Author: Hithaishi CB

Australia Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt officially launched Australia’s first National Soil Action Plan to address priorities in soil health and ensure long-term soil security. The National Soil Action Plan 2023-28 is the first five-year plan under the 20-year National Soil Strategy, released in 2021, and sets out four priority actions to guide partner activities and investments in soil. Minister Watt said the new action plan identifies key focus areas to respond to challenges such climate change. He added, “Soil is central to Australia’s agricultural industry and central to our government’s climate ambitions. After a decade of…

Selgron, a reference in technology for industrial automation and one of the main Brazilian brands that develops automation solutions for agribusiness, has just launched the ES Selector. With an artificial intelligence system that automates grain separation, the machine is aimed at the product selection process and can be applied in rice, coffee, soybean, chestnut, hominy and similar production industries. The ES Selector has up to eight grain selection trays. A series of high-tech cameras read the grains that pass through the sensor chamber and air jets separate those identified by tracking as non-standard. The solution also has infrared radiation sensors to detect patterns…

Dalan Animal Health, Inc. (“Dalan”), the biotech company specializing in insect health, today announced that it has been included in the 2023 Fast Company Next Big Thing in Tech list in recognition of its innovative animal health solution, a the world’s first vaccine to protect honeybees against American Foulbrood (AFB), a devastating disease that weakens and kills honeybee colonies globally, compromising our global food supply. This honor marks the third award in a series of top industry recognitions bestowed to Dalan this quarter. In addition to Fast Company, Dalan has also been awarded the animal health innovator recognition by International Zendal Awards, which celebrates…

Lavie Bio Ltd., a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd., a leading ag-biological company committed to elevating food quality, sustainability, and agricultural productivity through microbiome-based innovations, is pleased to announce the expansion of its microbiome-based product for spring wheat, now rebranded as Yalos™ (formerly Thrivus™), to include durum and barley, significantly broadening its potential market reach. This expansion follows very successful field trials conducted in the US in 2023 in durum and barley, which generated on average over 7% of yield increase. Yalos™ is a seed treatment that enhances production by improving soil nutrients, reducing environmental stress, and increasing yields. It aims…

NexPoint, a multi-billion-dollar alternative investment firm, today announced its investment of $2M in the early growth funding round of PlantSwitch, a bioplastics manufacturing company with a carbon negative production process that upcycles agricultural waste to produce biodegradable and compostable resins for single-use products. The investment is part of a total $7.7M raise in this early fundraise round, to which other institutional investors, along with NexPoint, subscribed. PlantSwitch has also recently received a $4.94M federal grant from the department of agriculture. PlantSwitch’s mission is to “to replace all petroleum-based single-use plastic with plants” by manufacturing and distributing its uniquely compostable bioplastic resin. PlantSwitch’s manufacturing process utilizes agricultural waste products…

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. called for the amendment of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) charter to expand its function to include developing and managing marine and agro-industrial estates across the country to ensure ample food supply. Laurel, who built one of Southeast Asia’s largest fishing companies before joining the Department of Agriculture, said that tweaking the PFDA’s functions dovetails with the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s goal of modernizing the agriculture sector, which is part of administration’s Bagong Pilipinas key strategies. At World Bank’s presentation of its latest report on the…

A major force in sustainable aquaculture is on target for significant future growth as Australia’s first peak body for the commercial seaweed industry officially launches in Canberra today. The Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance (ASSA) represents ten corporate members across six states and was launched to advance environmentally responsible farming and production, strategic research and development, and scientific and biotech related commercialisation. This includes fast tracking methane emission reducing Asparagopsis (red seaweed) production to help meet the Australian Government’s important emissions reduction targets. The emerging industry is on target for rapid growth, with ASSA’s Australian Seaweed Industry Blueprint forecasting $100 million…

With over 10 years of prior collaboration, Skretting and Zooca Calanus will now work together to develop high-quality, nutritionally optimised feeds using Calanus-based ingredients and whole fresh canned copepods. These solutions will enhance the health and growth of farmed aquatic species while promoting sustainable practices within the aquaculture sector. By harnessing the natural benefits of Calanus finmarchicus, both companies are committed to advancing the performance of the target species in a sustainable and responsible way. “We are excited to embark on this journey with Zooca Calanus,” said Hassan Skøien, Shrimp Innovation Director at Skretting. “This partnership represents a significant step…

Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), a leading global agribusiness and palm oil producer, is pleased to announce that the first association of independent farmers under its Sawit Terampil programme has achieved Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification, marking a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to enhance supply chain transformation and promote sustainable palm oil practices among smallholders. The Perkumpulan Sejahtera Pelita Nusantara (PSPN) a group of 270 smallholder farmers based in North Aceh, is the first smallholder collective under the Sawit Terampil programme to receive RSPO certification. The certification was presented at the RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference on Sustainable Palm Oil…

Coopercitrus – Rural Producers Cooperative – opened its first unit in the state of Mato Grosso . With the resale of Bauer’s irrigation equipment and Bayer’s FieldView™ Shop technologies, the unit located in Primavera do Leste presents rural producers with the Campo Digital ecosystem, with a complete line of precision agriculture products and services with great potential impact on the regional production process. The inauguration took place on November 21st, at Rua Olivério Porta, nº 2,774 – Bairro Primavera II. The CEO of Coopercitrus, Fernando Degobbi , states that the unit offers an unprecedented service model in the region. “This store is a true technology center. Here,…