathology.  CSIRO’s Dr Peter Dodds, co-lead of the project, said the new method will have a huge impact on future pathogen-resistant crop development.  ″Our advanced screening technology represents a technological leap forward in our ability to study the processes that give plants enduring resistance to disease, enabling new genetic strategies to safeguard crop production and disease management in Australia and abroad,″ Dr Dodds said.  This method enables high-throughput screening of complex genetic libraries in a plant’s cellular environment at an unprecedented speed. This enhances the ability to select more disease-resistant crops and aids efforts in pathogen surveillance. This technology positions CSIRO to tackle important biosecurity challenges as climate change increases risks for disease outbreaks. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1880/searca-and-bayer-crop-science-celebrate-20th-year-of-bt-corn-in-the-philippines.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1880/searca-and-bayer-crop-science-celebrate-20th-year-of-bt-corn-in-the-philippines.html Mon, 26 Feb 2024 10:44:01 +0530 The forum reviewed key enabling policies as well as the situation of yellow corn across the value chain The Southeast Asian Regional for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) together with Bayer Crop Science in the Philippines held the "20 Years and Onward: Advancing the Future of Philippine Yellow Corn" Forum, marking the two decades of use of Bt corn, or more locally known as yellow corn, after its first commercial planting in 2003. The event created a platform for discussion to sustain and scale up innovative approaches to boost productivity and improve farmer livelihoods. More than 160 attendees from public and private sectors attended the forum onsite and online, including from the academe, industry, business chambers, farmer groups, nongovernmental organizations, and the government. The forum looked back at key enabling policies as well as the situation of yellow corn across the value chain. It also assessed the sector's opportunities, challenges, and competitiveness; and discussed key actions and recommendations on how to ensure its continuous advancement amid the pressures arising from people's consumption, supply chain issues, and the natural environment. Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) highlighted in his opening message that the Philippines was among the first countries in Asia to adopt yellow corn, a genetically modified (GM) crop, and implement a regulatory framework on genetically engineered crops. Dr. Gerlie Tatlonghari, Program Head of SEARCA's Research and Thought Leadership Department, gave a brief background on the event. Dr. Abraham Manalo, Executive Director of the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines underlined the crucial role of policy in promoting the technology and supporting the growth of yellow corn over the years. "Regulations should be stringent, science-based, but streamlined," Dr. Manalo stated. "There should also be other policies to back up these regulatory issuances to allow a policy environment that is evidence-based. Yellow corn stands on solid ground today because of our regulations. But our continued battle cry is for safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology," he added. The government's interventions to boost the industry include capacity-building, providing large-scale postharvest machinery and facilities to farmer organizations, providing quality seed and fertilizers, strengthening linkages with the livestock and poultry racers, and connecting farmers directly to the market. Iiinas Lao, Country Commercial Lead from Bayer Crop Science, said that the future of corn farming is regenerative agriculture, which aims to increase productivity and income while renewing the environment. Innovations such as Bayer's Preceon Smart Corn System, which includes short-stature corn and digital farm insights, and modern breeding techniques will enable this future ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1872/syngenta-vegetable-seeds-inaugurates-global-breeding-innovation-center-in-spain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1872/syngenta-vegetable-seeds-inaugurates-global-breeding-innovation-center-in-spain.html Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:37:36 +0530 modernized R&D facility to include vegetable crops bred such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and melon Syngenta Vegetable Seeds has unveiled its modernized R&D facility in the heart of Almería, Spain’s agricultural region known as the “Orchard of Europe.” Located in El Ejido, this global breeding innovation center plays a critical role in helping Syngenta bring world-class vegetable seeds to growers in Spain and beyond. Key vegetable crops bred at the facility include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and melon. “Every investment we make is focused on one key principle – how can we better serve growers,” said Matthew Johnston, Global Head of Vegetable Seeds and Flowers at Syngenta. “This expanded and modernized facility in El Ejido highlights the importance of Spain in the global agricultural landscape while underscoring our commitment to accelerating our innovation to help growers who are dealing with volatile climates and challenging environments to grow produce and feed the world.” Syngenta’s El Ejido site was first established in 1983 and is now home to 145 employees working across R&D, production, commercial and corporate functions. This most recent investment of $3 million covers a series of enhancements to the site that centralizes seed activities in Europe, allowing Syngenta to better respond to the needs of growers. Investments at the site include upgraded greenhouses to enable year-round breeding activities, redesigned pathology and quality labs, a seed processing area, and deployment of digital tools. The site also includes new office spaces and a new canteen for employees. In addition to El Ejido, Syngenta also invested in expanding breeding operations across other areas of Spain. This includes a new trialing location in La Puebla, Murcia, with a dedicated focus on leafy and brassica crops. Syngenta’s commitment to bring activities closer to the grower is an important step to foster customer centricity across the organization.  “Our investment in Spain is a great example of how our global R&D footprint is intentionally shaped around localized breeding programs, giving us the ability to respond faster to the needs of growers in every region,” said Uri Krieger, Global Head of R&D for Syngenta Vegetable Seeds and Flowers. “Our ability to innovate faster is made possible through enabling technologies in the field and in the lab. Capturing data at every step of the R&D process allows us to be precise and effective in our decision processes.” Syngenta was one of first companies to breed vegetable varieties more than 150 years ago, and today is the most global organization in the industry with Vegetable Seeds teams operating in more than 60 countries and shipping seeds to 124 countries.     ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1865/microbial-fertilizer-enhancer-biowish-reaches-5-million-acre-farm-land-globally.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1865/microbial-fertilizer-enhancer-biowish-reaches-5-million-acre-farm-land-globally.html Thu, 22 Feb 2024 06:26:00 +0530 Reches farm lands in United States, China, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam BiOWiSH Technologies, Inc., a global provider of biotechnology solutions, has covered over 5 million acres of farmland with its microbial fertilizer BiOWiSH® Crop Liquid. Due in large part to key partners like SABIC Agri-Nutrients, Syngenta MAP (Modern Agricultural Program), ADM and PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer, farmers throughout the United States, China, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam are exploring BiOWiSH® fertility solution and programs. In addition to increasing production per acre, the company strives to reduce the carbon footprint of the agricultural supply chain by improving sustainability, economics, and efficiency. In independent, third-party trials, BiOWiSH ® consistently delivered outstanding results across a variety of crops, climates, and management practices, averaging 86% win rate and 7.7% yield increase in all crops globally. In contrast to traditional fertilizers, bio-enhanced fertilizers arrive ready for use on-farm, eliminating the need for any additional applications, fermentation, or special equipment. BiOWiSH is a microbial fertilizer enhancement recommended for coating straight urea, the world's most widely used fertilizer. The direct addition of BiOWiSH® to fertilizer creates a new class of Bio-Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer (EEF) and makes it an easy fertility program modification for farmers seeking to improve nutrient efficiency and optimize yields.In addition to optimizing yield potential, the BiOWiSH® technology is being adopted by leading fertilizer companies worldwide as part of their Scope 3 emissions targets and initiatives. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, BiOWiSH Technologies, Inc. is a global provider of biotechnology solutions for the agriculture, aquaculture, and environmental management industries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1804/usda-aphis-makes-gains-removing-asian-longhorned-beetle-in-new-york.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1804/usda-aphis-makes-gains-removing-asian-longhorned-beetle-in-new-york.html Wed, 07 Feb 2024 11:07:35 +0530 The ALB Eradication Program is found to be very efficient in pest control measures The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), together with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, is announcing that the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) quarantine on Long Island is now smaller and on the verge of eradication. New York is now closer to being ALB-free. The ALB Eradication Program recently completed its last round of tree inspections in portions of Babylon, Huntington, and Oyster Bay townships, finding no signs of the beetle. Trees are inspected many times. Not just to find any infested trees and remove them, but also to ensure that the beetle is no longer in the area. Around 53 square mile quarantine on Long Island, N.Y. is reduced inward by 10.1 square miles. The remaining 42.9 square miles will stay under quarantine. This includes the other parts of Babylon, Huntington, and Oyster Bay townships. People who live in these areas can help the eradication effort by: Reporting beetle or tree damage, by calling the eradication program at 1-866-265-0301 or by submitting an online report at www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com. Allowing eradication program officials access to your property to inspect trees and to remove any infested trees that are found. Hiring tree or landscape companies that have compliance agreements with the eradication program to ensure that woody material is disposed of properly. The ALB program eradicated beetle infestations in Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; New Jersey; Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Islip in New York; and a portion of East Fork State Park, and Stonelick and Monroe townships in Ohio. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1997/novel-eco-friendly-plant-vaccine-hits-brazil-soybean-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1997/novel-eco-friendly-plant-vaccine-hits-brazil-soybean-market.html Tue, 06 Feb 2024 11:10:00 +0530 TEIKKO soybean “nematicide” boosts natural defense mechanisms in plants similar to animal vaccines A North Carolina ag tech company is landing some major success in using a new kind of eco-friendly, portable weaponry in the global war on pests.  Plant Health Care (PHC), a publicly traded company headquartered in Holly Springs, has received Brazilian approval to deploy its biological TEIKKO (pronounced TAKE-oh) soybean “nematicide” into that huge South American market. Further negotiations are on the way to make the product available to Brazilian farmers by 2024-25 soybean growing season. The 2023-24 soybean harvested area in Brazil is forecast to be 45 million hectares (about 111 million acres), spotlighting a significant market opportunity for PHC. Kynetec, a major British purveyor of global ag and animal health market data, says Brazilian growers spent $215 million on soybean nematode control in the 2022/23 season, reflecting an annualized growth rate of 55% over six years.  TEIKKO is a novel product from PHC’s PREtec (Plant Response Elicitor Technology) peptide platform. PHC developed TEIKKO from a discovery by Zhongmin Wei, Ph.D., now PHC’s chief science officer. Scientists have developed recombinant protein that PHC now sells as Harpin αβ (Harpin alpha beta). Growers in more than 20 countries have been using Harpin αβ on a wide range of crops for years, including sugar cane, soybean, corn, coffee, tobacco, wheat, citrus, potato, vegetables and various fruits. Brazilian regulators have approved TEIKKO as a seed treatment to control root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus brachyurus) in soybeans. But PHC plans to add more crops and nematode species to the product label. TEIKKO can complement or replace conventional agrochemicals to control harmful nematodes. It can also be sprayed on plants, though some locales might require separate approvals for different application techniques. Though it’s called a nematicide, TEIKKO doesn’t kill nematodes – or harm anything. Instead, it boosts natural defense mechanisms in plants, in much the same way vaccines boost the immune systems of humans and other mammals. “Think of it as a vaccine for plants,” said Mark Turner, PHC’s vice president of business and corporate development. When a plant is treated with PHC’s peptides and produces these heightened self-defense substances, the worm turns, as the old saying goes. The nematodes simply stop feeding and go elsewhere, without laying eggs and creating cysts in the plant root. Reduced egg production also shrinks the population of nematodes without the need for traditional pesticides and “scorched earth” technologies such as fumigation, which can destroy beneficial microbes in the soil. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1797/twist-bioscience-unveils-innovative-solution-to-drive-ngs-adoption-in-agbio.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1797/twist-bioscience-unveils-innovative-solution-to-drive-ngs-adoption-in-agbio.html Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:06:00 +0530 Differentiated Ultra High-Throughput Library Preparation Solution at AGBT Twist Bioscience Corporation a company enabling customers to succeed through its offering of high-quality synthetic DNA using its silicon platform, today announced technology early access of the Twist Flex Prep Ultra High-Throughput (UHT) Kit, which aims to enable unparalleled throughput at a fraction of the cost of existing on market solutions, accelerating NGS’ microarray conversion and adoption in agricultural genomics. Built upon enzymatic fragmentation library preparation, the Twist Flex Prep UHT Kit utilizes novel chemistry that accepts and self-normalizes a wide range of sample input amounts through a new proprietary Normalization By Ligation (NBL) technology. This is crucial for researchers in AgBio who sequence thousands of samples of varying inputs and removes the need to manually normalize each one, saving significant time and costs. The kit also enables enhanced multiplexing by pooling samples early in the workflow so that researchers can process more samples without additional capital investment. The enhanced multiplexing further limits hands on time and saves researchers costs of reagents in downstream purification and indexing steps. In addition, pooling samples significantly reduces cost and plastic waste from pipette tips and plates in high-throughput labs. “In agricultural genomics, researchers often test thousands of samples at once, relying heavily on automation to support large scale testing. Many researchers continue to perform traditional microarray based workflows, as overall higher cost per sample for NGS based workflow has hindered adoption,” said Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “With the technology early access of our Twist Flex Prep UHT Kit, researchers will soon have access to a scalable, streamlined, and most importantly, cost effective NGS workflows for their various samples and research areas, and overcome the challenges that have caused slow adoption of NGS in the AgBio space. This ultra high-throughput solution could enable them to push new boundaries in breeding, trait selection, and other high-throughput applications, with high data quality while saving costs.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1996/usda-aphis-issues-regulatory-status-review-responses-for-four-gm-crops.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1996/usda-aphis-issues-regulatory-status-review-responses-for-four-gm-crops.html Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:43:00 +0530 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently reviewed four plants modified using genetic engineering to determine whether they posed an increased plant pest risk relative to non-modified comparators:  GDM Seeds, modified soybean for drought tolerance. BioHeuris, modified soybean for herbicide resistance. Michigan State University, modified potato for lowered glucose and fructose in tubers. ZeaKal, modified soybean for increased seed oil and protein.  APHIS found these modified plants were unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated plants. As a result, they are not subject to regulation under 7 CFR part 340. From a plant pest risk perspective, these modified plants may be safely grown and bred in the United States ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1773/35-nobel-laureates-implore-meps-to-support-new-genomic-techniques.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1773/35-nobel-laureates-implore-meps-to-support-new-genomic-techniques.html Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:26:11 +0530 An open letter signed by 35 Nobel laureates and more than 1,000 European scientists has been sent to Members of the European Parliament, pleading with them to ‘reject the darkness of anti-science fearmongering’ and vote in favour of new genomic techniques (NGTs) ahead of a key vote. The letter, coordinated by environmental NGO WePlanet, comes just days before the European Parliament’s environmental committee (ENVI) is set to vote on a proposal by the Commission to exempt NGTs from Europe's prohibitive GMO regulations.  The plea is signed by pioneering biochemist Emmanuelle Charpentier and microbiologist Jennifer Doudna, who shared the 2020 Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of CRISPR-cas9 - the gene-editing technique at the heart of the NGT debate. It is widely considered to be one of the most significant breakthroughs in the history of biology. Other signatories include world-renowned authors Steven Pinker and Peter Singer.  Using CRISPR-cas9 in plant breeding, argue the signatories, has the potential to dramatically reduce pesticide and fertiliser use in agriculture whilst increasing food security through the creation of climate-resilient plant varieties. ‘NGTs hold immense promise for sustainable agriculture, enhanced food security and innovative medical solutions,’ say the signatories. ‘We therefore encourage you to engage with the overwhelming majority of farmers and genuine experts, not with reactive anti-science lobbyists in the Brussels bubble. We implore you to vote in favour of NGTs.’ A failure to unlock the potential of NGTs would also risk a major economic opportunity cost, state the signatories, and ‘could cost the European economy 300 billion euros annually in “benefits forgone” across multiple sectors.’ All eyes are now on the ENVI committee vote scheduled for 24 January. If the committee passes the proposal, this is expected to be followed on 5 February by a plenary vote in the Strasbourg Parliament. Tens of activists from the international WePlanet network – including young scientists and farmers – are expected to demonstrate outside the parliament building that day in favour of NGTs. Dr Hidde Boersma PHD, the Dutch microbiologist who coordinated the letter, says: ‘The NGTs vote is a huge moment for the European Parliament. Will they embrace rationality and optimism, or cave into the anti-science fearmongering of an ill-informed minority? Now, more than ever, it’s time to embrace the optimism that Europe’s young scientists and farmers represent.’  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1737/ntt-group-partners-with-climateforce-to-create-worlds-first-smart-rainforest.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1737/ntt-group-partners-with-climateforce-to-create-worlds-first-smart-rainforest.html Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:44:39 +0530 AI, Data Analytics and NTT Smart Management Platform will help regenerate section of Daintree while speeding new models for environmental restoration NTT and ClimateForce have partnered to create the world’s first Smart Rainforest using NTT’s Smart Management Platform technology. This groundbreaking initiative aims to regenerate a section of Australia's Daintree Rainforest and establish sustainable and cost-effective models for environmental restoration efforts around the world. ClimateForce is regenerating a section of Australia’s Daintree Rainforest that had been razed for agriculture decades ago. The land, which is adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, has since become infested with invasive plant species. NTT’s sponsorship will help support the regeneration effort using Smart Management Platform (SMP) Technology and Analytics, while NTT DATA, a global digital business and IT services leader, is providing operational and fundraising support. “ClimateForce is a proving ground for technologies that protect biodiversity and help mitigate climate change,” said Barney Swan, CEO and Co-founder of ClimateForce. “The generous support from NTT and NTT DATA will help us quickly expand our initiative in the Daintree and speed our goal of developing replicable models that regenerate ecosystems, protect biodiversity and foster resilient local economies in other locations.” NTT DATA will help ClimateForce leverage AI, data gathering and analysis as well as predictive analytics to assess various organic reforestation techniques. In addition to providing operating support for the initiative, NTT DATA is also contributing funds to help ClimateForce purchase and protect the regenerated land in perpetuity. “NTT DATA met Barney through our sponsorship of his father’s Undaunted: South Pole 2023 expedition, which advocated for sustainable practices and long-term protections for Antarctica,” said Bob Pryor, CEO, NTT DATA Services. “We’re excited to extend this relationship and help ClimateForce with its mission in the tropics, which perfectly aligns with our own vision for realizing a sustainable future.