Author: Hithaishi CB

Plantation programs across New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia will be establishing the new plantations across New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia with added $73 million investment on Support Plantation Establishment program. This brings the total amount of grant funding awarded across the program’s “first round” will be more than $10 million. The 10 new softwood and 2 new hardwood projects, ranging in size from 22.5 to 660 hectares and consisting of both farm forestry and large-scale plantations, will help address the forestry industry’s demand for domestically sourced, sustainable timber. Minister for…

Collaborative effort to bolster rice research and development in Papua New Guinea The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will provide essential support to ensure the future of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) rice industry. “For too long, the potential for a thriving rice industry in PNG has been a topic of discussion without fruition since 1975. This time, it must be different; it must become a reality,” said Agriculture Minister John Boito during the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between IRRI and PNG’s National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI). The agreement, signed by Dr. Ajay Kohli, Interim Director General of…

China has now become Chile’s largest trading partner Chile and China signed a protocol for the access of Chilean almonds to the Chinese market. The new agreement is intended to facilitate the export of Chilean in-shell almonds to China. This protocol allowed Chile to begin exporting fresh peaches and apricots to China, making Chile the first country in the world where all major categories of fresh fruit are permitted to enter the Chinese market. The signing was carried out by the Chilean Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, and the deputy director of the General Administration of Customs of China, Wang Lingjun, at…

Kiwifruit growers stand to benefit from tariff savings The New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement will deliver a major boost to the horticulture sector when it comes into force later this year. Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Nadine Tunley says onion and kiwifruit growers stand to benefit from tariff savings. “Based on last year’s export figures, around $60 million in tariffs per year will be slashed from day one, including nearly $52 million on kiwifruit alone. “The FTA will level the playing field by ensuring New Zealand’s horticulture exports are more competitive on the shelf, which is great news for…

The partnership marks a significant milestone for De Heus’ digital transformation strategy amid rising cyberattack concerns in the manufacturing and agriculture industries Global IT corporation FPT and De Heus recently entered a strategic partnership to foster the agriculture giant’s security operations. Signing ceremony was attended by senior leaders of the Netherlands government during the economic mission to Vietnam. The two firms will join forces to support De Heus’ Security Operations Center, focusing on the scope of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM). Leveraging FPT’s prowess in technology and high-quality workforce, this movement will bolster De Heus’ capabilities in terms of…

Former MAS chief Ravi Menon will drive public-private partnerships with local stakeholders, in particular the business community Former Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) chief Ravi Menon will be appointed as Singapore’s Ambassador for Climate Action and Senior Adviser (National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS)) with effect from 1 April 2024. Ravi Menon, as Singapore’s first Ambassador for Climate Action, will play a leading role in Singapore’s climate efforts domestically and beyond. He will represent Singapore at international climate action platforms, to contribute to global discourse and collective action. He will also drive public-private partnerships with local stakeholders, in particular the business community,…

Rainbow Agro announces an expansion to the company’s global manufacturing footprint with operations near Houston, Texas. This facility joins the Rainbow worldwide network of facilities in Spain, Argentina, and China. The Houston facility provided formulation and automated packaging capability for herbicide products and was newly built in 2022 by Apex Ag Chem. Led by a very talented team, this modern and highly efficient operation has proven to safely deliver impressive levels of quality and reliability since its introduction. “We are excited to demonstrate Rainbow’s strategic ambition to deliver supply chain solutions to our customer partners,” said Tom Lyons, General Manager,…

Thai government is prepared to support US companies in expanding their manufacturing bases in Thailand, particularly in clean energy and the green economy sectors The direction of Thailand’s “Direct Power Purchase Agreement” is set to become clearer. Chai Wacharonke, spokesperson for the Thai Prime Minister’s Office, stated that Prime Minister instructed to expedite the policy to liberalize green energy trading in the cabinet meeting on the 19th March. This is aimed at enabling private enterprises to directly engage in Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with electricity producers. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that the Thai government is prepared to support US…

Japanese refiner Eneos is looking to develop its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) business by tying up with other Japanese firms and South Korean partnes to achieve its net zero emissions goal. Eneos on 22 March said that it had signed an initial agreement on 11 January with South Korean bioenergy producer DS Dansuk and four Japanese firms including oils and fats trader HMLP, specialty chemical product importer Nomura Jimusho and used cooking oil (UCO) collector Yoshikawa Yushi and Sapporo Yushi, to discuss co-operation on biofuels and their feedstocks. The deal is eyeing Eneos’ project for SAF production in Wakayama as…

The $1.35  billion landmark project is set to be one of the world’s largest and the Middle East’s first with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons United Solar Holding Inc. announces the laying of the foundation stone for its polysilicon factory in SOHAR Port and Freezone (SOHAR), Sultanate of Oman. The $1.35  billion landmark project is set to be one of the world’s largest and the Middle East’s first with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons. Expected to commence operations in 2025, the project underscores a vision for sustainable growth and development. The polysilicon factory represents a critical advancement in the production of high-quality solar panels,…