Author: Hithaishi CB

“The current escalation in the Middle East is hitting commodity markets hard. Whether the conflict becomes deadlocked will determine the extent of the current shock on the downstream part of the value chain,” says Simon Lacoume, sector economist at Coface. 25 days after the launch of the Israeli American offensive against Iran, disruptions to the supply of raw materials via the Strait of Hormuz continue to fuel prices volatility. For the time being, oil & gas, fertilizers, petrochemical derivatives and aluminum are particularly affected. “The current escalation in the Middle East is hitting commodity markets hard. Whether the conflict becomes deadlocked will…

The five-year project supports R&D to strengthen the winegrape, apple, and cherry sectors by integrating these insights into daily orchard and vineyard operations. The Australia’s Future Drought Fund is supporting the NSW Government, in partnership with program lead Charles Sturt University, to launch a major new research initiative aimed at helping winegrape, apple, and cherry producers strengthen their resilience to drought. This initiative is part of a plan to leverage the best researchers to bolster the winegrape, apple, and cherry sectors in the face of changing climate conditions. Strong industry engagement and knowledge-sharing will be critical to the project’s success.…

Bayer challenges industry to redefine canola innovation and reframe canola’s future around real, lasting systems. Bayer Crop Science Canada has launched Advancing Better Canola (ABCs), an industry-wide initiative aimed at redefining canola innovation to better support Canadian farmers. Through 2026, the ABCs will focus on fostering dialogue, collaboration, and advocacy while integrating genetics, agronomy, crop protection, and digital tools to enhance Bayer’s role in canola. This initiative reflects a commitment to addressing complex, on-farm challenges and driving meaningful progress in the industry. The ABCs initiative emphasizes the need for more than incremental improvements in canola innovation. It is built on…

Aims to reduce synthetic nitrogen fertilizer applications while improving agronomic performance, environmental outcomes, and farm profitability Pivot Bio, one of the world’s leading agtech companies delivering patented crop nutrition technologies, announced a special partnership and strategic alliance with Red Reef Partners, a sustainable farmland investment manager focused on building resilient, environmentally responsible portfolios across North America. The partnership will deploy Pivot Bio’s U.S.-made nitrogen solutions across Red Reef’s farmland portfolios with the shared goal of substantially reducing synthetic nitrogen fertilizer applications while improving agronomic performance, environmental outcomes, and farm profitability. “Our long-term relationships with advanced growers support environmental stewardship through…

AI-powered canopy imaging technology CropX Technologies, a global leader in digital agronomic solutions, announced the global launch of CropX Vision, an AI-powered crop monitoring solution designed specifically for vineyards that enables growers to measure vineyard water stress with just one picture. CropX Vision analyzes vineyard canopy images using advanced computer vision and agronomic modeling to deliver plant-level water stress insights across entire vineyard blocks. By simply capturing an image of the vine canopy, growers and agronomists can quickly assess plant stress and crop conditions throughout the growing season and make more informed irrigation decisions. CropX Vision is available from day one on both Android…

The free trade agreement ends eight years of bilateral negotiations Australia and the EU have strengthened their partnership by finalizing negotiations for a balanced free trade deal. A formal discussion initiated to associate Australia with Horizon Europe, the world’s largest research and innovation funding program, reinforcing their close ties in a period of geopolitical uncertainty. Canberra between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese represented the formal agreement signing ceremony. The free trade agreement (FTA) after eight years of negotiations, marking a significant milestone in bilateral trade relations. The EU has a positive trade balance…

The flagship project signals a push to upgrade the country’s food logistics under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act and to boost food security and farmer incomes Philippines has launched a new initiative to support Bicol’s agriculture sector with the inauguration of the Bicol Mega Cold Storage Warehouse. The flagship project officiated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from the Department of Agriculture aims to enhance food security and increase farmer incomes. President Marcos was accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte in the event, which signals a deliberate push to upgrade…

Researchers from Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services unveil two new prickly pear cactus varieties Korea’s Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services has launched two new varieties of the prickly pear cactus developed through its own breeding technology: ‘Dual Label’ and ‘Gold Label’. The prickly pear cactus is a plant native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil. It grows attached to trees or rocks and blooms even during the winter season. ‘Dual Label’ is a variety in which a single flower simultaneously displays three colors: pink at the edge of the petals, yellow in the middle, and white on the inside.…

ODA loan for four key infrastructure and development projects across India The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed loan agreements with the Government of India to provide Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans for four key projects, with exclusive 18,684 million Japanese Yen for the Project for Promoting Sustainable Horticulture in Punjab, India. The loan agreement was signed in New Delhi between Dr. Alok Tiwari, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and Takeuchi Takuro, Chief Representative of JICA India Office. The projects aim to drive sustainable and inclusive development across key sectors in India, including agriculture, urban…

Highlights from 2026 U.S. Soybean Meal Conference in Seoul and the Northern Soy Marketing trade mission in Vietnam, The global agricultural landscape is undergoing significant transformation as the world faces mounting challenges related to food security, climate change, and the need for sustainable production systems. In this context, U.S. Soy has emerged as a critical player, not only as a reliable source of high-quality protein and oil but also as a driver of sustainable agricultural practices. Recent events, such as the 2026 U.S. Soybean Meal Conference in Seoul and the Northern Soy Marketing trade mission in Vietnam, underscore the growing…