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1734/global-agri-food-advancement-partnership-gaap-invests-in-biotech-startup-proxima-research-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1734/global-agri-food-advancement-partnership-gaap-invests-in-biotech-startup-proxima-research-development.html Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:23:00 +0530 Proxima has developed proprietary technology to better isolate, characterize, and engineer microbes for applications within agriculture, food, and pharma Saskatchewan's Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) has made an undisclosed investment round into Proxima Research and Development in Canada and to expand in Canadian agriculture market. Proxima has developed proprietary technology to better isolate, characterize, and engineer microbes for applications within agriculture, food, and pharma. Proxima offers unique microbial solutions along with developing pro-priority technology solutions. Proxima has a vibrant and diverse R&D program which focuses on the isolation and genetic characterization of microbes with applications in food, biofuel, bioproducts, and pharmaceuticals. These bioprospecting activities support numerous objectives including the discovery and commercialization of novel microorganisms. A prominent example of Proxima’s work in this area is the development of new yeast strains for brewing applications, providing the means for brewers to develop new and exciting beer varieties and bring them to consumers around the world. Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) is a privately run and operated agri-food investment incubator looking for cutting-edge technologies from early and rapid-growth companies seeking to improve efficiency, sustainability and profitability within the global agriculture and food sector. This investment came out of GAAP’s strong relationship with Ag-West Bio, Saskatchewan’s bioscience industry association in terms of support, mentorship, and investments. Dr. Zachery Belak, CEO and co-founder, and Iain Wallace, CSO and co-founder, explains "Ag-West Bio’s on-going support and participation in GAAP’s incubator will help accelerate Proxima business to the next stage. We are excited about this investment from GAAP because of the access to advanced equipment and facilities that it will provide”. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1723/fao-releases-15-case-studies-on-the-use-of-biotechnologies-to-meet-the-needs-of-smallholders.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1723/fao-releases-15-case-studies-on-the-use-of-biotechnologies-to-meet-the-needs-of-smallholders.html Wed, 17 Jan 2024 12:22:44 +0530 The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released a compilation of case studies showcasing the impactful use of agricultural biotechnologies to meet the needs of smallholders in developing countries, marking a significant step forward in the global efforts to achieve a sustainable agriculture and food systems. Agricultural biotechnologies, ranging from low-tech tools like artificial insemination and tissue culture to high-tech methods such as whole genome sequencing, have emerged as a crucial part of the toolbox for transforming food systems. Recognizing their potential, FAO has been actively promoting knowledge sharing and innovation in agriculture through the application of biotechnologies. The report covers 15 case studies that highlight successful applications of biotechnologies in diverse sectors, including crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and agro-industry, and a wide range of species, world regions and production systems, emphasizing that biotechnology extends beyond genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and is applicable to smallholders in developing countries. Collecting experiences worldwide, the case studies demonstrate how biotechnologies contribute to increased productivity, improved livelihoods, disease management, and the conservation of genetic resources essential for sustainable smallholder production systems. One of the key messages emerging overall from the report, is the need for farmers to increase their yields while equally facing the current and future challenges of climate change. Which are the ingredients for success? The report identifies four: Partnerships Long-term commitment Government support Good communication FAO also anticipated that these case studies, presented in the context of a rapidly evolving field, will serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for those seeking to harness biotechnologies for the benefit of smallholder farmers ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1721/nigeria-approves-commercial-release-of-gm-maize-varieties.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1721/nigeria-approves-commercial-release-of-gm-maize-varieties.html Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:04:46 +0530 The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the commercial release of transgenic insect-resistant and drought-tolerant maize varieties, known as TELA maize. The approval was granted by the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries (NCNRRCVLF), headed by Prof Olusoji Olufajo at its 33rd meeting at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan on January 11, 2024. The four varieties approved by the NVRC are SAMMAZ 72T, SAMMAZ 73T, SAMMAZ 74T, and SAMMAZ 75T. The new maize varieties are drought tolerant and are resistant to stem-borer and fall armyworms, resulting in a yield advantage of up to 10 tons per hectare under good agronomic practices. The national average for similar hybrids is six tons per hectare. Development of the improved varieties was led by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Samaru, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, through the TELA Maize Public-Private Partnership coordinated by AATF. The TELA Maize Project is being implemented in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa. Prof Ado Yusuf, Executive Director of IAR, expressed satisfaction with releasing the four new maize varieties, saying, ″IAR is very proud of our scientists who are addressing the maize productivity challenges in the country and beyond. These varieties have undergone thorough research and developed using biotechnology tools over several years of continuous testing and revalidation.″ Dr Canisius Kanangire, AATF’s Executive Director, said: ″The release of TELA Maize in Nigeria will contribute to food and nutrition security in line with the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation agenda. AATF reaffirms unwavering commitment to addressing challenges farmers face across the continent.″ The other partners in the TELA Maize project are national agricultural research institutes in Kenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and South Africa; the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Bayer, with funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1713/cibus-announces-major-breakthrough-in-wheat-regeneration-from-single-cells.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1713/cibus-announces-major-breakthrough-in-wheat-regeneration-from-single-cells.html Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:52:58 +0530 Cibus intends to develop a family of traits to address the most significant challenges faced by farmers globally for wheat, focusing initially on disease resistance and nitrogen use efficiency. Cibus, Inc., a leading agricultural technology company that develops and licenses plant traits to seed companies, announced that the Company has successfully regenerated plants from single cells in a wheat cultivar. This is a major breakthrough for Cibus as well as for the industry. This is the third crop toward Cibus’ goal to develop single cell models for the five major crops (canola, rice, wheat, soybean and corn) for the benefit of seed companies and farmers – Cibus already has High Throughput Breeding systems in two crops (canola and rice) and a five-trait pipeline across these two crops. Given this breakthrough, Cibus intends to develop a family of traits to address the most significant challenges faced by farmers globally for wheat, focusing initially on disease resistance and nitrogen use efficiency. Nitrogen use efficiency is a need in many crops, but particularly for wheat with its enormous, cultivated acreage. A nitrogen use efficiency trait would have the potential to materially reduce the carbon footprint of the crop while offering better yield with similar fertilization. Fungal diseases cause a significant economic impact in wheat production with cereals representing the largest fungicide market. Development of disease resistance traits in wheat offer the promise of protecting yield potential while reducing fungicide use. We are encouraged that we will be able to address the major diseases in wheat. Finally, this platform enables the development of improved wheat quality traits, potentially reducing or eliminating allergens such as gluten and even further improvement of the Company’s high fiber wheat. Wheat is one of the world’s most cultivated crops, and one of the major crops grown in North and South America. It is a staple in many diets and is responsible for a fifth of people’s caloric intake, making it one of the world’s most important crops. Initially sequenced a mere five years ago, wheat genomes are some of the largest of all crops, having more than 16 billion letters (compared to rice with about one billion letters that was sequenced in 2002 and five times larger than the human genome). They are also very complex with durum wheat comprising the fusion of two genomes and bread wheat from the fusion of three. “I am so impressed with our entire team, which was able to achieve this important milestone a year ahead of schedule, opening up the potential to accelerate trait development in one of the world’s most cultivated crops,” added Noel Sauer, Senior Vice President, Research and Development. “Further, by working with seed company customers, this achievement will enable prototyping productivity and quality traits to address this crop’s key challenges potentially providing farmers with new tools to manage their farm and improve their profitability.” “This breakthrough represents a significant milestone for our business. Our long-term goal is to develop a scalable high-speed breeding production system that can develop and produce traits for any seed company servicing any of the five major crops (canola, rice, wheat, soybean, and corn),” said Rory Riggs, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Cibus. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1709/singapores-biomed-strives-in-pathology-testing-tools-for-veterinary-care.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1709/singapores-biomed-strives-in-pathology-testing-tools-for-veterinary-care.html Thu, 11 Jan 2024 09:23:33 +0530 BioMed Diagnostics, a leader in microbiological testing and a DCN Dx brand,  specializes in innovative, user-friendly testing tools for detecting infectious microorganisms in humans, animals, food, and the environment. Through their unique InTray and InPouch formats, BioMed streamline specimen collection, culture, and transport into a single device, offering impactful health solutions across various sectors. DCN Dx, based in Carlsbad, California, is a global leader in IVD CDMO and CRO services with specializes in creating tailored assay systems, consumables, and instruments for point-of-use applications, with a particular expertise in lateral flow assays. BioMed Diagnostics commitment to veterinary health with several key products, including: InTray® DM: An enriched dermatophyte medium for detecting dermatophytes from clinical specimens. Features a single exposure system with dynamic built-in components for user compatibility and ease of detection.  InPouch® TF-Feline: A highly selective prepared-culture media device for detecting feline Tritrichomonas foetus. Known for its cost-effectiveness and ease of use, this broth media device increases specificity by inhibiting growth of yeasts, molds, bacteria, and other micro-flora.  InTray® VS COLOREXTM Screen: The major target is the detection of urinary tract pathogens, but COLOREXTM Screen has a broader application as a general nutrient agar for the isolation of various microorganisms. It can also be used to differentiate various microorganisms in other infected areas (e.g., scars, wounds).  Mitzi Rettinger, Chief Revenue Officer at DCN Dx explains "BioMed’s range of diagnostic tools are designed to improve testing accuracy and efficiency in veterinary practices. Meeting face-to-face with experts and practitioners at VMX allows us to better understand and meet the evolving needs of the veterinary community." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1701/senestech-expands-its-evolve-soft-bait-for-effective-non-lethal-pest-control-alternatives.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1701/senestech-expands-its-evolve-soft-bait-for-effective-non-lethal-pest-control-alternatives.html Wed, 10 Jan 2024 08:01:48 +0530 Evolve™ Soft Bait is a rodent fertility control solution for crop protection SenesTech, Inc., the leader in fertility control to manage animal pest populations, has expanded EvolveTM, its innovative soft bait fertility control solution, into the broader market of open field agriculture. This expansion partners with a global leader in irrigation solutions for sustainable agriculture, and will begin at a California dairy and almond grower. "Open field agriculture presents a unique challenge to rodent pest control. Poisons can not be broadcast, and trapping is expensive and of limited efficacy. The Evolve soft bait, with its minimum risk, its reasonable cost, and its proven efficacy, provides a new tool for this widespread market," said Joel Fruendt, SenesTech's president and CEO. "We are partnering with one of the global leaders in irrigation solutions, with a commitment to sustainability, and they have selected one of their preferred customers for the initial deployment, a diary and almond producer. Their stated goal is to ultimately expand the offering of Evolve to their customers across the globe as they learn more about Evolve's potential," continued Fruendt. Evolve addresses the fundamental issue of rodent overpopulation by focusing on the rapid reproduction of rats. Evolve controls the population by reducing or eliminating the fertility of rats, rather than trying to keep up with the growing numbers of an infestation with poisons alone. The active ingredient in Evolve effectively reduces fertility in rodents in numerous independent studies. Evolve is highly palatable to rats, easy to deploy, offers diverse placement in many different environments and is priced competitively to rodenticide alternatives. The broader agricultural market represents a significant opportunity for Evolve. Rodents are reportedly responsible for destroying nearly 20% of the world's stored food supply due to consumption and contamination. Further, California has enacted legislation restricting the use of the four major second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), or poisons, which has created a need in the market for non-lethal, effective pest control alternatives. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1909/biofertilizers-in-asia-trends-prospects-and-growth-potential.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1909/biofertilizers-in-asia-trends-prospects-and-growth-potential.html Tue, 09 Jan 2024 09:15:00 +0530 Over the past few years, organic food has gained popularity due to health-conscious consumers, environmental awareness, and a desire to make more sustainable and high-quality choices. Agricultural practices that are innovative and sustainable are becoming increasingly important as the organic industry gains traction. Nitrogen-fixing microorganisms are expected to display the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Chemical fertilizers pose a number of health hazards, the increase in government initiatives and an increasing awareness of the importance of sustainability in modern agriculture are some of the reasons for the growth of this segment. Advanced farming with drip irrigation and sprinklers is becoming increasingly popular, as are health concerns. Furthermore, nitrogen-fixing microbes are an environmentally friendly and economically beneficial method of providing nitrogen to plants. Growing organic farming and the growing demand for organic food are contributing factors to the growth of the biofertilizers market. As environmental concerns grow, government initiatives are increasing to promote the use of biofertilizers, and market players are increasingly focusing on inorganic growth strategies. A high demand for synthetic fertilizers and a high cost of biofertilizer production may, however, restrain the growth of this market to some extent.  Market Potential and forecast Organic products are becoming increasingly popular among consumers, which has led to a greater awareness among farmers of the disadvantages of using agricultural chemicals in their operations. Asia-Pacific's demand for biofertilizers will increase 8.6% CAGR during the forecast period. The global Biofertilizers market size was valued at $2685.6 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.26% during the forecast period, reaching USD 5373.87 million by 2028. During the forecast period 2022-2029, the biofertilizers market is expected to reach $3.2 billion at a CAGR of 11.5%. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. There are several factors driving the growth of this regional market, including the rapid growth of its population and income, increased mechanization, and irrigation facilities. The market for biofertilizers in this region is also boosted by government policies that promote and expand the organic sector. Top Players in Global Biofertilizers Market Global biofertilizer market has a significance for the cereals & grains industry and accounts for the largest share. A large part of the market share in this segment can be attributed to the growing demand for organic and naturally grown cereals & grains, the importance of minimizing chemical fertilizer effects on cereal & grain products, and the vast amount of land cultivated for organic cereal & grain production. Globally, dry biofertilizers are expected to account for the largest share. Dry biofertilizers have gained a large share of this market as they are widely available and highly efficient in all climatic conditions, resulting in the large market share of this segment. Agrinos AS; Kan Biosys Pvt. Ltd; National Fertilizer Ltd; Ajay Bio-Tech (India) Ltd; China Bio-Fertilizer Group; Rizobacter Argentina S.A.; Agri Life; Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited; Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation; Symborg; Madras Fertilizers Limited; EuroChem Agro GmbH; Lallemand Inc; Syngenta AG; Mapleton Agri Biotec Pty Ltd. The Asia-Pacific Biofertilizer Market is fragmented, with the top five companies occupying 36.97%. The major players in this market are Biostadt India Limited, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited, Kiwa Bio-Tech and The Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited. Biofertilizers in demand: Mycorrhizae, Azotobacter, Rhizobium A mycorrhizal-based biofertilizer is at the forefront of sustainable agricultural practices in terms of balancing productivity, health of the environment, and resource efficiency. By leveraging beneficial mycorrhizal fungi, these biofertilizers enhance nutrient uptake, improve soil structure, and increase plant resilience.  As an important tool in promoting environmental health and organic food production, mycorrhizae-based biofertilizers are revolutionizing organic food production. Mycorrhizal fungi enhance the nutritional value of organic food by extracting nutrients from the soil and delivering them to plant roots. Mycorrhizae-based biofertilizers are growing in demand due to the increase in organic and natural food consumption. Biofertilizers based on mycorrhizae are achieving widespread acceptance as a solution that enhances crop flavor while adhering to sustainability principles. By using biofertilizers, farmers and consumers are able to benefit from both better tasting crops and more sustainable practices. Mycorrhizae-based biofertilizers enhance flavor while supporting soil health and biodiversity in sustainable agriculture. A number of genetic and molecular studies are providing insight into the genetic components of mycorrhizal associations, which can assist in the development of biofertilizer formulations that are effective. For specific crops, soil types, and environmental conditions, mycorrhizal fungi are being created as custom blends. Mycorrhizae Based Biofertilizers Market in the globally is growing as a result of these innovations. Furthermore, Azotobacter is the largest nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and is not symbiotic. The product is mainly used for rice, cotton, and vegetables, as well as non-leguminous plants. The fastest-growing form of Rhizobium can replace commercial N fertilizers in leguminous plants by aiding them in removing nitrogen from the soil as Rhizobium increases agricultural productivity. The Azotobacter-based biofertilizers market is dominant in China, accounting for about 31.3% of the market value, which is valued at about USD 137.1 million in 2022. China had 93.5% of the total value of the biofertilizer market in 2022, making it the region's dominant country. A total of 82.3% of the Chinese biofertilizer market was dominated by row crops in 2022. The organic acreage of row crops in the country was 2.1 million hectares in 2022. Commercialization and Product Innovation: To maximize yields and promote sustainability, integrated agriculture combines various practices. The principles of integrated agriculture are well aligned with mycorrhiza-based products. The products promoted soil health, nutrient cycling, and plant resilience, which contributed to diversified agriculture. With integrated agriculture, soil health is prioritized and chemical inputs are reduced, which further boosts mycorrhizae's demand. