Author: Hithaishi CB

10th SCO Agriculture Ministers meeting addresses major agriculture development strategies The 10th Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States was held in Kunming, Yunnan Province, under the theme “Robust Policy Exchange for a Closer SCO Family of Agriculture.” The meeting addressed key areas such as rural development, poverty reduction, and scientific and technological exchange. It included a ministerial session, policy dialogue, an exhibition of achievements, and field visits. A Joint Statement was reviewed and adopted, with all parties emphasizing the importance of the meeting and expressing a shared commitment to strengthening the SCO agriculture ministers’ meeting mechanism to promote modern agriculture and rural prosperity through mutual learning. The meeting was chaired by Minister Han Jun of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), who also delivered remarks on behalf of the Chinese delegation. Minister Han highlighted the importance of agricultural cooperation among SCO countries, noting the establishment of the SCO Demonstration Base for Agricultural Technology Exchange and Training…

Revolutionizing Cacao Research with Precision Gene Editing Tools Mars, Incorporated has licensed Pairwise’s Fulcrum® gene editing tools for cacao research and development. This licensing agreement grants Mars access to Pairwise’s CRISPR tools, including the SHARC™ enzyme. The Pairwise Fulcrum™ platform encompasses gene editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries, enabling precise changes that unlock the plant’s inherent potential. This capability significantly accelerates the development of impactful crop traits compared to traditional breeding methods, allowing for the activation or deactivation of characteristics and fine-tuning traits, much like adjusting a dimmer switch to achieve optimal results. Mars aims to develop this advanced plant breeding…

YIELDON™: Revolutionizing Crop Productivity with Innovative Biostimulant Technology Syngenta has introduced YIELDON™, a state-of-the-art biostimulant designed to elevate the productivity and profitability of major crops in Brazil, including soybeans, corn, cotton, and sugarcane. This innovative bioinput activates specific plant genes that regulate metabolism, promoting cell division and expansion while enhancing the transport of sugars, nutrients, and lipids. Its 100% natural formulation, combined with Syngenta’s proprietary GeaPower technology, unlocks the full potential of plant physiology, ensuring higher productivity, superior grain and lint quality, and a rapid return on investment for farmers. Dáfila Fagotti, Biologicals Product Manager at Syngenta, emphasized the role…

Timber Fiber Strategy: A Blueprint for innovation and sustainability in Australia’s forestry industry Australia has unveiled the Timber Fibre Strategy, a comprehensive plan to drive growth and innovation in Australia’s forestry industry. The Strategy outlines 128 ambitious actions aimed at creating a sustainable, globally competitive sector that meets both domestic and international demand for forest products. Developed through extensive consultation with the forestry industry and guided by the Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership, the Strategy provides a roadmap for addressing key challenges and opportunities in the sector. It emphasizes the role of forestry in supporting Australia’s housing agenda and…

Chemetall will provide innovative PET recycling washing solutions for Circular Plastics Company’s new plastic recycling plant in Vung Tau, Vietnam, to empower the circular economy in Southeast Asia The Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF’s Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, has been selected to supply innovative PET recycling washing solutions for Circular Plastics Company’s new plastic recycling plant in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Chemetall will provide a range of novel technologies tailored for Circular Plastics Company’s facilities, which recycle post-consumer PET plastics into food-grade products in Myanmar and Vietnam. They include Gardoclean® cleaning agents, Gardobond® additives for PET/polyolefin separation and defoaming.…

Each year, the industry exports an average of USD2 billion worth of crude and refined coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra meal, and coconut water from about 14 to 15 billion nuts. Philippines Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. underscored the urgency of the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the amendment of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, saying it is vital for the revitalization of the coconut sector—the country’s top agricultural export earner. Tiu Laurel recommended revising the law in order to direct the trust fund’s resources to the most critical needs–particularly replanting. Coconut trees…

 Accelerating the digitalization and smart transformation of Thailand’s farming sector China’s U Power Limited, a provider of AI-powered solutions for next-generation energy grids and intelligent transportation systems, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chia Tai Co., Ltd. Thailand’s leading innovative agricultural company and ICBC Thai collaborate to accelerate the digitalization and smart transformation of Thailand’s farming sector. With the partnership between U Power, Chia Tai, and ICBC Thai, the Thai farming sector will be transformed by bringing battery-swapping-compatible drones into mainstream farming operations. In co-developing and promoting the drone platform in Thailand, the three parties hope to advance sustainable farming practices by providing…

High-precision environmental sensor enhances data-driven decisions for farming, meteorology, and smart cities OMRON Electronic Components, a global leader in innovative component solutions, has announced the release of its next-generation Weather Sensor designed to meet the growing demand for reliable environmental data across agriculture, meteorology, and smart city applications. As climate volatility and resource management challenges intensify, accurate weather data is becoming a critical tool in mitigating environmental risk and optimizing system performance. OMRON’s new Weather Sensor delivers robust, real-time insights – empowering more responsive and resilient infrastructure and operations. With high sensitivity and multi-parameter sensing capabilities, the sensor supports advanced monitoring of…

Project to deploy its proprietary AVAP® technology to convert lignocellulosic biomass into second-generation ethanol Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., the global leader in cellulose specialty products, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GranBio LLC, a pioneer in biochemicals and biofuels, to jointly explore the development of a small-scale commercial cellulosic Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facility co-located at RYAM’s Jesup, Georgia site. Under the agreement, GranBio will lead the proposed project to deploy its proprietary AVAP® technology to convert lignocellulosic biomass into second-generation ethanol, which will be upgraded into SAF for sale to an offtaker. The new facility…

Strengthening Collaboration for Sustainable Growth in Fertilizer and Petrochemical Industries PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) and PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) strengthened their strategic partnership by signing a follow-up memorandum of understanding (MoU) that opens up opportunities for broader collaboration in supporting national and regional food security, as well as encouraging the downstreaming of the fertilizer and petrochemical industry in Indonesia. This collaboration includes exploring potential synergies in urea and ammonia supply, transferring technical and operational knowledge, and strengthening corporate governance in the areas of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE). This collaboration is expected to be a catalyst for strengthening the…