Author: Hithaishi CB

Issues new Executive Order (EO) 18 to simplify business and trade routes pertaining to projects, FDIs and activities under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) The Philippines major investment promotion agencies (IPAs), the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) have approved the issuance of the Executive Order (EO) No. 18 or the creation of green lanes for strategic trade and investments in the country. On 27 Feb, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and BOI chairperson Alfredo Pascual said “the green lanes for strategic investments will facilitate ease of doing business and will increase…

Raises $23M Series A fund to support the fruit and vegetables growers globally Amsterdam (Netherlands) based Source.ag, the leading artificial intelligence (AI) provider for greenhouse growers, has closed $23 million in its Series A funding round, bringing the company’s total funding to $35 million in just under two years. The Series A funding round is led by Astanor Ventures and includes investments from Acre Venture Partners, and several of the Netherlands’ leading greenhouse operators. Source.ag will use its pioneering AI technology to track and improve cultivations to enable growers to operate at optimized efficiency. After the successful commercial launch and…

Four-year national research project to explore genetic, environmental, and management factors relating to lengthy coleoptile wheat implementation The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is investing $12.7 million in a four-year national research project to integrate long coleoptile wheat into Australian farming systems. The research will explore a range of genetic, environmental, and management factors relating to lengthy coleoptile wheat implementation. The project aims to mitigate sowing risks for growers and provide greater flexibility around sowing time. The project will be led by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, with research parties including the University of Melbourne, NSW Department of Primary Industries,…

Enterprises supporting the transformation of global agrifood systems will receive customized assistance The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the SEED partnership today officially launched the SDG Agrifood Accelerator Programme, an instrument designed to help agrifood system start-ups develop their businesses while contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During a virtual event held at FAO’s headquarters in Rome, 12 innovators from around the world used a workshop to showcase how they are contributing to the SDGs while supporting such a transformation in their local context. The small- and medium-sized enterprises were selected among the hundreds that comprise the…

A strategic plan involves supporting sector-specific R&D for business needs, and driving the entire value chain, including fundraising, product development, export, and data analysis Korea has newly created the Green-bio industry to add value to agriculture upstream and downstream processes, enhancing agricultural productivity and developing new materials applying biotechnology approaches. Minister Chung Hwang-keun of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in early February 2023, proposed policy reformations to develop promising export items in association with the leaders in the green biotechnology industry. The key focus areas of Green-bio industry are, Agricultural materials (bio pesticides, fertilizers, stockfeed and plant-derived vaccines), agricultural produce…

Acquires Progres®, an innovative natural additive which can reduce inflammation and stimulates tissue recovery with a healing effect AB Vista, developer and global supplier of feed additives for animal nutrition, with exclusive presence in Singapore and India, has extended its product offering with the acquisition of Progres®, an innovative natural additive from Finnish biosciences company Hankkija. Progres is a patented natural resin acids product that improves gut integrity by reducing inflammation and stimulates tissue recovery with a healing effect. It also beneficially modulates intestinal microbiota, favoring butyrate producers and lactobacilli, reducing the growth of Gram-positive pathogens. A component of antibiotic-free…

Thirty-five Chinese and Vietnamese enterprises signed 19 cooperation agreements related to agricultural commodities and infrastructure building committing over 3.4 billion yuan ($490 million) at Hainan’s Free Trade Port (FTP) On 21, February, at a promotional event for south China’s Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) held in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, thirty-five Chinese and Vietnamese enterprises signed agreements for a total of 19 cooperation projects worth more than 3.4 billion yuan ($490 million). The projects include the purchase of coffee beans, coconuts, coconut cream, dried fruits and vegetables, metal, automobiles, rubber, and steel products; two-way tourism exchanges; and investment…

Partners with UPS Healthcare to deliver next-gen DNA sequencing technology for agricultural R&D activities in APAC; Aids in shrimp farms protection in Malaysia. Oxford Nanopore Technologies, a spin-out from the UK’s University of Oxford has collaborated with UPS Healthcare to accelerate the delivery of Oxford Nanopore DNA/RNA sequencing products and consumables across the Asia Pacific region. The partnership will accelerate genomics research and discovery in areas such as human disease and agriculture. The collaboration will strengthen Oxford Nanopore’s portable, real-time DNA sequencing devices’ supply chain throughout Asia’s main markets. By tapping on UPS’s specialized logistics solutions, Oxford Nanopore aims to…

China to invest $3.5 billion foster fishery, mechanization, arable farming, green houses and dryland farming projects in Iran and to allocate $4.6 billion worth resources Recently in Feb 2023 Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi visited Beijing and signed a MoU to endorse investment by China in two major agricultural precincts. Iran’s agriculture ministry (MAJ) announced that China will invest nearly $3.5 billion in fishery, mechanization, arable farming, green houses and dryland farming in Iran. Iran’s ministry of agriculture (MAJ) deputy for planning and economy Shahpour Alayi said Iran will also be able to access some $4.6 billion worth of Chinese resources…

EU-New Zealand trade agreement proposes draft decisions to the Council for ratification to initiate EU-New Zealand bilateral trade which has the potential to grow by 30% equivalent to €4.5 billion The European Commission has proposed a bilateral trade agreement with New Zealand by submitting a draft decision to the European Council for ratification. Approval of the trade agreement will trigger bilateral trade opportunities for both small and large scale businesses between EU-New Zealand that have the potential to grow by 30% equivalent to €4.5 billion. The agreement is expected to deliver major benefits for the EU and prompt further investment…