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1883/bionema-group-launches-tender-for-product-marketing-of-innovative-biocontrol-solutions.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1883/bionema-group-launches-tender-for-product-marketing-of-innovative-biocontrol-solutions.html Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:14:00 +0530 Bionema Group, a leading developer of sustainable biocontrol solutions, is excited to announce a tender for the marketing of their innovative range of environmentally friendly biological products. These groundbreaking solutions are designed to address crop protection and plant health management in the Agriculture, Sport Turf Amenity, Horticulture, Agriculture, and Forestry sectors. As public awareness and concerns regarding the impact of agrochemicals (pesticides and fertilisers) on human health, biodiversity, soil health and the environment continue to rise, Bionema aims to provide a complete collection of more than 60 biological products and technology that offer effective, eco-friendly alternatives. This strategic move follows Bionema’s transformative deal with Syngenta in 2021, congealing their position as a world-leading biocontrol technology company. Over the past 15 months, Bionema has undergone significant growth to meet the progressing needs of the market. Their different product range now includes Biocontrol, Biostimulants, Biofertiliser and Efficacy Booster customised to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, turf & amenities, and public health. Dr Minshad Ansari, Founder and CEO of Bionema Group, expressed the company’s vision, said, “Our goal is to be at the forefront of Biological Agriculture technology innovator, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. With changing global trends and increasing demands from consumers, society, and regulators, sustainable alternatives are urgently needed. For instance, consider the EU’s aspiring plan to ban 50% pesticides by 2030 and significantly increase organic farming. Achieving such targets requires innovative solutions like the ones we are introducing”. Bionema’s expanded portfolio significantly enhances their presence in the Biological Agriculture sector, complementing their ongoing R&D, farmer’s training, and additional services focused on advancing biological solutions in different cropping systems. The company’s innovative formulation and delivery platform technology enable the development of products with 20-30% higher efficacy and productivity compared to existing products. Dr Ansari stressed, “While we are pleased to introduce our new products, our commitment to innovation and collaboration remains unwavering. We have achieved significant milestones, but our dedication to progress continues, and we firmly believe that the best is yet to come”. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1697/benson-hill-to-launch-five-soybean-varieties-in-2024-by-novel-breeding-program.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1697/benson-hill-to-launch-five-soybean-varieties-in-2024-by-novel-breeding-program.html Mon, 08 Jan 2024 09:07:43 +0530 Aims to deliver Higher Protein and Improved Yield Potential with renewed soybeans recommoditions for animal feed & food. Benson Hill, Inc., an ag-tech company unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants, announced that recent advances in its soybean breeding program will drive the doubling of its seed portfolio by 2025. The latest field evaluations on Benson Hill’s third generation of Ultra High Protein Low Oligosaccharides, non-GMO soybean varieties showed protein gains of 2% over the previous generation and achieved a yield gap of only 3 to 5 bushels per acre, compared with commodity GMO soybeans Benson Hill Chief Executive Officer Deanie Elsner also announced at FARMCON 2024 an expansion of its commercially available soybean portfolio for 2024, adding five value-added varieties to its lineup. Benson Hill previously offered about a dozen soybean seed varieties that deliver ultra-high protein, high-oleic and low-linoleic oils, and low-oligosaccharide quality traits. For the 2024 planting season, U.S. soybean farmers can choose from more than 20 varieties across several relative maturity groups. Benson Hill’s herbicide-tolerant Ultra High Protein soybean varieties are on track for commercial release in 2025, with acreage and further portfolio expansion expected in 2026. This is a major step in providing farmers options for weed control and enabling lower-cost, broadacre production of already advantaged Ultra High Protein soybeans for the feed industry. By leveraging deep insights on its proprietary soybean germplasm, Benson Hill is strategically positioned to drive seed innovation in broadacre opportunities for the aquaculture, pet food, swine and poultry markets – some 90% of the soy market. According to Elsner, the recent field evaluations support Benson Hill’s acceleration to an asset-light model focused on partnerships and licensing, including seed. “Over the last several years, we’ve discovered ways to boost soy protein by 8 to 10 percentage points over commodity, and there are more seed improvements coming in geographies relevant for poultry production,” Elsner told FARMCON attendees. “Benson Hill is well positioned to validate our products with customers and end users to create market demand and begin to scale our seed innovations across approximately 7 million acres by 2030.” The Company’s analysis of non-GMO, Ultra High Protein low oligosaccharide (UHP-LO) soybean varieties demonstrate novel attributes for poultry diets, swine rations, and pet food, opening up the broadacre animal feed opportunity for the Company in the next two to three years, including large U.S. feed markets representing a total addressable market of approximately 28 million acres. Research this fall confirmed a trifecta of product attributes with UHP-LO desired by animal nutritionists, processors, feed formulators, and farmers, including higher yields, higher protein levels and lower anti-nutritional factors. Benson Hill continues to expand its world-class soy protein expression data set. Field data from the Company’s R&D program, field trials, and its commercially planted acres are digitized to further refine the predictive capabilities of CropOS. The Company plans to share results on studies and feeding trials as they become available. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1691/israels-steakholder-foods-launches-industry-first-3d-printed-eel.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1691/israels-steakholder-foods-launches-industry-first-3d-printed-eel.html Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:55:15 +0530 Revolutionizing Seafood Production: Steakholder Foods' 3D Printed Eel - A Game-Changer for Fish and Seafood Producers Steakholder Foods, a pioneer in the 3D meat and fish printing technology and cultivated cell innovation, has launched the world's first plant-based, 3D-printed eel. This breakthrough highlights Steakholder Foods' remarkable capability to accurately replicate the complex texture of eel, achieved through precision layering and a unique combination of materials in Steakholder Foods' proprietary 3D printing technology. The Company's eel is currently based on plant materials, and is expected to include cultivated eel cells in the future, as economies of scale allow price-competitive cell development. Steakholder Foods' unique printing process enables it to significantly reduce the amount of ingredients used in its 3D printed product relative to typical plant-based alternatives, potentially positioning Steakholder Foods' plant-based, 3D-printed eel at the forefront of the industry. Steakholder Foods is exploring collaborations to commercialize its plant-based, printed eel by offering them proprietary 3D printers and ink, capable of generating revenues in the short term. Based on Steakholder Foods' current technology capabilities, it estimates that its partners and customers will be able to mass-produce 3D-printed eel at a competitive price range, enabling them to tackle the cost challenges linked to the current global prices of eel. The global eel market, valued at $4.3 billion in 2022 and growing at a CAGR of 2.19%, primarily relies on wild eel. This industry faces several critical challenges, including overexploitation and the risk of extinction, particularly in Japan which accounts for a major portion of global eel consumption. Breeding difficulties in farms due to the complex life cycle of eels, regulatory challenges, and issues like poaching and black-market trading further exacerbate the situation, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. Arik Kaufman, CEO of Steakholder Foods says: The launch of our printed eel marks a pivotal moment in the seafood industry, showcasing the vast potential of our DropJet technology – Steakholder Foods' solution for fish and seafood printing. This technology is designed to enable partners to generate products on a potential industrial scale of hundreds of tons monthly, not only at lower costs compared to wild eel, but also with the flexibility to create a variety of printed products using the same production line. Such versatility could significantly boost profitability for food companies and lead the way to a shift towards more efficient and sustainable practices in the industry. This product exemplifies the broader possibilities our technology offers our partners. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1685/unifahs-raises-1-4m-in-seed-funding-for-sustainable-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1685/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/27/1679/philippines-to-launch-new-world-class-agri-genomics-center-in-partnership-with-koica-and-irri.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1679/philippines-to-launch-new-world-class-agri-genomics-center-in-partnership-with-koica-and-irri.html Wed, 03 Jan 2024 07:49:50 +0530 The new UPLB Agricultural Genomics Research Center (AGRC) is part of a six-year collaborative venture with KOICA The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the South Korean government through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are set to construct an on-campus agricultural genomics research facility to advance genome-based agriculture research and development capabilities in the country. The new UPLB Agricultural Genomics Research Center (AGRC) is part of a six-year collaborative venture with KOICA which involves the joint conduct of capacity building activities to strengthen academic partnerships between UPLB and Korean universities, and in turn, improve the country’s agricultural research competitiveness through the acceleration of agricultural science and technology collaborations and other innovative services. “The establishment of AGRC has a primary goal of a collaboration to initiate scientific cooperation between IRRI, the UP System, and South Korea through KOICA. As we lay the foundation of AGRC today, may it become a beacon for scientific progress and sustainability not only in the Southeast Asian region but also throughout the world,” said UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho during his welcome remarks. The collaboration includes opportunities to earn doctoral degrees from Korean universities and an MS sandwich research program at IRRI targeting incoming and continuing qualified Filipino MS students enrolled at UPLB. As the technical partner for the project, IRRI has also developed ten advanced agricultural science internship programs and provides proper guidance on the application of genomics tools in real world plant breeding programs and will supervise and support program scholars to conduct high impact-research within the facility’s new laboratories and existing facilities in IRRI. “This facility is but one of the many steps that we will be taking together as we endeavor to develop more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices for farming communities all over the world. Ultimately, we hope that this space can foster scholars who can help farmers worldwide improve their competitiveness and productivity amidst global challenges” said IRRI Interim Director General, Dr. Ajay Kohli. Ahead of the construction of the actual facility, the capability enhancement and academic partnerships component of the program has benefitted more than 1,800 participants. In addition to providing seed funding, the Republic of Korea, through KOICA, will continue to dispatch experts to provide additional technical advice and assist in finalizing the center's operational plans and training. “With the support of IRRI, which has extensive technical experience on agricultural R&D, this project promises a strengthened science and technology adaptation in agriculture. KOICA strongly believes that today's collaboration will also contribute to the country’s agricultural competitiveness and improving food security in the Philippines,” said KOICA Vice President, Hon. Lee Yun Young. The Ambassador of Korea to the Philippines, Hon. Lee Sang Hwa noted in his speech that the groundbreaking event is a testament not only of the close partnership between Korea and the Philippines in the fields of agriculture and innovation, but also a significant move toward addressing food security, poverty and rural community development in the Philippines. For his part, UP President Atty. Angelo Jimenez, emphasized that science and research should be of service to the Filipino people and that the upcoming AGRC is a testament to that. Once completed, the AGRC will provide an environment which will complement the mission of the country in training and providing growth opportunities to scientists, collaborators, and partners while embracing diversity and inclusivity. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1668/singapores-nus-scelse-scientists-uncover-plant-hormone-that-can-boost-plant-growth-by-30.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1668/singapores-nus-scelse-scientists-uncover-plant-hormone-that-can-boost-plant-growth-by-30.html Wed, 27 Dec 2023 11:07:29 +0530 Discovery holds great promise for sustainable food security across diverse soils and crops A study conducted by NUS and the Singapore Center for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) uncovered the most powerful tool in nature's arsenal for combating agricultural challenges today: agro-microbials, or agro-chemicals of natural origin, that can enhance crop productivity and yield by enhancing synergy between crops and microbes. In a study conducted over five years from 2018, the scientists discovered that a well-known protective hormone typically released by plants above ground during periods of stress – a volatile organic compound (VOC) known as methyl jasmonate (MeJA) – possessed a hitherto unknown function. They found that MeJa served as a shared, possibly secret, language that allows the plant to communicate with the surrounding layers of microorganisms embedded in the soil.  The research team has made three important discoveries: Using a specially engineered airflow system, scientists have found, for the first time, that MeJA is released underground by the plant roots in a volatile form; The presence of volatile MeJA triggers and enhances the formation of biofilms in bacteria situated at a distance from the plant roots; and These bacteria in the biofilm release a different set of volatile compounds that can boost plant growth by up to 30%. Associate Professor Sanjay Swarup, who is a Principal Investigator at the Research Centre on Sustainable Urban Farming (SUrF) under the NUS Faculty of Science and a Deputy Research Director at SCELSE, said, “The impact of this discovery is manifold and key to sustainable agriculture. Harnessing these agricultural microbes will not only boost crop productivity, but also reduce the need for synthetic inputs and mitigate the environmental impact of modern farming practices.” Having discovered nature’s own way of communication between plants and beneficial microbes, the research team has filed a patent for the use of this novel application to enhance it to improve the resilience and productivity of agricultural systems. The upshot of this could be a new generation of agro-chemicals or nature-structured chemicals which can be used to enhance the benefits for plants. Agro-microbials can influence plant growth and address food security. Agro-microbials – and nature-based agrochemicals – are now emerging as a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture. Agro-microbials encompass microbial communities associated with crops, and they serve critical functions of plant growth promotion, disease prevention, and nitrogen fixation. They also help to keep the soil fertile by breaking down organic matter, recycling nutrients, and creating humus to retain moisture. Diverse communities of agro-microbials can be found inside biofilms, where they are embedded in a self-produced matrix. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1667/searca-fuels-zero-waste-agriculture-with-biogas-innovation-in-philippines-muntinlupa.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1667/searca-fuels-zero-waste-agriculture-with-biogas-innovation-in-philippines-muntinlupa.html Wed, 27 Dec 2023 11:02:47 +0530 An anaerobic digester, which converts organic matter into biogas Philippines Muntinlupa City shows a way to turn farm waste into clean cooking fuel. Key to this innovation is a simple set-up called an anaerobic digester, which converts organic matter into biogas. With this technology, along with composting machines, the city takes the path to zero-waste agriculture and circular economy. Inspired by the potential of waste-to-energy benefits, a team from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) investigated the biogas digester technology at the Environmental Sanitation Center (ESC) in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City. As an implementer of the Rice Straw Biogas Hub (RSBH) project, the SEARCA team promotes harnessing biogas technology to add value to rice straw, a largely discarded or untapped agricultural resource. Committed to achieving a successful ecological solid waste management system, the ESC operates a citywide waste segregation project, encouraging all stakeholders to purposefully sort out waste and utilize these as inputs to production—ultimately achieving a circular economy in the metropolis. The Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) biogas digester technology proved instrumental to achieving such a feat. Composed primarily of methane and carbon dioxide, biogas is a renewable energy source that can produce heat and electricity for consumption. The ESC developed and cultivated a piece of land almost akin to a rural farmland—with its crop production area and domesticated animals—where food scraps from the public market are discarded and processed. The fruit and vegetable waste are fed to animals, whose manures are then converted to cooking gas using the biogas digester. Dr. Victor Luis, Jr., SEARCA's biogas energy consultant, and Engr. Vincent Alon, division head at ESC, discussed and showed the process of biogas and compost generation from waste. The sludge, a byproduct of the biogas digester, is used for seeding or introducing bacteria before feeding fruit, vegetable, and sawdust waste into the composter. Cleverly branded as "Muntinglupa," the generated soil compost is used for the city's greening program. Other trash materials from packaging are sewn into useful ecobags. Dr. Luis envisions scaling up the management of rice straw residues through a centralized biogas facility operated by private and public institutions. Atty. Eric Reynoso, program head of SEARCA's Emerging Innovation for Growth (EIG) Department, added that, "mechanisms, such as biogas digesters, would be instrumental in remote areas and farms where access to electricity is lacking." SEARCA initiated the field visit as part of an educational pursuit and awareness building on rice-straw-to-energy conversion. The undertaking will seek a wider reach and impact among farmers in Laguna and Nueva Ecija. The RSBH Project team is set to conduct a training on biogas technology during the first quarter of 2024. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1666/irri-develops-first-of-its-kind-speed-breeding-protocol-for-indica-and-japonica-rice.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1666/irri-develops-first-of-its-kind-speed-breeding-protocol-for-indica-and-japonica-rice.html Wed, 27 Dec 2023 10:55:56 +0530 Follows SpeedFlower protocol Scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) successfully developed a robust, first-of-its-kind speed breeding protocol that reduces the generation times required in a year for growing indica and japonica rice. The current rate of genetic gain attained in rice crops through breeding is inadequate to meet the increasing future rice demand of a growing population. The development of new varieties is further hindered by longer generation times and seasonal constraints. Through the SpeedFlower protocol, these factors will no longer impact the acceleration of varietal development, by reducing generation times by almost half which allows growing four to five generations of indica and japonica rice in a year. “We can now develop new high-yielding, climate-resilient, and nutritionally superior rice varieties in a much shorter duration. This is a major scientific step toward significantly boosting genetic gain in rice, ultimately contributing to global food security,” said program lead Drs Vikas Kumar Singh, Uma Maheshwar Singh and Pallavi Sinha.  