Author: Hithaishi CB

Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) supports projects addressing mutual challenges AISRF is the Australian Government’s largest bilateral program dedicated to science. It has supported over 370 collaborative activities since 2006. Round 16 offers grants from $200,000 to $1 million per project, with $4 million available in total. Collaborations can include joint research projects, workshops, fellowships and institutional partnerships.    This grant opportunity provides Australian researchers with up to $1 million in funding to help them collaborate on projects with Indian science and technology research partners. The Australia-India Strategic Research fund aims to: increase the uptake of leading science and technology by…

FoodTech start-up collaborates with SAIDO restaurant to craft prized Japanese dishes based on cultivated eel Cell-cultured seafood start-up Forsea Foods, Ltd. sails on its mission to save wild eel populations from near extinction by unveiling its first prototype of cell-cultivated freshwater eel. Forsea successfully replicated the traditional Japanese unagi eel (Anguilla japonica) featuring the same tender, succulent texture and rich savory flavor as real eel. The company has achieved a working proof-of-concept that embodies the sensory attributes of real eel meat and is now prepped for scale-up. In the collaboration, Forsea contributes its novel technology for cell-cultivating eel cuts, while Kusumoto contributes his culinary mastery…

Syngenta Group’s largest global R&D investment in Shanghai’s Jinshan district Syngenta Group has unveiled plans to set up its third global crop protection innovation hub in Shanghai, marking a major expansion of the agricultural tech giant’s research and development capabilities in China and globally. The new center will focus on developing crop protection products, formulation technologies, and integrated pest management solutions. Its research will span novel chemicals, biologicals, soil health, and sustainable chemistry, with a particular emphasis on rice innovation. The upcoming facility, to be located in Shanghai’s Jinshan district, will join existing centers in Stein, Switzerland and Jealott’s Hill,…

In 2024, Isreil saw 33 funding rounds over $1 million, with over 30% of all investments going to startups in the robotics and farming equipment sectors. Israeli agrifood-tech startups are playing a pivotal role in broader emerging innovation areas, driving advancements that extend beyond agriculture and food into health, sustainability, and energy. The Israeli Agriculture & Food Tech landscape map, produced by Startup Nation Central, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Israel’s innovation ecosystem globally, and GrowingIL, Israel’s AgTech community, celebrates Israel’s innovation and impact in food and agriculture. With a strong scientific foundation and a history of agricultural breakthroughs,…

NFAMC set this import ceiling to address inflation concerns and improve allocation of import volume to institutional buyers and wet markets. Philippines Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has approved guidelines for the importation of up to 25,000 metric tons of fish and seafood starting March. The measure aims to ensure a stable food supply and prevent price surges in the market. “This will also add variety to the market, especially for the food service industry, since the fish and marine species covered by this importation are mostly fish and marine products not caught locally,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel.…

As global agrifoods investors with complementary strengths, SALIC and Olam Agri focus on sustainable sourcing and commitment to meet rising food, feed, and fibre demands. The Singapore headquartered Olam Group, an international agribusiness company providing food ingredients, has sold a 44.58% stake in Olam Agri to Saudi Agriculture & Livestock Investment Company (“SALIC”) for approximately US$1.78 billion, resulting in an implied equity valuation of US$4.00 billion for Olam Agri. The Olam Group will sell its remaining 19.99% stake in Olam Agri to SALIC after three years1 from the completion of the above mentioned sale at the Closing Valuation2 plus 6% IRR.…

Thailand is expected to see economic growth, technological advancement, and job creation due to Chinese investment. A delegation from 12 leading Chinese companies under the Chinese Enterprises Association in Thailand (CEA) led by H.E. Mr. Han Zhiqiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand, met with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Government House. Companies from six major sectors – banking and finance, automotive, agriculture, technology and energy, electronics and home appliances, and trade and investment – highlighted their commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with Thailand. A 50-year diplomatic anniversary was celebrated by both nations at the time of…

A Joint Declaration of Intent was signed by leaders to promote ecological agriculture and agricultural technology development through pragmatic cooperative projects The Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Hang Zhili, met with Ophelia Nick, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister of Agriculture and Food, in Berlin to discuss the possibility of further intensifying Sino-German agricultural cooperation. Deputy Minister Zhang noted that China and Germany’s agricultural cooperation enjoys a long history, stable mechanisms, and many different activities. Sino-German agricultural relations have always been characterized by pragmatic cooperation. Upon signing the Joint Declaration of Intent, he said,…

A revolutionary new way to protect crops from insects that offers novel modes of action IBI Ag, an Israeli bio-insecticide company developing bio-insecticides with lower ecological footprints, has closed the first part of its Series A funding round with a $6.1 million investment. A round led by Corteva, Inc., through its Corteva Catalyst platform and involving Trendlines Group, Iron Nation, Consensus Business Group (“CBG”) and the Israel Innovation Authority underscores IBI Ag’s strategic importance in helping farmers grow more food by protecting their crops and the global food chain through innovative biological and naturally-inspired solutions. IBI Ag has developed technology that…

Attractive, competitive, resilient, future-oriented and fair agri-food system EU Commission is presenting its Vision for Agriculture and Food, an ambitious roadmap on the future of farming and food in Europe. This roadmap sets the stage for an attractive, competitive, resilient, future-oriented and fair agri-food system for current and future generations of farmers and agri-food operators. All actions outlined in the Vision are predicated on simplifying EU policies and utilizing innovation and digitalization more effectively. To support the transition to digital-ready agriculture, the Commission will propose a comprehensive simplification package for the current agricultural legislative framework in 2025. Ursula von der Leyen, President of…