Author: Hithaishi CB

To make regenerative farming mainstream At COP 28, the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Agribusiness Task Force announced the launch of a new blended finance framework that could unlock trillions of dollars for regenerative agriculture. A task force of companies including Mars, McCain Foods, McDonald’s, Mondelez International, PepsiCo and Waitrose, unveil a plan to make regenerative farming financially viable and scalable; explore implementation projects in India, the UK and the US; welcome Lloyds Banking Group to boost cross-industry support, and call for policy changes to help support its implementation. The global food system currently creates ~30% of human produced GHG emissions and is the greatest driver…

As part of its green growth initiative in the Mekong Delta, the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) launched a project of 1 million hectares specializing in high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation. The Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Mekong Delta provinces have committed to implementing this project with the assistance of international organizations. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Minister Le Minh Hoan said that the project connects green growth in the Mekong Delta, with the goal of forming 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice growing areas, organizing Reorganize the production system…

The Department of Agriculture, through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) launched on Thursday the country’s first Agricultural Machinery Design and Prototyping Center (AMDPC). Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. led the inauguration of the 2,000-square meter facility located at PhilMech in the Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija. “This multi-million US-dollar state-of-the-art facility can revolutionize the way we see agricultural machinery production today. With modern fabrication equipment and top engineering design and simulation software, what more can we not do, what more efficient machines can we not produce?” Laurel…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have joined forces to cultivate capacities in sustainable millet value chain development within the context of the International Year of Millet-2023. This collaboration, conducted under the FAO South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) framework, aims to foster knowledge exchange and development experiences between India, and other countries of Asia and Africa. As part of this initiative, fourteen experts from key millet producing countries in Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal) and Africa (Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda) will convene in India. Together, they will…

Against the backdrop of rising air pollution concerns across India, Buyofuel, a tech-driven biofuel marketplace, announces a momentous threefold growth in the fiscal year 2023. While struggling with nationwide air quality challenges, the company has emerged as a key player in driving environmental change, successfully reducing approximately 80,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions through strategic partnerships with its clients. In 2018, the Indian government came up with The National Policy of Biofuels. The policy aimed to focus on the reduction of the import of biofuels and to promote a cleaner environment. This meant a space had opened up in the…

The funding is led by 500 Global, with additional grants secured from notable institutions such as the Temasek Foundation and Dana Impak, an initiative by Khazanah Nasional. Qarbotech, a leading Malaysia-based agritech startup, announced today that it has raised $700,000 in Seed funding and grants. The round was led by multi-stage venture capital firm, 500 Global, and includes innovation grants from the Temasek Foundation for winning the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2023, and Khazanah Nasional’s Dana Impak for winning the Khazanah Impact Innovation Challenge (KIIC) 2023.  Qarbotech’s patented photosynthesis enhancement nanotechnology is an on-plant or in-soil solution that boosts agricultural…

Thailand Department of Foreign Trade Organized a seminar project to promote SMEs to compete in the international market, bringing together government and private sector speakers to push Thai entrepreneurs. Promoting knowledge about FTA benefits in a comprehensive manner will give you a competitive advantage on the foreign trade market. On Nov 28, 2023, Ronarong Poolpipat, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, opened a seminar to promote SMEs to compete in the international market under a project titled “Raising the level of trade to an international level with trade benefits under the FTA.” SMEs, particularly manufacturers and exporters, were provided with information about comprehensive…

SE Sultan Al-Marshad, the CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), signed a new development loan agreement with the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, HE Kahhorzoda Fayziddin Sattor. Under this agreement, the SFD will contribute $100 million to finance the Rogun Hydropower Project – a landmark initiative that will improve energy, food and water security and accelerate the country’s sustainable development. The signing was attended by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Tajikistan, HE Waleed Al-Reshiadan, and the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia, HE Akram Karimi, as well as other…

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has closed its acquisition of Incitec Pivot Limited’s (“IPL”) ammonia production complex located in Waggaman, Louisiana. Under the terms of the agreement, CF Industries purchased the Waggaman ammonia plant and related assets for $1.675 billion, subject to adjustments. The companies allocated approximately $425 million of the purchase price to a long-term ammonia offtake agreement under which CF Industries will supply up to 200,000 tons of ammonia per year to IPL’s Dyno Nobel subsidiary at production economics. CF Industries funded the remaining purchase price with cash on hand. Tony Will, president and chief executive officer, CF Industries…

Syngenta Crop Protection, a global leader in agricultural innovation, has become a sponsor of the International Alliance for Phytobiomes Research, cementing a partnership between the research community and industry that is aimed at advancing both fundamental science and sustainable agriculture. Phytobiome is a collective term for plants within a specific growing environment, for example soil, and the complex interactions influenced by microbes, nutrients, animals, climate, weather, and management practices. This complex and dynamic ecosystem plays a crucial role in the health and functioning of crops, affecting their growth and overall well-being. For example, beneficial microbes in the phytobiome provide essential…