The Speed Breeding technique The Speed Breeding (SB) technique has been introduced to effectively manage environmental factors and is suitable for short- and long-day crops, allowing it to be utilized throughout the year. As a result, SB has gained popularity as a method for advancing multiple generations per year. Using SB in glasshouses and controlled chambers has the potential to enhance breeding outputs for both short- and long-day crops. This is achieved by providing more controlled growth conditions, which work more uniformly for diverse germplasm and breeding materials compared to field conditions. The success of SB in various crops has led to the establishment of a state-of-the-art SpeedBreed facility at the ISARC in Varanasi, India. To achieve SB in rice, the facility has been customized with controlled growth parameters using fully enclosed walk-in growth chambers designed to optimize the SB protocol for all types of rice varieties without the need for tedious embryo rescue techniques and tiller removal. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1647/oneone-biosciences-partners-with-ginkgo-bioworks-to-advance-its-platform-and-nitrogen-fixation-microbial-product.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1647/oneone-biosciences-partners-with-ginkgo-bioworks-to-advance-its-platform-and-nitrogen-fixation-microbial-product.html Thu, 21 Dec 2023 09:32:46 +0530 OneOne expects to use those strains to move to field trials and minimize its time-to-market OneOne Biosciences, a French startup building a comprehensive suite of agricultural microbial solutions for farmers, and Ginkgo Bioworks, which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced a new partnership. This collaboration will leverage Ginkgo's robust ag biologicals infrastructure, biotechnological expertise, and Strain Optimization Services to accelerate OneOne's research and product development in agricultural microbial solutions. OneOne believes that existing crop fertilization and protection products need a major upgrade — conventional agrochemicals are responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation, and large-scale pollution. Farmers also face high price volatility and supply chain issues. OneOne's mission is to equip growers with bio-based agricultural inputs characterized by both exceptional effectiveness and longevity. Central to this mission is OneOne's development of a novel, universal solution for production and delivery of ag microbials through the OneOne Multiplier™, a user-friendly "espresso machine-type" device that amplifies microbes at the point of use. Users can insert OneOne Livepods™ into the Multiplier to aseptically prepare microbials, which can then be applied directly to crops. Livepods are designed to come loaded with microbes that are tailored for specific-use cases — e.g. nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, crop protection, drought resistance, carbon sequestration, and more. This fresh approach, combined with other species-independent innovative components, aims to be forward compatible with future data-based product personalization, parametrized by individual crop and soil characteristics. OneOne's initial focus is on developing a Livepod for nitrogen fixation, a roughly $100 billion market. OneOne will work with Ginkgo for in vitro and in planta assays to test OneOne's concept. In a second phase, Ginkgo plans to use its Strain Optimization Services and ultra high throughput encapsulated screening to provide optimized strains for nitrogen fixation. The strains may then progress to field trials and regulatory preparations before commercialization. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1632/bayer-ag-and-gflas-partner-to-develop-enhanced-tomatoes.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1632/bayer-ag-and-gflas-partner-to-develop-enhanced-tomatoes.html Mon, 18 Dec 2023 10:58:31 +0530 Partnership will use Crispr gene editing application to enhance Vitamin D3 in tomatoes G+Flas Life Sciences and Bayer AG have signed a letter of intent (LOI)  to collaborate on the development of novel Crispr genome-edited tomato varieties that are nutritionally enhanced with vitamin D3.   Bayer AG is a leading player in the global vegetable seeds business, selling tomato varieties under the De Ruiter and Seminis brands. G+Flas Life Sciences is a Korean biotech company that specialises in developing Crispr genome editing technology and applications.   “This LOI underscores the shared interest of G+FLAS and Bayer AG in developing tomato seeds that not only meet high commercial standards but also incorporate cutting-edge genetic traits through G+Flas’s Crispr genome editing technology,” said Anne Williams, head of protected culture at Bayer’s vegetable seeds business.  “Using the precision of gene editing to unlock enhanced nutrition supports healthy eating for families around the world and continues the rich legacy of innovation in plant breeding so firmly rooted here”.  “Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread issue globally,” added Sunghwa Choe, chief executive of G+Flas. “Seeds that are developed through this prospective collaboration are envisaged to address global challenges, offering health benefits and resilience to changing climates.”  Choe also said the prospective collaboration would extend to future research and development of commercial varieties of the enhanced tomato seeds for broad distribution.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1602/agrivalle-and-ginkgo-bioworks-enter-multiyear-partnership-to-accelerate-next-gen-ag-biological-products.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1602/agrivalle-and-ginkgo-bioworks-enter-multiyear-partnership-to-accelerate-next-gen-ag-biological-products.html Wed, 13 Dec 2023 09:17:00 +0530 Ginkgo is bringing its suite of advanced biology tools to the partnership with Agrivalle Agrivalle, a leading Brazilian agricultural biologicals company, has announced a new partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity. Together, the companies will collaborate on building cutting edge technologies to advance Agrivalle's biological products, including next-gen fertilizers and biocontrol agents. Ginkgo is bringing its suite of advanced biology tools to the partnership with Agrivalle. Ginkgo will leverage its Strain Optimization Services to improve the efficacy of Agrivalle's biocontrol products. In planned future projects, Ginkgo intends to work with Agrivalle to discover and optimize plant-compatible microbes that can provide crop nutrition, and to engineer organisms that can make compounds to specifically target certain pests. This, in turn, could help Agrivalle enhance the breadth and efficacy of their novel biological products and enable them to sell and license products to major players in agriculture across the globe. Growers continue to have an increased need for effective and sustainable alternatives to pest control products. Brazil has been home to massive growth in biologicals, thanks in part to regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation in the development of biologicals for sustainable agriculture. The Brazilian government has also made it easier for startups to finance manufacturing plants and to register biological products. This has led the country to become the largest biologicals market for agriculture, growing over 30% a year. "We are so excited to partner with Agrivalle on getting groundbreaking biological products into the hands of growers," said Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks. "Agrivalle is a vanguard of innovation in Brazil with proven R&D, manufacturing, and sales prowess, and we're thrilled to help them optimize and advance their products as they seek to expand globally." "Choosing Ginkgo as a strategic partner will enable Agrivalle products to be at the forefront of agricultural excellence," said André Kraide, CEO of Agrivalle. "Having access to Ginkgo's demonstrated technical capabilities and expertise in biologicals R&D will help us take our products to the next level and support growers who seek superior bio-based technology." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1528/australias-wa-agricultural-research-collaborates-wit-lupin-to-convert-rd-into-farming-resilience-profitability-and-sustainability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1528/australias-wa-agricultural-research-collaborates-wit-lupin-to-convert-rd-into-farming-resilience-profitability-and-sustainability.html Wed, 08 Nov 2023 10:57:55 +0530 The five-year Lupin Disease Resistance and four-year Harvestable Annual Legume Options (HALO) projects are the first to be announced under the Collaboration’s Grains Transformation program. Grains Transformation is one of six key program themes developed by the Collaboration, which also include Northern Australia's Agriculture, Climate Resilience, Agricultural Technologies, Aboriginal Participation, and Capacity Building and Extension. Lupin Disease Resistance is focused on boosting lupin resistance to its four major diseases, while the HALO project is exploring harvestable annual legumes cultivars that can be used in rotation to reduce synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. Both grains projects are a co-investment between the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Collaboration, including its seven partners Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), CSIRO, Grower Group Alliance and WA universities: Curtin, Edith Cowan, Murdoch and The University of Western Australia. WA Agricultural Research Collaboration Director Kelly Pearce said the new grains projects brought together funding partners and multidisciplinary collaborators for the advancement of agricultural R&D in our State. “It is wonderful to see these grains projects get off the ground and to mark another Collaboration milestone since our first Northern Agriculture project was announced in May – the Cropping Enabled Cattle initiative,” Dr Pearce said. “The Collaboration is committed to delivering impactful and enduring research outcomes that align with Western Australia’s agricultural priorities – these latest projects have exciting potential benefits for industry.” The Lupin Disease Resistance project brings together the crop genetics and plant pathology expertise of DPIRD, Curtin and Murdoch Universities with the plant breeding experience of Australian Grain Technologies. DPIRD Genetic Improvement Portfolio Manager Darshan Sharma said the project would help deliver future narrow-leafed lupin varieties with improved resistance to its major diseases: phomopsis, cucumber mosaic virus, anthracnose and sclerotinia. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1421/biotechnology-companies-collaborate-in-pursuit-of-large-scale-microalgae-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1421/biotechnology-companies-collaborate-in-pursuit-of-large-scale-microalgae-production.html Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:36:15 +0530 Ahead of the development of a large-scale microalgae industrial centre, two biotechnology companies have entered into formal discussions to lay the groundwork for the project, through which they aim to culture algae for use as a biocontrol for agriculture. The two biotechnology companies, Iceland-based Algalif, which specialises in the production of astaxanthin - an important component of many salmon feeds - and France based biocontrol start-up ImmunRise Biocontrol, have entered formal discussions to establish the foundations of a long-term strategic partnership, through which they aim to develop a large-scale microalgae industrial centre to manufacture biocontrol products intended for applications across diverse sectors within the agriculture industry. Biological control refers to the use of living biological agents such as insects, fungi, bacteria, or as in this case, algae to control the populations of agricultural pests. With strategic discussions beginning earlier this month following a successful funding call for a separate project shared by Algalif and ImmunRise, both companies aim to extend their innovative development by complementing their current strengths. Through the strategic partnership, Algalif and ImmunRise aim to establish a strong base for the development of new natural biocontrol products dedicated for plant protection in the agriculture market. The global biocontrol market turnover was valued at $6.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $13.7 billion by 2027. The use of algae and algae-based products as biocontrol agents or biopesticides may represent a significant step towards improving the sustainability of the agriculture industry, as the culturing of microalgae can be achieved with few negative environmental impacts, and can often be ecologically beneficial. Additionally, the number and astounding diversity of algae species found globally could represent a largely untapped source of products and secondary metabolites which could have a range of biocontrol applications. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1408/angel-groups-first-industrialized-strain-of-probiotics-to-revolutionalise-bio-agriculture.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1408/angel-groups-first-industrialized-strain-of-probiotics-to-revolutionalise-bio-agriculture.html Fri, 22 Sep 2023 06:15:03 +0530 China's Angel Group, a leading biotechnology firm, driving progress and innovation in sectors like bio-agriculture and bio-healthcare. Recently, Angel successfully achieved large-scale production of the Dangxiong LB VIII probiotics strain, a significant breakthrough that marks a milestone in Angel's strategic transformation from yeast towards biotechnology. The DB-8 hails from Dangxiong, which is at an altitude of 4,500 meters where there are towering snow mountains and vast grasslands. This edible probiotic strain belongs to Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Lactis, and at its core Angel has brought its first self-developed yogurt starter culture Yo-Fru1. Angel's R&D team regularly visited Tibet and collected over 100 precious samples of plateau probiotics from more than 20 counties and townships across five cities and one district, and continually expands its Qinghai Tibet Plateau Probiotic Bank, which is the main driving force for tackling the bottleneck of plateau probiotics development. Collecting the probiotic strains is only the first step – strain isolation, identification, security evaluation, and selecting the best is a complex task.  Accordingly, Angel has expanded the R&D team and acquired advanced equipment to find the best probiotics strain and develop Yo-Fru1. DB-8 has the advantages of acid production and natural fruit aroma in its metabolites, which makes it perfect for Angel to develop differentiated yogurt products. In the process of industrializing the DB-8 in product application, Angel repeatedly experimented to elevate the taste, flavor, texture, formula cleaning and more, sought professional advice, and acquired accurate guidance in terms of raw material ratio, process optimization, and online trial production. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1392/south-koreas-researchers-explore-genetic-traits-for-haploid-induction-in-rice.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1392/south-koreas-researchers-explore-genetic-traits-for-haploid-induction-in-rice.html Fri, 15 Sep 2023 07:32:13 +0530 Pusan National University Scientists Explore OsMATL2 Gene as a Candidate for Haploid Induction in Rice Conventional crop breeding is not time-efficient for creating inbred lines with desired genetic traits owing to the diploid nature of plants, wherein they have two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. In contrast, double haploid technology utilizes gene-edited haploid inducer plants to create double haploid crops that have two sets of chromosomes from a single parent. This revolutionary agricultural method can create inbred crop lines in a single generation thereby accelerating the breeding process. Using a combination of GUS reporter genes, green fluorescent protein-tagged antibodies, and reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the team observed that OsMATL2 protein, a phospholipase enzyme, is highly expressed in pollen, primarily in the plasma membrane of cells of the japonica rice plant. Researchers from Korea led by Dr. Yu-Jin Kim from Pusan National University identified OsMATL2, a potential haploid-inducing gene in Japonica rice (Oryza sativa japonica). Studies have unveiled the potential of specific genes in triggering haploid induction, a key step in double haploid technology. In particular, the gene ZmMATL was identified as a pollen-specific phospholipase in maize that plays a role in haploid induction within the plant's reproductive processes. Building on this discovery, researchers demonstrated the conservation of pollen-specific phospholipase A-mediated in vivo haploid induction across various monocot species including indica rice by mutating the OsMATL gene. However, the haploid induction rate (HIR) was found to be only 6% at best, which is far below the industry standard, suggesting a need to increase this rate. This study showed the existence of a new haploid-inducing gene in rice. While OsMATL and OsMATL2 genes have an individual HIR of ~6%, with their functional redundancy, it may be possible to mutate both genes to obtain a higher HIR. The applications of this research can revolutionize rice cultivation. "Rapid crop breeding is required to combat climate change, abiotic stress, and threats from viruses. Identification of more haploid-inducing genes and understanding their mechanisms during double fertilization in plants can reduce the time and effort needed for effective crop breeding," concludes Dr. Kim ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1367/certis-belchim-introduces-eradicoat-t-cutting-edge-technology-to-combat-maize-from-fall-army-worm.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1367/certis-belchim-introduces-eradicoat-t-cutting-edge-technology-to-combat-maize-from-fall-army-worm.html Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:06:15 +0530 Certis Belchim has introduced Eradicoat T to evaluate FAW in several African and Asian countries. Based on the natural substance maltodextrin, a starch derived from maize, Eradicoat T uses maize to protect maize. It is formulated with natural, plant-derived oils and water in a water-soluble concentrate formulation. With a broad spectrum of activity, it is effective against a range of pests including Army Worms, Spider mites, Whiteflies, Thrips, Aphids and Mealy bugs on various crops (maize, cotton, cocoa, vegetables and fruits). The development of resistance is already proving to be a major issue in FAW control and poses a serious threat to maize production and food security. Eradicoat T offers an invaluable solution in terms of resistance management: its 100% physical mode of action (MoA) completely removes the risk of target pests developing resistance. The natural and non-GMO ingredients used to formulate Eradicoat T ensure that the product has several other intrinsic advantages: no residues in the plant, no phytotoxicity, no pre-harvest interval and, with no toxic effect, is safe for end users and consumers. As a physical-acting insecticide, it coats and dries on the target pest, thus blocking the spiracles and leading to quick knock-down and death by suffocation. Using a second MoA it also immobilises its targets, causing death from starvation and exhaustion. With this double MoA, while being “soft” on plants and gentle to auxiliary fauna, Eradicoat T is the ideal ‘high-tech’ solution to be used alone or integrated as a partner with other biological and chemical controls in Integrated Pest Management programs. Eradicoat T is proving to have great efficacy against FAW as a safe and environmentally friendly biorational product. It is a valuable tool in resistance management for growers offering proven efficacy on a broad spectrum of crops and competing effectively with conventional chemicals. With minimum impact on beneficials, gentle effect on natural processes and no residues, it has zero days harvest interval and zero days re-entry period, giving the product very strong advantages. Quick knock down, quick kill and no risk of resistance development complete Eradicoat T’s credentials as the perfect partner for use alone or in an IPM program. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1348/australian-researchers-uncover-sclerotinia-stem-rot-facts-to-improve-resistance-in-canola.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1348/australian-researchers-uncover-sclerotinia-stem-rot-facts-to-improve-resistance-in-canola.html Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:06:03 +0530 The discovery could arm breeders with information on how to develop canola varieties with improved resistance against the disease. Australian researchers have discovered three genes associated with resistance to sclerotinia stem rot, marking a major step towards developing improved disease-resistant canola varieties for growers. The genes have links to sclerotinia stem rot susceptibility and resistance. Sclerotinia stem rot is a fungal disease which can significantly reduce the productivity of a grower’s canola crop. The discovery could arm breeders with information on how to develop canola varieties with improved resistance against the disease. Researchers from the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM), in collaboration with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and Agriculture and Agrifood Canada (AAFC) identified the genes. CCDM researcher and lead author Dr Toby Newman says the finding represents a major step in the development of tools that canola breeders can use to produce varieties with much improved resistance to sclerotinia stem rot. Dr Newman says their research used the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, which is in the same family of plants (Brassicaceae) as canola (Brassica napus). "It’s tricky to breed resistance to sclerotinia stem rot in canola because a broad range of genes contribute to susceptibility and resistance. We found two genes that make Arabidopsis more susceptible to the disease and one gene which increases resistance to it. Identifying these genes means we can infer that the corresponding genes in canola, are likely to react similarly, working to make the plant more susceptible or resistant, but this resistance is yet to be proven in this crop. Breeders can soon use this information to improve genomic selection accuracy to select for more resistant lines in their breeding program.