Author: Hithaishi CB

The opening day of AGRITECHNICA ASIA and HORTI ASIA 2024, organized by the German Agricultural Society, DLG International, VNU Asia Pacific, and officially co-hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, is here, bringing an urgent call to address the crisis facing the agriculture industry and the world at large. Climate change, pollution from agricultural burning, and food shortages are no longer distant threats but pressing realities affecting millions. A Platform for Solutions AGRITECHNICA ASIA and HORTI ASIA serve as critical platforms, gathering experts, technology, and innovation to tackle these profound challenges. This event is not just about…

As a member of the U.S Sustainability Alliance (USSA), the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) collaborates with other agricultural and export-focused organizations to highlight the sustainability of U.S. production practices. This partnership creates more opportunities to highlight the low carbon footprint of U.S. Soy. “USSA plays a crucial role in promoting and supporting sustainable agricultural practices,” says Abby Rinne, USSEC Director of Sustainability. “Through its work, USSA fosters innovation, knowledge sharing and awareness of our farmers’ and producers’ commitment to sustainability with key industry stakeholders in the UK and Europe.” As a leader in USSA, USSEC takes advantage of opportunities to…

Manufactured at sites in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, the new range of products contribute to the replacement of fossil resources with renewable raw materials  BASF will expand its biomass balance offering to include BMBCertTM 1,4-butanediol (BDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF), polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®) and 3-(dimethylamino)propylamine (DMAPA). In addition to the production site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the site in Geismar, Louisiana, has also achieved certifications for all these products. The Ulsan site in South Korea has obtained certification for PolyTHF. With these certifications, BASF can now offer its customers regionally produced ISCC PLUS and REDcert2-certified products for which renewable resources replace fossil feedstock…

Strengthens cooperation in four priority projects to facilitate trade in agricultural products and marine products, and international horticulture Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sakamoto held a meeting with Tamannat Prompao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Kingdom of Thailand, in Bangkok and confirmed that they would proceed with cooperation on four priority projects based on the “Japan-ASEAN Green Cooperation Plan.” In addition, the two ministers also announced plans for Yokohama (Japan) in 2027 and Korat (Thailand) in 2029. We hope for the success of the A1 International Horticultural Expo held in Nakhon Ratchasima). We urge each other…

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…

Cognizant will provide managed infrastructure services and seek to modernize Cermaq’s cloud landscape as a digital transformation partner in Norway and Canada Cognizant has renewed collaboration with Cermaq Group AS, a leading global salmon producer driving the transition of systems towards healthier and more climate-friendly foods. The renewal comes after an existing ten-year relationship between the two companies which has enabled Cognizant to reliably act as a strategic ally on Cermaq’s path towards digital modernization. The collaboration will cover both the Norwegian and Canadian entities for Cermaq. Throughout the agreement term, Cognizant will seek to simplify, modernize, and secure Cermaq’s technology landscape across…

By, Adrian Wong Ling Yung, Director, Kimia Utama and SK Specialties, Malaysia Can you elaborate on the polymer-encapsulated fertilizer technique? How beneficial is a controlled release of fertilizers and plant nutrients? It has long been established that plant nutrition plays an important role in crop production. The method to fertilize crops has changed much over the years. However, the past decades have seen advances driven by convenience and environmental concerns. Our team at SK Specialties is able to develop an ultra thin polymer coating (20 to 100 microns) which we can use to encapsulate on high quality water soluble fertilizers,…

Boosts advance research and innovation in Australian forest and wood products Australia is aiming at establishing new high-value wood products with the launch of forestry research projects. The first of four $5 million national open calls began on 17th May.The annual national open calls are open to applications from all Australian-based researchers supporting the forest and wood product industries, and is not limited to the AFWI research centres. Project applications close on 12 July, 2024. For further details on this funding scheme, including eligibility requirements, refer to the relevant Grant Guidelines and Application form template on the AFWI website.The funding…

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…

One of the singular largest loans in the bank’s decades-long history supports Thailand’s ambitious Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) strategy NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, today announced the historic financial support from Krungthai Bank PCL to optimize the capital structure for the new fully-integrated Ingeo™️ PLA manufacturing facility in Thailand. The financing from Krungthai Bank, Thailand’s third largest bank, amounting to $350M USD (12,600M Baht Equivalent), is one of the singular largest loans in the bank’s decades-long history and shows confidence in NatureWorks’ market leadership and global economic impact. Today, the companies participated in a signing ceremony…