Author: Hithaishi CB

The budget allocation for cold storage in 2025 is a strategic approach towards bolstering this critical aspect of the agricultural sector Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to build around 99 cold storage facilities starting this year to help extend the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, and high-value crops as well as ensure supply and price stability. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the key features of these cold storage facilities are their sustainability and low cost of operation. He said the refrigerated warehouses are hybrid infrastructures that could be powered by electricity from renewable energy sources such…

A nationwide operation began on Jan 19, coinciding with Chinese New Year celebrations, and will conclude on Feb 1 Malaysia’s Health Ministry (MOH) is monitoring imported mandarin oranges at all 70 entry points across the country during the Chinese New Year (CNY) festive season since November 2024. According to the MOH, the move was taken to ensure all mandarin oranges entering the country meet the standards outlined in the Food Regulations 1985 and the Food Act 1983. The major exporters of Mandarin oranges to Malaysia, as identified by the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia, include China, South Africa, Japan,…

Successfully completes Trial of Ammonia e-Cracking Unit in Ulsan, South Korea opening the door to the hydrogen economy The world’s largest all-electric ammonia cracking system has been commissioned and tested by Syzygy Plasmonics and Lotte Chemical in Ulsan, South Korea with logistical support from Sumitomo Corporation of America and Sumitomo Corporation Korea. This marks the second installation of Syzygy’s Rigel™ reactor cell, the other located at the company’s demonstration facility in Houston, Texas. The results in Ulsan confirm the viability of using ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, drawing on positive results from over 2500 hours of testing in Houston. This paves the…

Secures $900,000 Grant from USDA to accelerate production of its sustainable, Earthworm-Fueled Fertilizer Worm Power, the worldwide leader in vermicompost products, announced that the company has been selected to receive $900,000 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition to accelerating expansion plans at the company’s ten-acre vermicomposting fertilizer facility in Avon, N.Y., Worm Power will be able to optimize manufacturing processes to enhance global product availability and production levels with this grant, which is part of the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP). “Globally, there is an incredibly high demand for all-natural, organic fertilizers and biostimulants. Growing…

Since January 1, 2025, about 600,000 farmers have redeemed subsidized fertilizer through Pupuk Indonesia In 2025, PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) will receive support from the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) to accelerate the distribution of subsidized fertilizer to registered farmers. The acceleration is in alignment with the Astacita program and the mission of the Prabowo-Gibran administration to promote the nation’s food self-sufficiency. Since January 1, 2025, about 600,000 farmers have redeemed subsidized fertilizer through Pupuk Indonesia, according to Rahmad Pribadi, the president director of the organization. The subsidized fertilizer policy was successfully simplified by the government, under the coordination of…

Collaboration to validate the application of smart agriculture technologies in rice-based cropping systems The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and smart agriculture technology leader XAG are set to accelerate agricultural automation and innovation in the Philippines through digital agriculture and precision farming using drone technology. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), IRRI and XAG will collaborate to validate the application of smart agriculture technologies in rice-based cropping systems through experimentation and research. XAG, through its Philippine partner Agridom, has donated agricultural drones to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to support its mission of advancing precision agriculture and sustainable farming practices. Agridom…

According to reports. Global cacao market value was $13.5 billion in 2023, and is expected to grow by 8.2% to $23.5 billion by 2030 Pluri Inc., a leading biotechnology company with its proprietary platform for cell-based solutions, announced a $6.5 million strategic private investment led by global investor Alejandro Weinstein, who will serve on Pluri’s board. Pluri is also acquiring 71% of Kokomodo Ltd., a company specializing in cultivated cacao production, for $4.5 million in common shares. With the investment and the Kokomodo Transaction, Pluri is uniquely positioned to extend its leadership in sustainable food technologies and to strengthen its…

Aims to make smallholder farmers more resilient to droughts and floods, which threaten harvests, livelihoods, and global food security Bayer Foundation and the Pula Foundation announced at World Economic Forum that they are planning to provide insurance coverage for 10 million smallholder farmers by 2030. The collaboration aims to enhance climate resilience among smallholder farmers, protecting them against the growing impacts of droughts and floods, which threaten harvests, livelihoods, and global food security. It will help build private-public collaborations and shape the insurance market for agriculture in Africa and Asia. The Pula Foundation has developed scalable and data-driven agricultural insurance…

Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) deploy the 2025 plan for the Agriculture and Rural Development sector Vietnam’s agriculture is firmly ensuring national food security as well as deeply integrating into the international community. Many key agricultural products continue to find new markets.In recent years, Vietnam has achieved many new records in terms of agricultural exports.The Vietnamese agriculture affirms its role as a driving force and pillar of the nation’s economy. A total growth rate (GO) of 3.3% was achieved by the whole industry, a 42.02% forest coverage rate, 78.7% of rural communes meeting new rural standards, and…

Signs a cooperation agreement on protecting new plant varieties China’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Han Jun, met with ETO Taku, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, in Beijing. They exchanged views on promoting China–Japan agricultural cooperation.   Minister Han said that China–Japan relations are at a crucial stage of improvement and development. The two sides should earnestly implement the significant consensus reached by both countries and join hands in deepening China–Japan agricultural cooperation. Under bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, China is eager to resume agricultural exchanges at all levels with Japan; hold the 10th Meeting of the China–Japan…