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1320/greenvenus-gene-edited-grapes-offer-premium-quality-sustainable-winemaking.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1320/greenvenus-gene-edited-grapes-offer-premium-quality-sustainable-winemaking.html Tue, 22 Aug 2023 11:02:51 +0530 New wine grape cultivars possess natural preservation properties, diminishing or negating the need for sulfites as preservatives during winemaking. GreenVenus, LLC, an agricultural biotech company focused on developing solutions for agriculture with new breeding innovations, announces advances aimed at revolutionizing the production of high-quality wines without using sulfites. Oxidation, or browning, during grape juice processing can affect the color, phenolic content, and overall quality of wines. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is commonly used to prevent undesired oxidation, but it is linked to adverse health effects for individuals who are sensitive or allergic to sulfites. As a result, there is a growing demand for sustainable alternatives to address oxidation without compromising wine quality and safety. GreenVenus announces new wine grape cultivars that possess natural preservation properties, diminishing or negating the need for sulfites as preservatives during winemaking. These novel varieties exhibit intrinsic antioxidant capabilities that will safeguard wine from oxidation and protect its authentic color and flavors. Dr. Shiv Tiwari, CEO of GreenVenus. "Our technologies hold tremendous promise to enhance the resistance of wine grapes to destructive diseases, reduce the reliance on chemical interventions and promote environmentally friendly vinification practices. We are making significant progress in developing new grape varieties that require fewer chemical inputs while ensuring the production of premium-quality wines". The achievement resulted from a collaboration between GreenVenus and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Plant Transformation Facility in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis, who developed a breakthrough platform that allows for the regeneration of gene-edited plants from single cells of multiple grape varieties. The new varieties will be made available to growers and winemakers through licensing agreements. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1247/bionema-stimulates-organic-growth-with-a-new-range-of-biostimulants.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1247/bionema-stimulates-organic-growth-with-a-new-range-of-biostimulants.html Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:37:14 +0530 Launching seven products, including seaweed extracts, humic and fulvic substances, and other natural nutrients Bionema Group Ltd, a leading biocontrol technology developer and manufacturer, has announced the launch of a new range of biostimulant products in the UK for use in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and turf and amenities. These biostimulants use advanced micronutrient technology to promote healthy plant growth. Bionema Group Ltd is launching seven products, including seaweed extracts, humic and fulvic substances, and other natural nutrients that cover all stages of plant growth, with foliar and root applications in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and turf and amenities. These products stimulate natural processes in plants and soil, increasing the uptake and assimilation of nutrients, increasing the surface area of roots and the quality of the soil. Field trials have shown that plants with biostimulants have better resistance against abiotic stress (e.g., heat, drought, salt), while the root reaches more nutrients and can collect more water. In fact, the Bionema team conducted a range of glasshouse and field trials in the UK, EU, India, Canada and LATAM countries, and the findings show that these products may allow farmers to cut their fertiliser use by 50%, while keeping 93% of the yields. In Bionema’s glasshouse trials, root growth was 35% better when using the suggested mix of 50% fertilizer and Bionema’s biostimulants, compared to just using the normal 100% fertilizer mix. The plant biomass (excluding roots) was 93% of that grown with just a common fertilizer mix. The core Bionema biostimulant products are being marketed under the following brand names in the UK market. O-Stimula™:Calcium peroxide complex enables sustained release of oxygen and a continuous supply of calcium for strengthened plant cell walls, optimised soil pH, reduced spread of anaerobic pathogens. Grostimula™ATCA: Acetyl thiazolidine carboxylic acid (ACTA) formulation triggers plants to synthesise their own amino acids and hormones for better plant functioning and growth. Grostimula™EW:Triacontanol acts as a biological PGPR that widens and lengthens opening of stomata for better photosynthesis and respiration, increased crop yield. Plantgro™: Patented combination of biofertilisers and nutrients to help improve yields. RootVita™SP:Combination of biofertilisers, beneficial microbes, nutrients, prebiotics and vitamins for soil health improvement and healthy plant growth. Groprim™: Derived from Sargassum seaweed which is endowed with biostimulant properties that promote plant growth, rooting and tillering, enhances nutrient uptake and plant health, and increases crop productivity. Floretocare™:Bioactive humic and fulvic substances derived from vermicompost provides bioenergy for fetter flower retention, attracts pollinators, promotes healthy flowers and fruit formation. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1244/vestaron-develops-innovative-biopesticide-for-wide-range-of-pests.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1244/vestaron-develops-innovative-biopesticide-for-wide-range-of-pests.html Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:05:40 +0530 Basin® Flex is designed to be effective and sustainable alternatives to conventional pest control methods. Vestaron Corporation, a leading agricultural biotechnology company has developed a biopesticide, Basin® Flex, under the mission to provide innovative, effective and sustainable crop protection solutions to advance agriculture worldwide. Basin Flex is designed to be effective and sustainable alternatives to conventional pest control methods. The breakthrough biopesticide that harnesses the power of Vestaron’s proprietary R&D platform to control a wide range of crop-damaging pests while minimizing environmental impact. Derived from a naturally occurring peptide, Basin Flex provides growers with a powerful new tool that delivers targeted and effective pest control while re-powering their approach to resistance management. With its unique mode of action, Basin Flex targets specific pests, including lepidopteran larvae – such as Tuta absoluta and Spodoptera – that can cause substantial damage to various crops. By harnessing the power of natural peptides, Basin Flex reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals, benefitting the environment, workers, and biodiversity in the ecosystem, while promoting long-term agricultural sustainability. Vestaron has submitted for registration in Europe through the Dutch Board for the Authorization of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb). Vestaron's first peptide-based bioinsecticide Spear®Lep was successfully approved in Europe in 2022. Basin Flex has undergone successful field trials and regulatory evaluations in multiple countries which have demonstrated the product as a vital component in an integrated pest management strategy. Basin Flex strives to meet all regulatory requirements and standards for registration in Europe, a key market for sustainable agricultural solutions. Upon approval, Vestaron will be expanding product portfolio of environmentally friendly solutions to farmers. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1234/australia-commits-au2-8m-to-strengthen-biosecurity-in-north-to-combat-plant-pest-and-diseases.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1234/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/27/1203/origin-agritech-secures-rmb-2-m-grant-for-building-germplasm-bank-in-xinjiang.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1203/origin-agritech-secures-rmb-2-m-grant-for-building-germplasm-bank-in-xinjiang.html Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:30:00 +0530 Secures $280,000 in grant by government Origin Agritech Ltd., an agriculture technology company, has been awarded a grant of RMB 2 million (approximately $280,000) from the Xinjiang government. The grant aims to support Origin's efforts to build a local Germplasm Bank in Xinjiang and the Company's contract growing of Nutritionally Enhanced Corn (NEC) in the region. Acclaiming government's support and endorsement of the Company's efforts, Dr. Gengchen Han, Chairman of Origin Agritech said that the "grant not only provides valuable resources for our work, but also serves as a significant validation of our efforts to modernize agriculture in China and contribute to regional food security". The Company believes that the grant signifies the government's commitment to modernizing the agriculture sector and signals the potential for future support for initiatives aimed at improving the agricultural landscape in China. Origin Agritech Limited, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Zhong-Guan-Cun (ZGC) Life Science Park in Beijing, is a leading Chinese agricultural technology company. In crop seed biotechnologies, Origin Agritech's phytase corn was the first transgenic corn to receive the Bio-Safety Certificate from China's Ministry of Agriculture. Over the years, Origin has established a robust biotechnology seed pipeline including products with glyphosate tolerance and pest resistance (Bt) traits. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1191/karrikin-liquid-supplement-to-promote-soil-health-seed-germination-plant-growth.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1191/karrikin-liquid-supplement-to-promote-soil-health-seed-germination-plant-growth.html Tue, 18 Jul 2023 08:03:00 +0530 New Karrikaid™ soil enhancer taps into smoke's natural power to boost plant development and soil productivity. VGrid Energy Systems, a California-based clean energy producer, announces the launch of Karrikaid™, a new liquid plant and soil enhancer containing Karrikin molecules, recently found to play a significant role in promoting plant and soil productivity. Over millions of years, plants have evolved to respond quickly after wildfires. A growing body of evidence suggests that Karrikin molecules, derived from plant smoke and first discovered in the early 2000s, are important signaling compounds that stimulate plants to regenerate quickly and vigorously in post-fire conditions. Karrikaid™ liquid helps mimic these conditions when applied to plants and soils. Karrikaid™ also includes a synergistic blend of organic acids and compounds, providing several additional benefits. First, Karrikaid™ is a significant source of acetic acid, which helps improve the bioavailability of key plant nutrients such as iron, zinc, and manganese. Additionally, beneficial microbes metabolize the organic acids in Karrikaid™, enhancing the natural biology of the soil. Finally, Karrikaid™ includes phenolic compounds that aid in plants’ responses to biotic and abiotic stress, including excessive heat, drought, ultraviolet exposure, insects, pathogens, and heavy metals. “At VGrid, we look to mother nature for solutions. Whether it’s creating clean energy from agricultural waste, sequestering carbon with biochar, or enhancing soil health with our organic bio-liquids, VGrid is on the cutting edge of environmental innovation,” said Jeff Norton, VP of Business Development. Norton adds, “The number of researchers looking at the benefits of smoke on plants is exploding. Study after study, and trial after trial, are showing outstanding results, specifically in supercharging seed germination, flowering, and early plant development. We want to be first-to-market in bringing these benefits to our customers with a natural, effective, and environmentally friendly product.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1184/syngenta-creates-syngenta-biologicals-to-integrate-its-biologicals-businesses.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1184/syngenta-creates-syngenta-biologicals-to-integrate-its-biologicals-businesses.html Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:36:48 +0530 Syngenta Biologicals is backed by best-in-class R&D pipeline and commercial capabilities, six production sites globally and more than 1,100 employees Syngenta has launched Syngenta Biologicals, combining Valagro - one of the world's leading manufacturers of biostimulants and specialty nutrients - with its in-house biological business, setting the stage for rapid biological market growth. Syngenta Biologicals brings together Syngenta’s global reach and innovation strengths with Valagro’s proprietary technology platform and team of trusted technical and commercial advisors. Since the acquisition, both companies have worked closely to build a joint foundation in science-based innovation, extensively sharing knowledge and leveraging capabilities crucial for a world-leading biologicals business. “Establishing the Syngenta Biologicals brand marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of our business, giving us a single identity and formalizing our one-team approach in the market. Syngenta Biologicals stands for industry-leading technologies, unparalleled research expertise, and global commercial capabilities, energized by the entrepreneurial spirit and culture Valagro has always been reputed for,” said Corey Huck, Global Head of Syngenta Biologicals. “This move reinforces our strategy of providing farmers with more complementary product and technology choices, and underpins our determination to be the collaborator of choice, and to make agriculture more sustainable,” he added. Backed by its best-in-class R&D pipeline and commercial capabilities, six production sites globally and more than 1,100 employees, Syngenta Biologicals is well-positioned to leverage its deep understanding of farmers’ needs to deliver exciting innovations in this field. Syngenta Biological’s expanding portfolio already includes TAEGRO®, a biofungicide against a wide range of major soilborne and foliar diseases; MEGAFOL®, a biostimulant that helps crops manage stress, and VIXERAN®, a foliar-applied biofertilizer. In addition to accelerating its biologicals research, Syngenta Biologicals is also actively forging collaborations aimed at rapidly expanding its offers of biologicals with wide range of applications including foliar, seed treatments, combinations with fertilizers as well as non-agricultural uses. Syngenta Crop Protection is a leader in agricultural innovation, bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions that enable farmers to grow productively and sustainably. In more than 90 countries around the world, it offers a leading portfolio of crop protection solutions for plant and soil health, as well as digital solutions that transform farmers' decision-making capabilities. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1180/crdcs-plan-to-deliver-1b-in-value-to-australian-cotton.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1180/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/27/1178/malaysia-bioeconomy-corporation-appoints-ybrs-dr-lee-boon-chye-as-new-chairman.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1178/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/27/1176/new-homogeneous-granular-fertilizer-blue-improves-crop-performance-profitability-and-sustainability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1176/new-homogeneous-granular-fertilizer-blue-improves-crop-performance-profitability-and-sustainability.html Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:14:04 +0530 Brought to you by Timac Agro USA and Rainbow Plant Food, BLUE is an ammoniated, homogeneous granular fertilizer formulated with award-winning, patented ingredients proved to improve fertilizer efficiency. Timac Agro USA, a global innovator in crop nutrition and Rainbow Plant Food, a legacy brand, have collaborated to bring a new generation of fertilizer efficiency tools to the agricultural market. "BLUE is a new fertilizer efficiency tool harnessing the innovation and technology of Timac Agro USA and elevating the high-quality precision nutrients and micronutrients offered by Rainbow Plant Food so that ultimately growers can realize higher profitability and higher performance with a layer of protection to help be more environmentally sensitive," explains Michael Pisciotta, Timac Agro USA Director of Agronomy, Southern US. Michael Pisciotta, Timac Agro USA Director of Agronomy, Southern US BLUE fertilizer products are comprised of superior homogeneous granular technology and a mixture of natural substances that benefit agronomic production. They work to maximize peak performance from the soil to the plant. They can be used as a singular source for all necessary nutrients, or as part of a blend to reap the benefits of enhanced fertilizer efficiency across every acre. "Timac Agro's studies have proven that the presence of BLUE in fertilizer can reduce nitrate leaching, as well as reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff," affirmed Pisciotta. "This collaboration clearly defines how new technology can serve our growers in addressing legacy and next generation challenges." BLUE grade products will empower growers in a variety of field situations such as pre-plant, bedded fertilizer, and top-dress. In varying soil dynamics, a grower using BLUE can capitalize on the natural functional substances and maximize nutrients in a way that they weren't able to with commodity fertilizers. Sustainability is woven into Timac Agro USA's innovation and service to their growers. In addition to enhancing crop performance, BLUE carries significant benefits that help to preserve the natural environment. "BLUE is a tool for service to not only growers but to the environment. Farmers have to be environmentalists at their heart because ultimately if we don't preserve the soil and the land we're not going to be able to farm the next generation," concludes Pisciotta. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1152/scientist-modify-algae-to-make-rare-antioxidants-in-extreme-environments.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1152/scientist-modify-algae-to-make-rare-antioxidants-in-extreme-environments.html Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:35:55 +0530 AzCATI and KAUST collaborative research develop genetically engineered algae to produce orange-red pigments that make sea food healthier Researcher’s at Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have collaborated with the US based Arizona Center for Algae Technology & Innovation (AzCATI) at Arizona State University (ASU) are genetically engineering algal species to produce therapeutic antioxidant pigments unavailable naturally in nature. An Collaboration between AzCATI and KAUST aims to develop an orange-red antioxidant pigment from fully sequenced algae Cyanidioschyzon merolae incorporated with a gene encoding the pigment. These antioxidants are chemicals called carotenoids, which are yellow-orange-red pigments responsible for the colour of tomatoes and carrots, as well as the pink color of salmon and flamingos through diet.  The genetic modification causes the blue-green coloured alga to produce orange-red antioxidants like canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant and has numerous health benefits and has the potential to make seafood healthier.  Introducing astaxanthin to the diets of animals such as farmed shrimp can improve their health and enhance their red colour. The carotenoid pigments can also be used as natural dyes for textiles and have wide nutraceutical and biopharmaceutical applications. The alga also contains a light-capturing blue pigment called phycocyanin which is used as a blue food colouring in confectionery and drinks. The scientists found production of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin did not reduce phycocyanin in the alga, meaning both blue and orange-red pigments can be produced together at once.  Dr. Kyle J. Lauersen, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at KAUST and senior author of the study, says: “For the first time, genetic engineering has been used to change natural carotenoid pigments in a red alga. Genetic engineering of algae can help produce important natural chemicals like carotenoids sustainably. Algae has untapped potential as a sustainable solution which could benefit both the food and health industry, and the science shows it is possible to scale.” Growing algae requires optimal levels of sunlight, trace nutrients and carbon dioxide (CO2). The engineered algae in the study demonstrated tolerance to high levels of CO2 and high temperatures, which is relevant for growing in specific environments, for example, hot urban areas during summer months in Saudi Arabian or American deserts. As Cyanidioschyzon merolae is natively found in extreme environments with high temperatures, it is a promising candidate for local production in these areas. Dr. Peter J. Lammers, Research Professor at the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at ASU and co-corresponding author of the study, adds: “These acid-loving red algae have great potential for safe and innovative industrial applications. Their ability to grow in acidified waste afford options for circular economics and renewable materials that could sustain future generations. Together with KAUST, our long-term goal is to eliminate waste and use bioengineering to benefit humans and nature simultaneously. This study is the first of many that will harness biochemical pathways to generate renewable options for chemicals used every day.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1144/worlds-largest-on-farm-biodigesters-opened-in-indiana-the-u-s.