Author: Hithaishi CB

CIDO will centralize coffee programs, funding and policies that were previously scattered across multiple units, giving the crop its first true headquarters Philippines Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered the creation of a dedicated Coffee Industry Development Office (CIDO), signaling a major shift in how the government manages the struggling sector. Under the order, the new office will sit under the Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Undersecretary for Special Concerns and Official Development Assistance (ODA), now headed by Undersecretary Jerome Oliveros. CIDO will centralize coffee programs, funding and policies that were previously scattered across multiple units,…

US will eliminate tariffs on key Indonesian products including palm oil, rubber, coffee, cacao, spices Indonesia and the United States (US) have concluded a landmark trade agreement under which Washington will maintain a 19 % reciprocal tariff rate on Indonesian imports. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and US President Donald Trump signed a document on Friday 20th Feb 2026, confirming their strong commitment to implementing the agreement. Under the deal, the White House said Indonesia has agreed to eliminate tariff barriers on over 99 % of US exports across all sectors, including agricultural and health products, seafood, ICT goods, automotive products,…

To provide accurate and timely information for agriculture and forestry development plans, particularly in gathering agricultural statistics, could greatly benefit Laos and other ASEAN member countries. Lao and Japanese agricultural experts have discussed the use of satellites in rice farming and the evaluation of rice harvests in Laos using space-based technologies. The application of satellite technology is an efficient way to assess rice planting areas, cut costs, and gather useful data. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries partnered with Laos’ Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to organise a workshop on the topic. The workshop took place in Vientiane on…

COFCO International plans to increase certified sustainable soy supply to Southeast Asia COFCO International, a global agri-business, has delivered its first COFCO Responsible Agriculture Standard-certified soy cargo into Vietnam, marking the entry of its certified South American supply into one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing feed markets. The shipment also represents the first export of COFCO Responsible Agriculture Standard-certified soy or soymeal from Argentina to any international destination. The cargo originated from COFCO International’s Argentina operations and was transported by MV El Juniper to Phu My Port, near Ho Chi Minh City. It follows recent certified COFCO International deliveries to Asia, including China, Thailand and Bangladesh. Sold…

Pioneering the future of chocolate through AI and advanced innovation Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, today announced the opening of its Callebaut Global Innovation Center (GIC) in Singapore. This milestone highlights the company’s commitment to accelerating innovation and transformation across the chocolate and cocoa industry. Located at Geneo in Singapore Science Park, the Callebaut Global Innovation Center (GIC) brings together two Centers of Excellence (CoEs): the world’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) CoE dedicated to chocolate and cocoa, and the company’s pioneering Cacao Coatings (compound) CoE. The Cacao Coatings CoE in Singapore is Barry…

Review aims to modernize regulations as horticulture sector hits record production and export values. The Australian government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the horticulture industry, announcing an independent review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct. Led by Mr Chris Leptos AO, the review aims to assess and enhance the Code to ensure it remains relevant and effective in today’s rapidly evolving agricultural landscape. Horticulture is Australia’s third-largest agricultural industry, with production value forecast to reach a record $18.9 billion this financial year. Exports are also on track to set a new benchmark at $4.4 billion. These figures highlight the…

High-capacity mechanical grain dryers, a multi-stage rice mill and grain silos designed to handle larger procurement volumes with greater efficiency Philippines Department of Agriculture and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have sealed a JPY1.7-billion grant agreement to build a modern rice processing system in Isabela, a move aimed at sharpening the buffer stocking capability of the National Food Authority in one of the country’s most productive rice belts. The facility will rise in Cauayan City, one of the top three rice-producing areas in Isabela, and will be implemented by the DA through the NFA. It will feature high-capacity mechanical grain…

Accelerates the development of banana varieties that are more resilient to disease, better suited to a changing climate, and aligned with consumer expectations Chiquita has announced a major advancement in banana innovation with the completion of the Yelloway banana pan-genome, a foundational scientific breakthrough designed to accelerate the development of disease-resistant and climate-resilient banana varieties. The banana pan-genome is a groundbreaking achievement that provides researchers with a high-resolution map of the banana’s genomic landscape, enabling deeper exploration and faster development of improved, disease-resistant varieties. This milestone highlights the importance of collaboration across the supply chain to advance global banana research and…

Support Agricultural Recovery and Future Resilience: Solution integrates and analyzes vast amounts of data to provide insights into projected crop yield and possible risk factors ReGrow Israel has chosen Oracle Agriculture Data Intelligence to help restore and strengthen farming across the country. The platform integrates satellite imagery, ground data, and sensor feeds in one environment, giving ReGrow a real-time view into soil conditions, crop progress, and water use to support better, more predictable production. “From the greenhouses of the Negev to the orchards of the Galilee, our mission is to help farmers rebuild with strength and purpose,” said Danielle Abraham, Executive Director…

Unlocking a new generation of data-native, AI-enhanced space products that operate at global scale Aspia Space has selected Stelia, an applied AI platform company, as a strategic technology partner to advance the architecture underpinning its Earth Observation-derived data products. This will accelerate the transformation of raw satellite data into business-ready land intelligence for industries such as financial services, agriculture, supply chain, and the public sector – with greater efficiency, reliability, and performance as Aspia scales its proprietary AI output globally. Today’s satellite constellations provide unprecedented volumes of high-frequency, high-resolution data. However, organisations still face a practical gap between having access…