Author: Hithaishi CB

BASF Monomers Division and Xuchuan Chemical, an important partner in the isocyanates value chain, held a ceremony to commemorate their strategic cooperation on bio-mass balanced (BMB) Methylene Diphenyl Di-isocyanate (MDI) in synthetic leather applications. By leveraging BASF’s expertise in bio-mass balanced (BMB) MDI production and Xuchuan Chemical’s extensive network in the synthetic leather value chain, the primary goal of this collaboration is to reduce carbon emissions in the production of polyurethanes for the industry. Dr. Ramkumar Dhruva, President of BASF Monomers Division, underlined BASF’s commitment to deepen the collaboration with Xuchuan. “Xuchuan Chemical is the first to utilize our BMB…

Two new solar energy projects, each designed to reduce energy costs while promoting sustainability A new solar array installation at Bayer’s vegetable research and development site in Woodland, CA will provide 70% of the site’s electrical energy demand. “With this new installation, the Woodland site is the most onsite solar-powered operation within Bayer globally,” says Enrique Wehlen, Head of Sustainability, Safety, Health & Environments (SSHE) North America at Bayer. The Woodland solar power project follows a recently completed solar installation at Bayer’s main U.S. offices in Whippany, NJ. The two new solar energy projects, each designed to reduce energy costs…

Global management consultancy Kearney has released a new report revealing how food and healthcare systems can and should work in unison to unlock funding to create a healthy food future. The report, Food for thought: financing the food system transition, highlights the link between how we produce and process our food, and the health of our planet and its eight billion inhabitants. Compounding crises: ecosystem and human sickness The report highlights the urgency of our current compounding crises. Unhealthy foods drive chronic illnesses, and ecological degradation (soil, air, and water) drives further malnutrition and hunger. The four leading causes of death are directly…

On January 11, the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City organized a conference to implement the project “Building a promotion mechanism to form and develop a research center that meets international standards” and “Guidelines for implementing Resolution No. 19/2023 /NQ-HĐND dated November 11, 2023 of the City People’s Council”. The goal of the Project is to support a number of potential public science and technology organizations in Ho Chi Minh City to develop into applied research and innovation centers meeting international standards. The project strives to have at least 2 units approaching international level by the end…

Syngenta Group China successfully kicked off the launch with more than 300 MAP cooperative growers in attendance.  On the heels of announcing our partnership with Syngenta Group’s Modern Agricultural Program (MAP) in China, the company gathered on January 22, 2024 in Wuwei, Gansu Province to officially launch its new enhanced efficiency fertilizer (EEF) product called Endos™. The product’s name, Endos™, is derived from its use of endophytic microorganisms. The EEF leverages BiOWiSH® Crop Liquid, which is a blend of proprietary microbial cultures coated onto dry fertilizer or mixed with liquid fertilizers.  It is designed to help increase crop production economically, safely and sustainably.…

Three technical solutions integrate power generation and agriculture; Plant makes use of recultivated land at Garzweiler opencast mine  With crops below and solar power above, RWE’s agrivoltaics (Agri-PV) plant in Germany has nowstarted supplying green electricity into the grid after a construction period of just five months.The new demonstration plant was built on about seven hectares of recultivated land at the edgeof the Garzweiler opencast mine, in North Rhine-Westphalia. In the years ahead, importantapplication research will be carried out at this site to show how solar power generation andagriculture can go hand in hand.The first seedlings are to be planted in…

Soil Health Institute (SHI) has released a free phone application, Slakes, to enable farmers to measure aggregate stability: one of soil health’s most important indicators. In addition to being more resistant to wind and water erosion, soils with greater aggregate stability also capture, infiltrate, and store water more effectively, contributing to improved water management and agricultural productivity. The Slakes app uses a smartphone camera to take a picture of three dry soil aggregates before and after exposing them to water for 10 minutes. The app then automatically calculates an aggregate stability value. Weaker aggregates will slake (or break apart) more…

New Zealand dairy products could enter the Chinese market duty-free starting from 1st Jan 2024, the first day of 2024, making those the final tariffs to be removed under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that New Zealand signed with China, its largest trading partner. The move came amid joint efforts in deepening cooperation. New Zealand was the first developed country to sign an FTA with China, and upgraded the agreement in January 2021, with dairy products being a focus. Chinese experts said that the duty-free access for New Zealand dairy products demonstrates China’s further opening-up that will benefit the international…

Rebate is available for a wide range of technologies as part of OFCP program Australia grants $30 million for the on Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP), delivering significant productivity benefits for Australia’s primary producers. More than $6.2 million in rebates are already committed to assist farmers in implementing Agtech and connectivity solutions. The program is extending data coverage further onto properties and allowing for greater connection and reliability of machinery and sensor technology by offering discounted technologies through approved suppliers. These technologies are assisting farmers to optimise soil quality and nutrient levels, monitor livestock, improve efficiency of water use and streamline…

New Agritech and Aquaculture Specialisation will be introduced in Sustainable Built Environment (SBE) programme to train the workforce needed in the rapidly developing agri-food sector In anticipation of the transformation in the agri-food sector and the growing global demand for green talent, Singapore’s SIT will introduce a new elective specialisation in Agritech and Aquaculture under the SBE programme. Growing Talent in the Agritech and Aquaculture Sector The new specialisation will cover a wide range of topics, including Agritech systems and Aquaculture economics, to holistically train learners in this field of study. With food security gaining focus, graduates can expect employment opportunities across various sectors, including agri-food,…