Author: Hithaishi CB

Australian agriculture is set to benefit this financial year, as the gross value of agricultural production is forecast to increase by 4%. The ABARES Agricultural Commodities and Crop Reports show a significant growth in the sector, from $82.5 billion in 2023-24 to $86.2 billion in 2024-25. Executive Director of ABARES, Dr Jared Greenville, said this forecast shows value of production across agriculture, fisheries and forestry reaching $92.1 billion in 2024-25. “We have seen more favourable seasonal conditions across large parts of the country, easing input prices, and higher livestock prices supporting farm incomes” Dr Greenville said. “However, unfortunately not all…

The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is launched, marking a major milestone as the first of its kind in Asia to advance research in alternative proteins. With a $30 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund, the Centre is poised to lead groundbreaking research and commercialisation efforts to develop “ultimate proteins” – advanced hybrid foods that match traditional meat–based products in both taste and price. By focusing on regional preferences and addressing the urgent challenge of feeding a growing global population, the Centre aims to drive global food security and accelerate innovation across…

AGRIVI has partnered with the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC), a statutory corporation of the Ministry of Agriculture Food & National Security of Barbados to introduce the innovative AI-driven advisory platform to improve productivity and sustainability of Barbados national agriculture.   By introducing this innovative agtech solution, Barbados sets a global example by becoming the first country worldwide to roll out a national AI Agronomic Advisor. The AI Agronomic Advisor is a virtual AI agronomy expert available to all farms in Barbados via WhatsApp at any time, 24/7. It serves as a direct channel between BADMC and the farming community, offering consultation, knowledge, and active involvement in critical agricultural matters.…

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…

Focusing on South Asia, the research underscores how these advanced tools can significantly enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability across across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) recently released a study highlighting the role of geospatial maps and satellite data in shaping the future of food security. With only 6 annual harvests remaining before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) deadline, the need to sustainably intensify agricultural production has never been more urgent. Drylands, in particular, present a significant opportunity to enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to global food security. “Dryland…

Malaysia sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development strives implementation of carbon offset projects that meet the guidelines Malaysia on launched the Malaysia Aviation Decarbonization Blueprint (MADB) to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The blueprint is targeting an 18% reduction in emissions by 2050 for aircraft technology, the Transport Ministry said in a statement. The blueprint is also aiming for a 46 % reduction of traditional fuel through the increased use of biofuels and other sustainable alternatives. It is also pursuing up to 30 % reduction by adopting carbon offset schemes and purchasing carbon credits. These targets, however, depend on…

Cooperates with Philippine Coconut Authority to launch CocoGrow Project in Sarangani’s Coconut Industry for sustainable future The CocoGrow Project, a groundbreaking initiative by Cargill and ASSIST supported by the Philippine Coconut Authority, officially launched at Barangay Bagacay, Alabel, Sarangani Province. The project aims to rejuvenate Sarangani’s coconut industry by planting 75,000 coconut seedlings across three key municipalities: Alabel, Malapatan, and Malungon. Focused on revitalizing coconut production, the project will introduce faster-growing, high-yield coconut varieties to replace aging, low-yield trees, and those damaged by recent natural calamities. Spanning 535 hectares of coconut farms, this initiative will directly benefit 500 smallholder farmers, with 50% of them…

The new pheromone solutions will target Yellow Stem Borer and Fall Armyworm affecting Asia’s major rice and corn production regions like India, Indonesia and Thailand Syngenta Biologicals and Provivi today announced a collaboration to develop and commercialize new pheromone-based biological solutions to effectively and more safely control detrimental pests in corn and rice – crops that serve as a primary food source for 3.5 billion people globally. The collaboration brings together Provivi’s expertise in pheromone-based crop protection solutions with Syngenta’s global reach and development capabilities. The two new pheromone solutions will help farmers manage the devastating pests, Yellow Stem Borer…

Prepares for Global Market Expansion Daesung SmartHive has successfully developed an advanced plasma-based pest control system that protects bees and crops from mites, fleas, and other pests. The technology has been validated through effectiveness testing with local farmers and is now entering the commercialization and refinement phase. This innovative solution aims to replace conventional chemical pesticides, which have been criticized for their harmful effects on the environment and agricultural productivity. Daesung SmartHive utilizes plasma technology to effectively control pests such as varroa mites—known for contributing to the global decline in bee populations—without harming bees, crops, or the surrounding ecosystem. For…

The expansion of Evonik’s MetAMINO® (DL-methionine) production facilities in Singapore has been completed. The MetAMINO® production on Jurong Island is again running at full capacity, after shutdowns in Q4/2023 and Q2/2024. The production capacity has been increased by 40,000 metric tons, bringing the total to 340,000 metric tons per year. The expansion was accomplished ahead of schedule. Through process intensification, Evonik has optimized its methionine production plants, generating a surplus of steam that is used to produce on-site electricity. Linde, one of Evonik’s partners on Jurong Island, has designed, constructed, and is operating a nine-megawatt alkaline electrolyzer plant, which is…