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1144/worlds-largest-on-farm-biodigesters-opened-in-indiana-the-u-s.html Fri, 07 Jul 2023 07:51:00 +0530 On-farm Renewable Natural Gas facility expands with novel DVO biodigester technology that can effectively turns livestock waste into renewable fuel and electricity. One of the world's largest on-farm biodigesters was recently unveiled in Reynolds, Indiana. DVO technology powers the core of the facility. The site in is operated by BioTown BioGas LLC. DVO digesters process more agricultural waste than any other biogas company globally. It has installed more than 170 digesters on livestock and poultry facilities in the U.S. to process animal waste and convert it to valuable products. Its Two-Stage Linear Vortex™ digester is a patented, engineered system designed to handle manure and other organic wastes. The process produces biogas, which is then converted to renewable energy, including electricity and natural gas. The BioTown BioGas facility in Reynolds, Ind. uses DVO technology to process mixed organic waste and generate renewable natural gas, renewable electricity and fertilizer. "BioTown BioGas keep turning to DVO as their waste stream grows. Our digesters handle multiple waste streams, we can scale to meet large volumes, and we can generate multiple forms of renewable power" said Steve Dvorak, president and founder of DVO.  Following the initial Two-Stage Linear Vortex™ digester installation in 2011, the site was expanded in 2013 and again in 2022 with DVO technology to produce renewable natural gas. It previously only generated electricity. The facility now utilizes seven DVO Two-Stage Linear Vortex™ anaerobic digesters to generate renewable natural gas and renewable electric power. It creates biogas from food waste, dairy manure, beef manure, swine and poultry waste, as well as other agricultural waste. According to BioTown BioGas calculations, the facility is expected to generate more than 42-million kilowatt-hours of renewable power per year, along with more than 3-million gallons of renewable fuel. Their digester system provides a level of carbon mitigation equivalent to removing 160,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually. Chad Hoerr, General Manager of BioTown BioGas believes that DVO digesters design delivers more biogas than other options in the market. DVO was responsible for system layout, digester design, and heating and mixing controls. In addition to generating biogas, the system separates and captures ammonia for fertilizer production. It also relies on DVO technology for total processing of solid inputs and heat recovery. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1126/sophies-bionutrients-develops-chlorella-ice-cream-with-enhanced-iron-b12-than-cows-milk.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1126/sophies-bionutrients-develops-chlorella-ice-cream-with-enhanced-iron-b12-than-cows-milk.html Mon, 03 Jul 2023 08:26:00 +0530 Collaborates with the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to make chlorella-based, vegan-friendly ice cream Singapore based, Netherlands B2B food tech company Sophie's BioNutrients has collaborated with the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to produce its first chlorella-based ice cream. Sophie's specializes in microalgae innovations – its previous breakthroughs include the world's first algae-based milk and cheddar cheese.  Made with Sophie's dairy-free Chlorella Protein Concentrate, the new vegan ice cream boasts a complete nutritional panel, with more B12 and iron than most dairy and plant-based alternatives. Sophie's Chlorella Protein is a neutral-hued microalgae flour naturally cultivated from Chlorella vulgaris. The company states the Chlorella vulgaris strains it uses are US GRAS and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approved as food ingredients. To create the ice cream, the team at Sophie's worked with DTI's technical experts to perform an initial screening of the ingredient's potential, before combining it with functional ingredients that mimicked ice cream's natural texture. The finished product can be used to make several popular ice cream flavors. According to Sophie's, a 1 oz serving of chlorella ice cream has the potential to provide double the recommended daily intake of Vitamin B12. Chlorella is also a good source of iron – a nutrient absent in cow's milk. Furthermore, chlorella is sustainably grown and harvested within three days in a protected environment, carrying a much lower carbon footprint than dairy farming. "Microalgae is one of the most nutrient-rich and versatile resources on the planet,"  said Eugene Wang, Co-Founder and CEO of Sophie's BioNutrients. "Today we have shown another facet of the unlimited possibilities this superfood can offer – a dairy and lactose-free alternative to ice cream that, thanks to microalgae, offers a higher nutrition content than most available dairy-free alternatives. We are incredibly excited for this development in allergen-free foods and the prospect of more inclusive dining." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1127/angel-yeast-launches-hubeis-first-synthetic-biology-synbio-industrial-park.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1127/angel-yeast-launches-hubeis-first-synthetic-biology-synbio-industrial-park.html Mon, 03 Jul 2023 08:23:00 +0530 Partners with Beijing's PhaBuilder to drive dider Synthetic Biology applications with launch of Joint Venture PHA factory in China Angel Yeast, the world's leading yeast manufacturer, along with Beijing PhaBuilder in a joint venture, Hubei PHAngel Biotechnology, recently put a large polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production line in Hubei province into construction. In early June, the two partners held a launch ceremony to mark the event and the opening of Hubei's first synthetic biology (SynBio) industrial park. Academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, government officials, Angel Yeast, PhaBuilder, and Siemens China executives were all in attendance. The PHAs factory, located in Yichang city, has a production line capacity of 30,000 tons and is the largest PHA production line built with Next Generation Industrial Biotechnology (NGIB) in the world. PHAs are a polyester produced naturally by microorganisms and its biodegradable and biocompatible properties make it highly sought-after in fields such as biomedical material and biodegradable packaging material. Already a trending field in biotechnology, the SynBio sector has been rapidly growing backboned by advanced technologies and increasing demand for SynBio applications. Zhang Xu, deputy director with Angel Yeast's Strategic and Investment department, said, "We have stepped up our efforts in synthetic biology and its applications and the opening of the PHA factory is a major milestone and a significant step forward for Angel Yeast in SynBio. It aligns with our commitment to sustainability and will fuel green and low carbon development in manufacturing." In addition to the PHA factory, Angel Yeast has rolled out a strategic plan for SynBio. It aims to build a comprehensive service platform catering to the needs of biotechnology companies when they are transforming and commercializing SynBio products. The Company will also seize downstream opportunities and actively seek cooperation partners who have complementary advantages in technology, products, channels, and branding. It will promote the application of SynBio in areas such as healthcare, biodiversity preservation, and pharmaceuticals. According to data from CB Insights, the global market size of synthetic biology is projected to reach $18.9 billion by 2024. In China, as noted by Deng Zixin, academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, SynBio technologies are rapidly progressing towards practical and industrial applications so it is vitally important that various sectors and industries collaborate to drive its development to new heights. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1110/asia-fruit-logistica-to-return-at-asiaworld-expo-in-hong-kong-on-6-8-september.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1110/asia-fruit-logistica-to-return-at-asiaworld-expo-in-hong-kong-on-6-8-september.html Wed, 28 Jun 2023 07:34:00 +0530 ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA to discover an array of products and services, including fresh produce, technology, machinery, and logistics ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA, the leading trade show for Asia’s fresh fruit and vegetable industry, returns to AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong on 6-8 September 2023. Thousands of high-quality trade visitors and top buyers from fresh produce industry supply chain will attend ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA to discover an array of products and services, including fresh produce, technology, machinery, and logistics. Exhibitors from 38 different countries and regions have already registered to showcase their products and services at the show. Big brands and key players from across the global fresh produce business all gather in ONE place – ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA. Some 22 industry associations and entities will have national or regional pavilions, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Moldova, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, USA and Vietnam. ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA brings together leading players from across the global fresh produce business and every step of the value chain. The exhibitor line-up features top names and brands in the business, including Aomori, BayWa Global Produce, T&G Global, Capespan, ClemenGold, Costa, Del Monte, Dole Asia, Goodfarmer, Jingold, Joy Wing Mau, Mission Produce, Pagoda, Pink Lady, Rockit Apple, Rijk Zwaan, Valleyfresh, WayCool Foods and Zespri among others. Exhibitor are encouraged to Book their stand at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2023 to take advantage of the latest advances and untapped market opportunities, and to secure your participation at Asia’s largest gathering of the global fresh produce industry. Organizers are offering 40% discount on online ticket booking and to skip the queues in Hong Kong. Tickets include free access to ASIAFRUIT CONGRESS and ASIAFRUIT BUSINESS FORUM, with both events held on the show floor across all three days of ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA. The visitor pass also includes access to a busy event programme bringing a wealth of information and insights. ASIAFRUIT CONGRESS, Asia’s premier event for business information and networking, homes in on the latest trends and opportunities in the fast-moving Asia market. Marketing, trade, and technology are all in focus on the three-day programme. Topics on the agenda include ‘New market demographics in Asia’, ‘Where next in food retail?’ and ‘Big changes on China’s distribution landscape’. For more info on ASIAFRUIT CONGRESS and to view the full agenda, go to: https://www.asiafruitlogistica.com/asia-fruit-congress/ ASIAFRUIT BUSINESS FORUM presents three days of workshops under different tracks. At the ‘Launchpad’ on Day One, exhibitors showcase new products, technologies, and solutions. Day Two offers ‘Partner Content’, including special Chinese-language sessions curated by Asiafruit China. On Day Three, the ‘Logistics Hub’ features expert talks and discussions on cold chain logistics, from sea freight to air cargo. More details are available at https://www.asiafruitlogistica.com/asiafruit-business-forum/ For more information on ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA, please contact the Organising Team by email: info@gp-events.com  For more information about exhibiting, please visit www.asiafruitlogistica.com/why-exhibit/ ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1101/australian-pledges-au4-95-million-in-support-to-small-agricultural-exporters.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1101/australian-pledges-au4-95-million-in-support-to-small-agricultural-exporters.html Mon, 26 Jun 2023 10:11:00 +0530 Grants designed to support small exporters in the dairy, fish, eggs, grain and plant products, horticulture, meat and animal product industries The Australian Government is investing AU$4.95 million in the new round of Package Assisting Small Exporters (PASE) grants to provide novel tools and resources to small agricultural exporters to explore export market opportunities. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said “the grants were designed to support small exporters in the dairy, fish, eggs, grain and plant products, horticulture, meat and animal product industries to overcome barriers to their participation in the export sector. Government is helping our small and medium sized producers become more competitive and access markets they could not access before”. The initiative will expand access to premium overseas markets is fundamental to driving profits back through the farmgate and supporting the agriculture industry to reach its goal of $100 billion in farmgate value by 2030. A range of sectors are already benefiting from previous grant rounds, with successful recipients including universities and industry bodies. As part of the program, six projects are now wrapping up, working on a range of leading-edge initiatives to grow Australia's small agriculture exporters' global market share. They include exploring innovative new agricultural marketing channels, including agritourism in farm income, targeted training and resources for small organics and dairy exporters, and melon supply chain monitoring. Grantees have undertaken in-depth market research to support specific commodities supply chain monitoring, and education and outreach to international trading partners. Projects concluding in 2023 include: The University of Adelaide - evaluation of two Innovative agricultural marketing channels (agriculture product gift giving and agritourism). Murdoch University - building capacity for small grain and horticulture industry exporters to exploit new grain breeding technologies. Dairy Australia Ltd. - developed training, resources and support needed by small to medium exporters (SME) and dairy manufacturers to overcome barriers to exporting in four distinct areas - knowledge, skills, risk, and support. Australian Organics Ltd. - to overcome trade barriers, the project shared trading partner knowledge, in-depth market industry research, technical expertise, and other information on ways to export organic products to target markets. Australian Melon Association Inc. - the project implemented supply chain monitoring practices in several existing melon export chains and used these as case studies to demonstrate to the broader melon industry the commercial benefits of regular monitoring. Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia Inc. - the project delivered activities that communicated the sustainability and welfare credentials of the Australian kangaroo industry in the European Union and United States, which are key markets for the industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1067/mustgrow-completes-initial-commercial-production-run-of-its-mustard-plant-based-biocontrol-liquid.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1067/mustgrow-completes-initial-commercial-production-run-of-its-mustard-plant-based-biocontrol-liquid.html Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:23:10 +0530 Production run-rate of the extract reached greater than the equivalent of 5,000 litres per day of MustGrow’s mustard plant-based biocontrol liquid technology. Canada based MustGrow Biologics Corp. has announced the successful initial commercial run-rate production of its mustard plant-based biocontrol liquid via a contract manufacturer. MustGrow believes this production milestone further validates the Company’s commercialization strategy to initially utilise a third-party contract manufacturer rather than construct its own capital-intensive pilot and/or commercial production facilities. The continuous production run-rate of the extract reached greater than the equivalent of 5,000 litres per day of MustGrow’s mustard plant-based biocontrol liquid technology, which is estimated to equal approximately US$25 million in annual grower level revenue. The production process created zero residual waste by generating a high protein byproduct ingredient for animal feed. MustGrow’s CEO, Corey Giasson noted: “This is a key transition for MustGrow, now able to complete our first commercial-level production without needing to build our own capital-intensive facility.  We are now confident that we will be capable of producing commercially scalable quantities of TerraSanteTM and TerraMGTM in preparation for initial registration approvals.  The continuous-flow design process ran without any reported upsets, and we are close to maximum theoretical recovery of our targeted mustard extracts in the concentrate. This milestone successfully demonstrates a low-risk continuous-flow process, while further mitigating commercialization risk.” Utilising a third-party contract manufacturer markedly derisks commercial capabilities in MustGrow’s soil amendment and biofertility technologies, as well as biocontrol and postharvest food preservation, which are currently under development with four global partners: Janssen PMP, Bayer, Sumitomo Corporation, and NexusBioAg. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1057/corteva-agriscience-harnesses-nature-to-unlock-plant-disease-resistance.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1057/corteva-agriscience-harnesses-nature-to-unlock-plant-disease-resistance.html Tue, 13 Jun 2023 11:49:06 +0530 Research proves natural movement of disease resistance genes and the potential benefit of precise gene editing technology to support sustainability practices and improve farmer yields.   Corteva Agriscience announced publication of research confirming the natural movement of disease resistance genes within a corn plant's genome. The research has implications for the application of new breeding techniques to reduce the devastating impact of plant diseases while improving yield potential and crop resilience. Published in a recent issue of Molecular Plant Pathology, the findings reveal that gene editing tools such as CRISPR can mimic this naturally occurring process, unlocking the ability to relocate multiple disease resistance genes, speeding plant breeding progress, and delivering enhanced high-performing products to farmers. In March, Corteva announced that the early-stage use of proprietary gene editing technology to address several North American corn diseases was advancing through the company's R&D pipeline. Using CRISPR, the company can precisely co-locate disease resistance traits that already exist within the corn genome. With this recent peer-reviewed research, Corteva demonstrates that disease resistance genes move naturally to help plants fend off attacks from pathogens - but do so very slowly. "A plant deals with a wide variety of pathogens, prompting its genes to naturally move around in the genome to resist disease and increase survivability," said Wendy Srnic, Vice President Biotechnology, Corteva Agriscience. "However, this natural gene mobility occurs too slowly to effectively address the rapid growth of disease and climate-related pressures facing farmers around the globe. Through our research, we have validated the ability to mirror the movement of genes, enabling us to apply new breeding techniques to deliver seed that can better withstand field-level challenges." In 2021, Northern leaf blight, Southern rust, gray leaf spot and anthracnose stalk rot combined to cost North America corn growers more than 318 million bushels in production. By leveraging new breeding techniques, Corteva is not only simplifying disease management options for farmers but also improving on-farm sustainability by reducing the need for additional crop protection product applications to help combat disease pressure. "By innovating with advanced breeding techniques, we aim to create transformational change," added Srnic. "With these techniques, we can harness and replicate naturally occurring processes that accelerate the development of seeds with improved resilience and yield. We are committed to giving farmers more planting choices while continuing to safeguard our natural resources for generations to come." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1039/philippines-researchers-drives-technology-to-preserve-fruit-freshness.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1039/philippines-researchers-drives-technology-to-preserve-fruit-freshness.html Thu, 08 Jun 2023 14:20:00 +0530 The novel technology Fruitect® consists of edible coating formulations that delay the ripening of mangoes and bananas University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)-based inventors founded HS InnoTech, Inc. (HSII) to manufacture products that make fresh fruit last longer. The technology named Fruitect® consists of edible coating formulations that delay the ripening of mangoes and bananas. Unlike petroleum wax coatings, Fruitect® is biodegradable because it is made from agricultural waste such as peels and leaves. Carabao mangoes stored at room temperature (28°C–31°C) turn ripe and sweet five to six days after harvesting, but when mangoes are coated with Fruitect®, the fruits ripen after 10 or more days. At cooler storage temperatures, the Fruitect®-coated fruits ripen after 20 days. On the other hand, Lakatan bananas stored at room temperature turn ripe and ready to eat six or more days after harvesting, while bananas coated with Fruitect® start to ripen after 20 days. