Author: Hithaishi CB

Paves the way for a sustainable methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) value chain BASF announced that its Yeosu site in Korea has successfully produced the first biomass balanced (BMB) methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). This milestone development underlines BASF’s commitment to building a more sustainable MDI value chain. The biomass balanced MDI produced at the Yeosu site will be supplied to customers in the Asia Pacific region, further supporting BASF’s goal of providing sustainable solutions to meet the growing demands of its customers in the region. MDI is a key component in the production of polyurethane, which is widely used in industries…

Vietnam exported 2.4 million tons of the grain worth nearly $1.5 billion to the Philippines in the FY2023 representing a 20% increase year-on-year Vietnam is set to sign rice export agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines. During separate meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Saudi Arabia, Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that relevant ministries and sectors would be encouraged to speed up the signing.  The Philippines is Vietnam’s biggest rice market, and has started importing again after nearly a month’s suspension due to its imposition of…

Nine sustainable palm oil clusters (SPOC) in Pahang had obtained MSPO certification involving a total of 11,868 smallholders with an area of 36,336.75 hectares (ha). The Ministry of Plantations and Commodities and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) are intensifying efforts to enable more palm oil smallholders to comply with the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification (MSPO) scheme. MPOB director general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said the implementation of the MSPO since 2015 throughout the Malaysian oil palm industry chain has indirectly proved that the oil palm industry is able to grow rapidly without having to sacrifice forests…

The state-of-art post-harvest treatment facility will provide inspection, quarantine and treatment of fruit and vegetable produce The Australian and South Australian Governments, along with the South Australian Produce Market, are investing $50 million in developing a biosecurity facility, based in Pooraka, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. A state first for South Australia, the post-harvest treatment facility will provide inspection, quarantine and treatment of fruit and vegetable produce which is vital for exporting SA’s produce globally. The facility will use pressure cooling and treatment technology and will be the largest-scale multi-treatment and inspection facility in South Australia. Built on the site of…

Solis SV Series, S Series, C Series, H Series and N Series are the output of ITL’s ₹150 crore ($1.5 billion) investment in R&D International Tractors Limited (ITL), India ‘s leading tractor exporter, has launched 5 tractors with advanced world-class technology and emissions control system to deliver greater agricultural efficiency around the world. The new range of tractors includes its electric models such as Solis SV Series, S Series, C Series, H Series and N Series. ITL has invested ₹150 crore ($1.5 billion) in R&D to launch the new series of tractors.  The launch has been organized aligning with ITL’s global conference “Global…

Partnerships begins with signing of a mutual cooperation agreement to penetrate China’s dairy market Vietnam’s leading dairy brand Vinamilk has signed a cooperation memorandum with leading Chinese partners during the Hanoi investment, trade, and tourism promotion conference in Guangzhou on September 26th, 2023 to is make significant strides in China’s dairy market. Prior to this collaboration, the Chinese partners visited Vinamilk’s facilities in Vietnam, and expressed trust in Vinamilk’s capabilities after sampling Vinamilk’s products tailored for the Chinese market. Vinamilk pioneers in producing customized yogurt products, tailored to meet the Chinese market’s quality standards and preferences. Concurrently, Chinese partners will oversee importation, distribution network, regulatory compliance, and trade promotions. China stands as the world’s largest…

The research project received a four-year $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy via a program called Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) In a pioneering initiative, Iowa State University (ISU) is embarking on a research project to explore the combination of crops and solar power. The Alliant Solar Farm at Iowa State University is a groundbreaking agrivoltaics research project merging solar power generation and agriculture to study how best to optimize land use while providing local community benefits. The array was inaugurated on October 19th. Horticulture and agriculture students will plant crops to study how they perform under solar arrays of various heights…

Operation of Special Control Period to Prevent Winter Livestock Infectious Diseases such as avian influenza (AI) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Minister Chung Hwang-keun, MAFRA) has announced that it will establish a special epidemic prevention period for livestock infectious diseases, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), from October of this year until February of the next year to prevent the occurrence and spread of livestock infectious diseases. Given the high likelihood* of the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza by infected migratory birds during the upcoming winter season, the Ministry will focus on basic…

Empowering women in Asia and the Pacific to accelerate an agrifood systems transformation In Asia and the Pacific, as rural women play a pivotal role across food systems, contributing to agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, and livestock sectors. However, they often face many of these significant challenges in accessing essential resources. In wage employment within agriculture, rural women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific recently on ‘International Day of Rural Women’ voiced regarding inclusive opportunities to break barriers to ensure gender equality,…

The leading manufacturer of low-carbon polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers is on track to complete construction on their newest manufacturing facility with full production anticipated in 2025 NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, has made significant progress on the construction of their new fully integrated Ingeo™️ PLA biopolymer manufacturing facility in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. As a fully integrated PLA complex, the plant will include three manufacturing facilities: lactic acid fermentation, lactide monomer production, and polymerization. The facility will have an annual capacity of 75,000 tons of Ingeo biopolymer and produce the full portfolio…