Author: Hithaishi CB

FAO regional office for near east and North Africa The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Desert Locust Control Commission in the Central Region (CRC) and the Desert Locust Control Commission in the Western Region (CLCPRO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources of the Sultanate of Oman, has launched the first regional training programme for drone pilots dedicated to desert locust survey and control operations. This landmark initiative brings together specialists from affected countries in the Central and Western Regions to strengthen national and regional capacities in the application of…

Vietnam is world’s second-largest coffee exporter Vietnam’s coffee industry has entered a new phase of growth and strategic repositioning as export revenues surpassed US$8 billion in 2025, driven by strong prices and rising demand for processed products. Approximately 1.5 million tonnes of coffee were shipped, while roasted and processed exports generated more than US$1 billion in just eight months, signaling gradual movement up the value chain beyond raw green bean exports. This momentum reinforces Vietnam’s status not only as the world’s second-largest coffee exporter, but its future direction will increasingly be defined not by volume alone, but by the ability…

Keppel, Chandra Asri’s Aster to assess development of Jurong Island sustainable aviation fuel plant Keppel, through its infrastructure division, has partnered with refining and chemicals firm Aster to explore the development of one of Asia’s first commercial-scale ethanol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel facilities. Together, they will carry out front-end engineering design studies to assess the technical configuration, project capital expenditure, and potential financing and offtake arrangements before making a final investment decision on the facility. The plant will be one of Asia’s first purpose-built ethanol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel facilities. Located on Jurong Island, the proposed plant will convert low-carbon ethanol into…

Significant elimination of agri-food tariffs, opening India’s vast market to European farmers and food producers The European Union and India have concluded negotiations on a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that promises to reshape agricultural trade between the two economic giants. A key highlight of the deal is the significant reduction or elimination of agri-food tariffs, opening India’s vast market to European farmers and food producers. The agreement will slash often prohibitive Indian tariffs on EU agri-food exports, which currently average over 36%. For instance, tariffs on wines will drop from 150% to 75% upon implementation and eventually to as…

Three-day workshop in Singapore brings together experts from across the region to enhance multi-sectoral prevention and control strategies. Across Southeast Asia, a silent but persistent threat continues to evolve. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is circulating among domestic and wild bird populations that present sustained risks to animal health, public health, food security, conservation and livelihoods throughout the region. As the virus adapts and expands geographically, it threatens not only poultry farms and wildlife species, but also the economic stability of millions who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. The scale of this challenge demands unprecedented regional cooperation. Because livestock…

Program to bolster recovery, sustainability, and market growth for grape growers and wine producers till 2027 Australia has announced the extension of the SA Wine Recovery Program to 2027, backed by $3.1 million in federal funding, to support South Australia’s wine industry in recovering from recent adverse events and market disruptions. The program includes a third round of the Resting Vineyard Rebate, enabling growers to temporarily rest parts of their vineyards to reduce costs and assess future viability. Existing program streams will also continue, focusing on improving vineyard waste management, boosting domestic market demand, and enhancing regional grape and wine…

Brave Pioneer is the first in a new fleet of chartered vessels designed to scale Cargill’s investment to low-carbon innovation across dry-bulk shipping Cargill announced the maiden voyage of Brave Pioneer, the first of five green methanol dual-fuel dry bulk vessels chartered by the company. The deployment of the Brave Pioneer marks another important milestone in Cargill’s broader decarbonization efforts – one focused on innovation, testing and learning as the company works with customers and partners to refine future-ready solutions for Cargill and the industry.  Built by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and owned by Mitsui & Co. Ltd., Brave Pioneer is equipped to operate on both conventional marine fuels and green methanol, a…

To establish an “Embodied Robotics Research Institute,” signaling a strategic shift toward AI and robotics integration as it builds its second growth curve Shenzhen Kingkey Smart Agriculture Times has signed an Equity Investment Intention Agreement with Jiangsu Huibo Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., marking its entry into cutting-edge fields like robotics, Embodied Intelligence, and Artificial Intelligence. The company plans to acquire a controlling stake through capital increase and equity transfer, and collaborate with Huibo Robotics’ core team, led by Academician Sun Li Ning, to establish an “Embodied Robotics Research Institute,” signaling a strategic shift toward AI and robotics integration as it…

The investment group unveiled a new agricultural initiative focused on local food production, aiming to strengthen Hong Kong’s farming sector through the dedicated branding programme. Uni-China Group (hereafter “the Group”) officially announced the launch of its flagship innovative initiative, the “Hong Kong Farmland” Brand Program. This demonstrates the Group’s full commitment to the future development of Hong Kong’s agriculture and fisheries industries and aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, which emphasizes advancing agricultural and rural modernization, as well as the HKSAR Government’s Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries. By leveraging cutting-edge…

Strategic partnership to leverage GIST’s advanced education and research capabilities in environmental, life sciences, and artificial intelligence (AI) fields to support FAO’s global food and agriculture agenda Korea’s Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) announced on January 20 that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to initiate full-scale cooperation in the areas of food security and sustainable agri-food systems, which are facing increasing uncertainty due to climate change. This collaboration is being pursued as part of a strategic partnership to leverage GIST’s advanced education and research…