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) awarded HSII the Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS) in 2022 to start the operation of its pilot plant located in UPLB, Los Baños, Laguna. The grant enabled the fabrication of support structures and test runs to produce Fruitect® up to 300 liters. Dr. Veronica Sabularse and Dr. Hidelisa Hernandez, inventors of Fruitect®, cite their technology as a solution to two common problems of agriculture: post-harvest life extension and agricultural waste utilization. “By preserving the freshness of fruits sold to consumers, the technology promises better earnings and improved livelihood of our local farmers,” they explained. The new pilot plant will be producing Fruitect® in liquid form, which is ready to apply to whole fresh fruits. Moreover, Fruitect® will also be available as a wettable powder for easier packaging, distribution, and longer shelf life. HSII is now exploring ways on how to cut production costs. SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio shared the impact of Fruitect®’s technology. “This nature-based coating technology significantly contributes to reducing food wastage and preserving fruit exports.” The development of Fruitect® was initially funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) to apply nanotechnology in creating new materials for commercialization. HSII reported that it is now ready to sell its Fruitect® formulation for Carabao mangoes. Groceries, fruit processors, retailers, and consumers will soon have a greener way of keeping produce fresh longer. Fruitect® for Lakatan banana will also be for sale soon ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1032/zhang-zhiqian-tidetron-founder-and-ceo.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1032/zhang-zhiqian-tidetron-founder-and-ceo.html Thu, 08 Jun 2023 10:41:00 +0530 Zhang Zhiqian, Founder and CEO, Tidetron Bioworks Technology Co., Ltd., China The industrial transformation of agricultural raw materials into processed products for commercialization necessitates the application of synthetic biology during industrial production. Molecular rewriting will be an important component of plant synthetic biology. In addition to engineering microbes to have new abilities, synthetic biology enables agronomists to harness biological power to solve farming and agriculture concerns. By harnessing microorganisms as large-scale production platforms, synthetic biology can also reduce the demand for chemical fertilizers by optimizing nitrogen and phosphorous utilization as well as improve crop nutritional value. By allowing targeted DNA modifications within living plants or single cells, CRISPR tools can enable synthetic biology to reach its full potential. In addition to enabling precision agriculture, the synthetic biology industry has significant potential in processing Agri-food components, substances, and additives; however, infrastructure and production issues remain for mass production. In order to overcome the challenges associated with synthetic biology, Tidetron Bioworks Technology Co., Ltd. has developed a system from research and development to mass production and is among the first synthetic bio-manufacturing platforms in the world to achieve mass production of various substances. As a pioneer in the Agri-Food biotechnology sector, China's Guangzhou city headquartered Tidetron Bioworks Technology has contributed substantially with its remarkable growth trajectory and innovative approaches in the synthetic biology sector. Tidetron is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the industry's evolution to improve the global food system thereby. The acclaimed Tidetron Altra platform-based strain library and component library is a significant resource for Asia's Agri-Food biotech industry. Zhang Zhiqian, Founder and CEO of Tidetron Bioworks elaborates further on the precision Agri-bio manufacturing sector for tackling complex challenges through innovation. How can the precision Agri-biomanufacturing sector address complex challenges through innovation? Innovation is not a one-time fix but a continuous process of developing and improving technologies, practices, and approaches. While addressing complex challenges is also a long-term task. In contrast to conventional production methods, synthetic biology presents a new approach to manufacturing, yielding a low-carbon food source and mitigating the environmental impact associated with traditional methods. We found out that the exciting thing is that the innovation of synthetic biology has emerged as a game-changer in biomanufacturing, which offers a robust set of tools and technologies that enable us to engineer biological systems to produce a wide range of valuable products. And what is more exciting is that it may speed up the process from the lab through the super-factory from the experience of Tidetron Bioworks- the "CELL Factories" we built have the remarkable ability to generate a diverse range of substances. These advancements have the potential to enhance our quality of life substantially. What is the significance of synthetic biology in biomanufacturing as demonstrated by Tidetron Bioworks' groundbreaking biomanufacturing platform? As demonstrated by Tidetron Bioworks, the significance of synthetic biology in biomanufacturing is its ability to revolutionize the production of various substances. Tidetron Bioworkshas pioneered synthetic biology to achieve mass production in the biomanufacturing industry. The core competency lies in our proprietary technology platform-Tidetron Altra, which enables us to synthesize numerous substances that can only be produced in trace amounts or are limited by the characteristics of the native organisms or metabolic pathways. As a result, we can scale up the production of those challenging substances to synthesize in large quantities. Our technology has demonstrated strong versatility and has been validated on dozens of substances and platforms. In addition, we have forged strategic partnerships with esteemed research institutions, academic organizations, and industry experts. This collaborative approach empowers us to tap into cutting-edge research, leverage invaluable expertise, and access critical resources, alongside the significant increase of substances and synthesis yielding the research need. With tools like CRISPR-Cas and other gene-editing techniques, Tidetron Bioworks leverages microfluidics and directional evolution, which enables us to achieve significant mass production and synthesize a wide range of target substances. And by utilizing the innovative Tidetron Altra platform-based strain library and component library, Tidetron Bioworks has overcome challenges associated with transforming and applying scientific research achievements in an industrial setting. The comprehensive approach covers the entire chain from research and development to production, ensuring efficient and effective implementation. The SUPER-Factory established by Tidetron Bioworks further demonstrates our commitment to maximizing production capacity. With annual production exceeding 10,000 tons, we are focusing on the growing demands of industries while maintaining high-quality standards and meeting environmentally friendly needs. This scalability showcases the significance of synthetic biology in biomanufacturing, enabling large-scale production of valuable substances. We strive to provide integrated solutions for various industries, align with the global shift towards eco-friendly practices, and ensure biomanufacturing processes have a lower environmental impact. Could you share more about the honor of establishing the fastest-growing Agri Food Biotech company in China? A culture of innovation and collaboration lies at the heart of Tidetron Bioworks. By harnessing the immense power of synthetic biology, we have developed groundbreaking solutions that effectively tackle the complex challenges present in several industries in China. This strategic move has allowed us to stand out in the market. Also, through fruitful collaborations with renowned beverage and seasoning companies, we have made great strides in bolstering nutrition and championing public health. The cutting-edge Tidetron Altra—an exclusive platform boasting a vast strain variant library and comprehensive component repository- has empowered us to curate a strain variant library of unparalleled magnitude with millions of possibilities. In addition, guided by iterative improvements, we've proudly secured a portfolio of unique production strains exclusively owned by Tidetron Bioworks. Moreover, Tidetron Bioworks has attracted investment and secured funding from renowned venture capital firms and strategic partners alongside our successful business operations. This financial support has given us the necessary resources to scale operations, intensify research and development efforts, and expand production capabilities. It has also allowed us to attract top-tier talent, assembling a formidable team of exceptional scientists, engineers, and industry professionals. The unwavering commitment to sustainability has been pivotal in our success story. With the increasing global demand for eco-friendly and sustainable solutions, Tidetron Bioworks' emphasis on green mass production and environmentally conscious practices has deeply resonated with customers and industry stakeholders. This intense dedication to sustainability has fueled business growth and positioned us as a responsible and socially aware organization. What are the company's strategies for maximizing production efficiency and capacity over the long term? The first strategy is focused on New Services for R&D and Mass Production Integration. By integrating production and research systems, Tidetron is leveraging the Tidetron Altra platform-based strain library to facilitate collaboration and resource sharing. It enables us to reserve valuable data and resources and offer customized solutions across various stages, from material engineering to mass production applications. Additionally, Tidetron actively supports joint patent applications with different sectors, fostering innovation and breakthroughs in the application of synthetic biotechnology through collaborative research and development efforts. The second strategy centers around Intelligent Fermentation, which enables Green Mass Production. Tidetron Bioworks has perfected materials using a customized intelligent fermentation system to ferment and mass-produce the optimal strains rapidly. After meticulous separation and purification, the company achieves high-purity, highly active, and stable quality target materials. It is worth noting that Tidetron's factory boasts an annual production capacity exceeding 10,000 tons while with a low cost of energy consumption, pollution, and carbon emissions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1031/agbiome-leverages-ginkgo-strain-optimization-services-to-optimize-agricultural-biological-pipeline.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1031/agbiome-leverages-ginkgo-strain-optimization-services-to-optimize-agricultural-biological-pipeline.html Wed, 07 Jun 2023 10:26:45 +0530 Ginkgo leverages ultra high throughput encapsulated screening capabilities AgBiome®, Inc., a leader in global microbial innovation, and Ginkgo Bioworks, which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, have collaborated to optimize the performance of products in AgBiome's pipeline of agricultural biologicals. Organizations developing next generation agricultural inputs can access Ginkgo's platform to accelerate discovery and deployment of new products. By leveraging Ginkgo's ultra high throughput encapsulated screening capabilities, AgBiome aims to provide growers with new and improved live microbial strain products. The biological crop protection market has significantly grown in recent years as growers have increasingly sought effective and sustainable alternatives to synthetic pest control products. By leveraging Ginkgo's suite of advanced biology tools, AgBiome aims to enhance the breadth and efficacy of novel biological products. AgBiome's crop protection products, discovered using its proprietary Genesis™ platform, are based on natural microbial strains that have undergone extensive testing and evaluation to ensure consistent performance. Ginkgo's ultra high throughput encapsulated screening technology makes it possible to search through up to 1 million strain variants in a single run and select the best performing candidates for further development. Built on nanoliter encapsulation technology, Ginkgo's screening capabilities provide nanoscale growth and assay compartments and make it possible to greatly reduce the screening time for large libraries. "We believe we can identify improved variants at massive scale, which can help deliver more potent agricultural biologicals and bring the next generation of products to market. Following the collaberation we seek to optimize live microbial strain products in their pipeline and provide even better solutions to growers around the world" said Magalie Guilhabert, Head of Ag Biologicals, Ginkgo Bioworks. "AgBiome is committed to creating the most effective crop protection products, and we are always looking for new technologies to enable better performance. We are excited to utilize Ginkgo's capabilities in ultra high throughput assay development to evolve the next generation of biologicals as we continue to provide growers with improved product efficacy" said Scott Uknes, Co-founder and Co-CEO of AgBiome. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1013/unlocking-food-security-challenges-in-malaysia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1013/unlocking-food-security-challenges-in-malaysia.html Tue, 06 Jun 2023 10:50:00 +0530 By Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) of Malaysia envisions biotechnology as one of the key solutions to address Malaysia's food security challenges. Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation), which drives biotechnology growth for economic development under MOSTI, supports this viewpoint. The agency upholds MOSTI's vision by providing biotechnology entities with the necessary resources and support to encourage the development of innovative solutions that can help address the challenges facing Malaysia's food security, including food supply shortages, increased production costs, and surging food prices. Although these biotechnology innovations may not provide a complete resolution of all the issues related to food security, they offer many practical solutions that can significantly mitigate these challenges. Firstly, biotechnology can lower food production costs by reducing input and raw material expenses. Local biotechnology firms produce alternative protein sources from plants and insects, such as Black Soldier Fly larvae, that are protein-rich animal feed and convert organic waste into protein. This approach reduces reliance on costly imported animal feed like maize and addresses food waste. The global insect feed market is predicted to reach RM9.7 billion by 2031, with the fly larvae segment projected to have the highest revenue and fastest CAGR of 26.5% from 2022 to 2031, as per Allied Market Research. Biotechnology will undoubtedly contribute to this substantial growth. Malaysian companies are adopting advanced technologies to increase breeding and production of main crops like rice, cucumber, and chili. For instance, molecular breeding enables farmers to identify the best crop varieties without waiting for the plant to physically grow, while micropropagation methods such as tissue culture allows for the production of planting materials or seedlings without relying on seed germination time. These biotechnology applications save farmers significant time and produce planting materials with desirable traits, such as high yield and disease resistance, leading to increased crop productivity and profitability. Moreover, biotechnology firms are leveraging palm oil mill waste and agricultural by-products to produce biofertilisers and organic composts that can enhance crop yields by up to 40% by harnessing the power of beneficial microbes. These products increase nutrient availability and revitalise soil health by nitrogen fixation and phosphate and potassium solubilisation. Using biofertilisers and biopesticides can also reduce reliance on harmful chemical fertilisers and pesticides, thus preventing resistance to pests and diseases, soil degradation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Advancements in cellular technology have also enabled companies to develop alternative proteins like seafood and meat in laboratories without conventional farming methods, reducing water consumption, land space, and greenhouse gas emissions. The cultivated meat conference in Kuala Lumpur on March 16 marked a significant step towards securing the future of food in Malaysia. Research and Markets estimates that by 2040, 60% of meat products may be produced in bioreactors and sold in stores and restaurants worldwide. A local biotechnology company plans to set up Malaysia’s first cultivated meat production facility in Penang in 2024, revolutionising the food landscape and offering an alternative option to feed the growing population. Malaysian biotech companies are making significant strides, but larger-scale implementation is needed for profound impact on food security. MOSTI's National Policy on Science, Technology & Innovation and National Biotechnology Policy 2.0 provide a solid framework, and support for biotechnology growth, but they require effective collaboration and practical implementation by public and private stakeholders. Tax incentives provided to qualified biotechnology companies with BioNexus Status and awareness programmes are helpful, but user engagement is crucial for biotechnology to be effective. Without users, biotechnology will remain theoretical without real-world impact on food security. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1000/japans-jaca-convenes-stakeholders-to-review-cellular-agriculture-field.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1000/japans-jaca-convenes-stakeholders-to-review-cellular-agriculture-field.html Fri, 02 Jun 2023 08:21:00 +0530 JACA aims to form policy recommendations about cultivated meat Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA), a Japan-based non-profit research institute hosted the inaugural meeting in Tokyo to promote and foster the domestic cultivated food industry. JACA aims to form policy recommendations about cultivated meat, contributing to key issues in Japan such as food security and sustainability. JACA convened around 150 stakeholders from the Japanese Parliament, government officials from Japan and abroad, industry associations, member companies, and academia to build a consensus on necessary measures on food safety requirements for cultivated food. The consortium also discussed measures to protect Japanese farmers’ rights to branded animal cells such as “Wagyu”; proper usage of the “Wagyu” term in the cellular agriculture field. In addition there was a proposal on food labeling requirements including the definition of “Made in Japan" for cultivated products along with necessary guidelines for transparent consumer communications. A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was present, along with representatives of Japan's Parliamentary Group for Cellular Agriculture and Japanese food majors such as NH Foods Ltd., and Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Following a panel discussion, Maruha Nichiro Corporation represented the seafood industry. Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, Representative Director of JACA, said “Japan should leverage its global presence in food and regenerative medicine area to show its presence in the cellular agriculture field”.The JACA demonstrated cultivated meats, including bio-printed cultivated marbled beef from the Consortium for Future Innovation by Cultured Meat, cultivated chickens from Diverse Farm, and cultivated beef from the Joint Institution for Advanced Biomedical Sciences of Tokyo Women's Medical University and Waseda University. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1011/strategic-deal-on-high-quality-development-of-the-salmon-and-trout-industry-begins-in-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1011/strategic-deal-on-high-quality-development-of-the-salmon-and-trout-industry-begins-in-china.html Thu, 01 Jun 2023 10:30:00 +0530 Heilongjiang Institute and Qingdao Guoxin Blue Silicon Valley Development Co., Ltd. jointly signed a salmon and trout strategic cooperation agreement China's Heilongjiang Institute and Qingdao Guoxin Blue Silicon Valley Development Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement on May 27 on salmon and trout. In Qingdao Haitian Center, an exclusive forum on the development of large-scale farming ships of high quality was held. The "Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement for the High-quality Development of the Salmon and Trout Industry" deal is singed by Wang Yumei and Zhao Yu on behalf of Heilongjiang Institute of the Chinese Academy of Water Sciences and Qingdao Guoxin Blue Silicon Valley Development Co., Ltd. Leaders from Shandong Province and Qingdao City attended the ceremony, including Wang Xiaohu, President of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wang Jianhui, Chairman of Qingdao Guoxin Group, Zhao Yu, General Manager, Wang Yumei, Secretary of Heilongjiang Institute's Party Committee, and Wang Bingqian, Director of the Research Office of Aquatic Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology. Salmon genetics and breeding innovation team of the Heilongjiang Institute providing Guosen Group with all-round support for the cultivation of new species of sea-suitable salmon, seed supply and breeding technology. Wang Yumei said that the Heilongjiang Institute will rely on the content of the strategic framework agreement, give full play to its own cold-water fish research and talent advantages, and cooperate with Qingdao Guoxin to carry out deep-sea aquaculture research on high-economic-value salmon and trout, and jointly promote the entire chain of China's salmon and trout industry. construction and high-quality development. Zhao Yu, said, "Guoxin Group's 2.0 series of breeding workboats will start construction one after another in 2023, and the demonstration fleet of breeding workboats has begun to take shape". Guoxin Group, the Chinese Academy of Water Sciences and Heilongjiang Institute hold a long-term partnership and multual support to Blue Silicon Valley of China. Blue Silicon Valley and the Heilongjiang Institute of the Chinese Academy of Water Sciences will jointly explore and create a comprehensive mass production of salmon and trout in the deep sea mode, and jointly promote the industrialization process of salmon and trout in the deep sea and the high-quality development of the marine fishery economy. At the signing ceremony, theme activities were conducted in honor of the first 100,000-ton smart fishery large-scale farming ship in the world "Guoxin No. 1" and "Guoxin No. 2-1" and "Guoxin No. 2-2" construction activities of Guoxin's new generation of standardized breeding ships. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1003/hong-kongs-agroforestry-group-expands-its-aquilaria-with-a-malaysian-rd-programme.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1003/hong-kongs-agroforestry-group-expands-its-aquilaria-with-a-malaysian-rd-programme.html Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:45:00 +0530 Aims to increase the growth of agarwood by accelerating the yield Hong Kong's Agroforestry Group has announced the expansion of its Aquilaria programme through collaboration with a Malaysian research and development company. The collaboration is driven by renowned scientific advisor Dr Baharuddin Salleh and includes Aquilaria inoculation and post-inoculation product development. In terms of inoculation, it is aimed specifically at increasing the success, speed and yield of agarwood in inoculated trees. Each stage in the inoculation process requires a different mixture of compounds. Agroforestry Group invests heavily in finding an optimal balance between performance enhancement and cost minimization.  Established in 2015, Agroforestry Group have applied their thirty years of private forestry management experience into the establishment and commercial development of durian and agarwood plantations, product distribution and sales. As an asset class, agriculture and forestry have expanded rapidly over the last decade. This is due to interest from risk-averse private investors attracted by the green credentials of the industry and the long-term high returns of agroforestry.  Paul Martin, Managing Director of Agroforestry Group, stated, "This collaboration has enhanced our research and development programme and has marked a significant milestone as we near the end of our inoculation research programme for Aquilaria trees planted in 2018 and 2019. By expanding our programme, we will be able to safeguard our ongoing research and development efforts as well as focus on post-inoculation product development. Aquilaria-based products include tea, fragrances, and other products". Martin further emphasized the immense value of the partnership, by highlighting the decades of experience that renowned Aquilaria expert, Dr. Baharuddin Salleh provides to the company. Dr Baharuddin Salleh, a distinguished researcher and author, formerly served as a Professor of Plant Pathology & Mycology at the University of Sains Malaysia (USM) and boasts an impressive portfolio of over 100 published works. His expertise and contributions will be instrumental in the progress of Agroforestry Group's initiatives in Aquilaria research and development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1006/international-soil-borne-pathogens-rd-center-launched-in-ankara-turkey.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/1006/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/27/988/australia-aims-commercial-cultivation-of-gm-banana-plants-to-tackle-fusarium-wilt.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/988/australia-aims-commercial-cultivation-of-gm-banana-plants-to-tackle-fusarium-wilt.html Fri, 26 May 2023 10:03:31 +0530 Queensland University of Technology Seeks Approval for Commercial Cultivation of GM Banana In Australia, the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) seeks the approval of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) for commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) banana plants modified for resistance to Fusarium wilt tropical race 4, also known as Panama disease. QUT does not intend to replace the current Cavendish banana growing in Australia with the GM banana plants, but rather to provide a safety net to the country's banana industry should it be heavily impacted by Panama disease. The GM banana also contains an antibiotic marker gene that was used for the selection of plants during research. The Gene Technology Regulator will assess risks to people and to the environment that commercial cultivation of GM banana plants may pose. A risk management plan to manage any risks posed by gene technology will also be published by the Gene Technology Regulator. The OGTR risk analysis for this application will be carried out in accordance with the Regulator's Risk Analysis Framework. QUT has also applied to Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) for the fruit and other products of this GM banana to be sold as food. Permission for the GM banana and its products to be sold as food for human consumption in Australia requires a separate regulatory assessment and approval from FSANZ. The OGTR has published the following steps in the decision-making process for the cultivation of GM banana plants: The Regulator is seeking advice from a broad range of experts, agencies and authorities, and relevant local councils, but no public consultation will occur yet. The OGTR will prepare a consultation version of the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the application from advice received in Step 1.  A public consultation on the RARMP will occur and is anticipated to start in August 2023. Experts, agencies, and authorities will also be asked for further advice. There will be at least 30 days for submission of comments.  The RARMP will be finalized. The Regulator decides whether or not to issue a license, and this decision must be made by the legislative due date. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/986/new-crispr-technology-creates-enterprise-scale-gene-editing-tools-for-agri-biotechnology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/986/new-crispr-technology-creates-enterprise-scale-gene-editing-tools-for-agri-biotechnology.html Thu, 25 May 2023 11:49:00 +0530 Pairwise’s Fulcrum™ Platform creates custom gene editing tools will help accelerate innovation in agricultural product portfolios, supply chains, and production systems. Pairwise, a health-focused food and agriculture company, launched its FulcrumTM Platform today. Using proprietary CRISPR technology along with custom gene editing tools, Pairwise will be able to make complex changes to plant genetics quickly and successfully, leading to innovative enterprise-scale applications. With this game-changing platform approach, Pairwise applies it to both its own ConsciousTM Foods brand and to the products of its business partners. Pairwise is among the first companies in the world to commercialize food developed using CRISPR gene editing technology. “With the Fulcrum platform, we can make small genetic changes that deliver big product impacts. We call this approach the Seismic Tweak,” said Ian Miller, Chief Development Officer at Pairwise.  In May 2023, Pairwise launched its first branded product, Conscious™ Greens, in the food service channel through a partnership with Performance Food Group. Additionally, via a five-year partnership with Bayer, Pairwise used the Fulcrum platform to identify nearly 200 unique gene sequences that can be changed to improve productivity and disease resistance across a variety of row crops, including a unique target in corn that has increased kernel rows by up to 20%.  Pairwise unique CRISPR intellectual property (IP), enables the company to edit genes more effectively than other companies in the market, helping it evolve to become an industry-leading tool. Novel Pairwise-developed technologies that underpin the Fulcrum platform include REDRAW™, or RNA-encoded DNA replacement of alleles with CRISPR, a precise templated editing toolbox that can make any type of small edit at CRISPR-targeted sites. Another tool is SHARC™, a proprietary enzyme that works well for cutting, base editing, and REDRAW editing. This is a combination that’s created a foundational, game-changing genome editing toolkit. SHARC, REDRAW, and Pairwise’s other proprietary base-editing tools allow for precise changes at virtually any location in a genome, an approach that holds huge potential not only in agriculture but in other fields as well, such as medicine. Anchored by the Fulcrum Platform and the company’s deep technical and agronomic expertise in over 60 crops, Pairwise is leading the way in genetics-based innovation in plants and plant-based systems. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/976/australias-agt-introduces-two-new-lupin-varieties-for-the-2024-season.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/976/australias-agt-introduces-two-new-lupin-varieties-for-the-2024-season.html Wed, 24 May 2023 10:10:17 +0530 The two newly developed lupin varieties will demonstrate a leap forward for lupin growers AGT has accelerated yield improvement by applying cutting edge DNA-based genomic selection at a level beyond any legume breeding in Australia in order to accelerate yield improvement. Lupin breeding at AGT keeps pace with wheat and barley breeding using advanced statistics and robotics. The two newly developed lupin varieties will demonstrate a leap forward for lupin growers - offering wide adaptation, high and stable yields, low risk of pod shatter and seed splitting, metribuzin tolerance, and improved stem Phomopsis resistance.” The two new varieties each bring an exciting balance of traits to lupin growers. The two new Lupin varieties will be named and released in spring 2023. Lupins play a significant role in supplying cropping systems with nitrogen and are well adapted to the sandy soils found in the Western Australian wheatbelt. WA accounts for more than 80% of lupin exports and is the world's leading producer and exporter of lupins, so these variety releases are incredibly important for the farmers of Western Australia. “We have been working hard on improving the lupin germplasm that we received from the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in 2016.” AGT CEO and Head of Breeding, Haydn Kuchel said. “Plant breeding can be a slow process, but since we took over the Lupin breeding mantle. While using advanced genomics and breeding techniques, this year we took it a step further, fast-tracking the seed production of two distinct Lupin varieties over summer in southern WA. We plan on growing four generations of Lupins in just two years to make sure that WA growers have the best lupin varieties in their paddocks as soon as possible. “AGT has always been committed to developing varieties that deliver greater returns to growers. These two new varieties, tested as AGTP0013 and AGTP0054, are exciting alternatives to what is currently available to lupin growers.” In trials, AGTP0013 has shown itself best suited to northern and central WA and has slightly quicker maturity than PBA Jurien while AGTP0054 displays an advantage in southern growing regions of WA, being slightly slower maturing than PBA Jurien. Both have market leading yield potential and improved CMV resistance and stem Phomopsis resistance over PBA Jurien and Coyote respectively. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/978/nifa-triggers-investigative-study-on-asian-longhorned-tick-causing-livestock-diseases.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/978/nifa-triggers-investigative-study-on-asian-longhorned-tick-causing-livestock-diseases.html Wed, 24 May 2023 10:00:00 +0530 Medgene awarded USDA funding to leverage the company's platform technology against tickborne disease targets The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded animal health company Medgene grant funding to study the Asian longhorned tick and its ability to spread diseases in animal livestock. The company will be using its proprietary platform technology to develop and test vaccine approaches to prevent the spread of diseases caused by the tick. Dr. Alan Young, Chief Technology Officer for Medgene, has been researching parasite borne diseases since 2013, studying the effects of tickborne diseases in whitetail deer. "Animal parasites and insects are major disease vectors that have significant impacts on wild animals and livestock. This partnership with USDA-NIFA shows the agency's awareness and dedication to addressing animal health concerns in the United States." Medgene's vaccine approaches leverage a USDA-approved "platform technology" that is safely and easily adapted to multiple animal disease targets. The result is the development of vaccines and an understanding of how diseases move within species and geography within a fraction of the time of traditional vaccine approaches.  Medgene received the award notice from USDA-NIFA in April and will begin field research this summer. The eight-month study will be conducted in conjunction with an independently-operated research facility and supported by an international team of recognized experts in tickborne diseases. Medgene will incorporate the results of this research into its current platform technology-based vaccine portfolio and ultimately apply these findings to other tickborne diseases, such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/977/progro-bio-announces-large-2023-microbial-crop-program.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/977/progro-bio-announces-large-2023-microbial-crop-program.html Wed, 24 May 2023 08:18:00 +0530 Program Spans 21 states and 175 Plots ProGro BIO has announced the implementation of the company's 2023 crop program using its premier product, Rhizol, across 21 states in over 150 plots across numerous crop targets.  ProGro BIO is an Atlanta-based AgTech microbial sciences company that specializes in development of all natural, organic microbial soil inoculant solutions targeted to the agricultural sector.  Rhizol is the result of three decades of research and development and is the most robust all-natural, organic formulation of microbial and fungal strains in any product today.  Specifically formulated as an advanced, all-natural broad-spectrum soil inoculant product, Rhizol has a comprehensive mode of action including proven efficacy to increase soil health, build vibrant root systems with better resistance to a host of soil-borne pathogens and parasitic nematodes.  Rhizol also enhances crop yields, plant biomass and increases soil water retention. "Rhizol's powerhouse of all-natural bacterial and fungal components contains a rich formulation of 33 different microbial isolates discovered by the company's chief scientist over decades of research and each was specifically isolated because of its high degree of microbial activity," commented Blake Young, ProGro Chairman & CEO.  "Rhizol microbes, when applied to the soil, begin breaking down organic matter which results in more fertile soil and provides powerful antibiotic and cross protection capabilities to plant roots against a host of soil-borne pathogens and plant parasitic nematodes." The ProGro 2023 crop trial program encompassing over 175 plots across 21 states is one of the largest agricultural microbial crop programs ever implemented in the sector.  The program begins in April and will complete in the fall of 2023.  ProGro has enrolled farmers and crop consultants into the initiative to apply ProGro's cornerstone product, Rhizol, across numerous crops including soybeans, corn, wheat, peanuts, cotton, tomatoes, potatoes, and numerous other vegetable crops. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/966/searca-and-ait-partner-for-sustainable-agriculture-in-southeast-asia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/966/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/27/953/ai-to-reduce-production-costs-and-shorten-time-to-market-for-cultivated-meat.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/953/ai-to-reduce-production-costs-and-shorten-time-to-market-for-cultivated-meat.html Thu, 18 May 2023 09:15:53 +0530 Israeli firms Aleph Farms and Enzymit are co-developing novel insulin substituents in microorganisms that can fulfill the function of proteins found naturally in animals Enzymit, a bioproduction platform company developing enzymatic manufacturing technology, has successfully developed insulin substitutes, in partnership with food technology company Aleph Farms, that can reduce the cost and development time for producing cultivated meat at scale. One of the most prohibitive expenses in scaling up cultivated meat production is developing non-animal-derived serum protein mimetics that promote and support cell growth. Such proteins are not widely available in the current market at the quantity, quality and cost necessary for large-scale production. Israeli firms Aleph Farms and Enzymit are co-developing novel insulin substituents in microorganisms that can fulfill the function of proteins found naturally in animals and do so with greater desired activity per molecule. "This innovation, combining Enzymit's outstanding protein design and experimental capabilities with our team's expertise in cellular agriculture, is helping to build the foundations for our sector to achieve cost-efficiency and long-term impact. Developing more suitable processing aids for the production of cultivated meat is imperative for driving economies of scale and taking cultivated meat mainstream" says Neta Lavon, PhD, CTO of Aleph Farms. The success of this collaboration opens the door to additional benefits, far beyond the cultivation of cow cells. As insulin is a highly conserved protein across mammals and other species, it has the potential to similarly influence the production of other cultivated meat types, such as porcine, ovine and poultry. "Aleph Farms has been an invaluable partner for this initiative, which can pave the way for more cost-efficient production of cultivated meat," said Gideon Lapidoth, PhD, CEO of Enzymit. "With recombinant proteins currently accounting for the overwhelming majority of cell culture costs, creating highly stable and more active insulin substituents can markedly reduce the cost of growth media and increase efficiency in producing cultivated meat at scale." Utilizing its proprietary computational design algorithms and high-throughput testing capabilities, Enzymit was able to quickly develop a variety of insulin substituents and experimentally assess their functionality. All those selected were soluble proteins expressed in E. coli and purified without requiring refolding, complex purification steps, or other treatments. Further screening resulted in several leading candidates exhibiting superior results in activity for cell culturing and requiring minimal concentration for activation. These new proteins, which demand notably fewer downstream purification and maturation processes, dramatically reduce production time and costs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/930/china-approves-worlds-first-gene-editing-breeding-technology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/27/930/china-approves-worlds-first-gene-editing-breeding-technology.html Sun, 14 May 2023 10:30:18 +0530 Shunfeng Biotech obtained the country's first gene editing safety certificate for genetically engineered soybeans with high-oleic acid The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in China has approved the country's first plant gene editing safety certificate. Shunfeng Bio, a leading domestic gene editing company has obtained the certification during the release of "2023 Agricultural Gene Editing Biosafety Certificate Approval List". With this China reaffirms its commitment to strengthening biological breeding and safeguarding seed safety. China has granted approval to produce genetically engineered soybeans with high-oleic acid. This is the country's first global standard biotechnology project fully supported by the Jinan Science and Technology Bureau, Jinan Finance Bureau, and Jinan High-tech Zone.  Foods processed with high oleic acid oil can effectively reduce the content of trans fatty acids, thereby lowering cholesterol, lowering blood lipids and preventing cardiovascular diseases. Following the certification approval for gene-editing in plant breeding, Shunfeng Biotechnology has increased the oleic acid content of ordinary soybeans by 4 times, up to more than 80%. This soybean product is labeled "nutrition and health", "high cost performance", and "high added value". The approval of the high oleic soybean safety certificate has greatly accelerated the industrialization process of Shunfeng Biology. In addition to soybeans, Shunfeng Biology has systematically deployed four major product R&D pipelines around gene editing technology, high-yield rice, wheat, corn, herbicide-resistant rice and soybeans, high straight/amylopectin corn suitable for industrial processing, Rice, high GABA tomato, high vitamin C lettuce and other nutritious and healthy new varieties are ready for commercialization. In 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued the "Guidelines for the Safety Evaluation of Gene Edited Plants for Agricultural Use (Trial)", promulgating relevant policies and management measures for agricultural gene editing technology for the first time, and based on the fact that gene editing products do not contain foreign genes Scientific attributes, clearly distinguish gene editing products from the management of genetically modified crops. In April 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued the "Regulations for the Review of Gene-Edited Plants for Agricultural Use (Trial)", which further clarified the classification standards of gene-edited plants and simplified the review rules, further enhancing the operability of the Guidelines. China has built strong platform for gene technology with high-tech enterprises, national intellectual property advantages enterprises, new research and development institutions in Shandong Province, Jinan City Gene Editing Key Laboratory and many other honors; the first batch of gene editing products entered the commercialization stage, and reached a consensus on industrialization promotion with a number of partners. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to speed up the construction of a strong agricultural country, in which improved varieties are the chassis and a necessary means to vigorously promote biological breeding. The issuance of the country's first safety certification marks that my country's gene editing has officially entered the fast lane of industrialization. ]]>