Author: Hithaishi CB

A genetic sequencing project involving 1,500 alpacas aims to refine the quality and fineness of their fiber through molecular marker identification within their genomesIn Peru, alpaca fiber has become a flagship product driving the fashion industry. Highly valued for its exceptional softness, quality, strength, and authenticity, this raw material is covered in the world’s most exclusive stores. According to national reports, nearly $200 million worth of products made from alpaca fiber, including fabrics, garments, and other derivatives, are exported each year to the United States, Europe, and Asia. In their effort to advance the Peruvian textile industry, MGI Tech Co.,…

Disbursement of the funds is contingent upon the approval and registration of the vaccines by the Food and Drug Administration Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated P350 million for the procurement of vaccines to combat African Swine Fever (ASF), a persistent endemic virus that has severely undermined hog production and food security since 2019. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the disbursement of the funds is contingent upon the approval and registration of the vaccines by the Food and Drug Administration, an agency under the Department of Health. The vaccines, including those from Vietnam, will soon undergo…

The facility to produce corn fermented protein, a high-quality protein ingredient in animal feed, pet, aquaculture feed markets Fluid Quip Technologies (FQT) has initiated commissioning of the world’s largest MSC™ System to date at Tharaldson Ethanol’s 175 million-gallon biorefinery in Casselton, North Dakota. This marks the twelfth FQT MSC™ system installed world-wide and expands the production of corn fermented protein, a high-quality protein ingredient in animal feed, providing superior nutrition solutions for pet, aquaculture and other animal feed markets which has up to a 40% lower carbon-intensity than competing products. “Our MSC™ Technology is critical to not only creating a…

Encapsulated the insecticide molecule thiamethoxam in nanometric structures can be much more effective compared to existing conventional pesticides A more effective and sustainable insecticide has been developed by Embrapa Meio Ambiente (SP) in partnership with the Chemistry Institute of the State University of Campinas ( Unicamp ) in Brazil. The researchers have developed a controlled release system for the insecticide thiamethoxam. The encapsulation was carried out in polymeric nanomicelles, structures smaller than one billionth of a meter, or more than 80 thousand times smaller than the thickness of a strand of hair. Studies indicate that nanopesticides are more effective than…

 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has slightly raised its economic growth forecast for developing Asia and the Pacific this year to 5.0% from 4.9% previously projected, as regional exports continue to grow, complementing robust domestic demand. It maintained its growth forecast for next year at 4.9%. While inflation in the region as a whole is slowing to pre-pandemic levels, price pressures remain elevated in a number of countries. Food inflation remains elevated in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, partly due to adverse weather conditions and food export restrictions in some countries. The growth forecast for the People’s Republic…

An innovative, new $35 million, five-year investment to accelerate the adoption of machine automation and digital, intelligence technologies by Australian grain growers has been launched by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart launched the Grain Automate initiative last night (Thursday, 25 July) at the Innovation Generation 2024 conference on Queensland’s Gold Coast. This GRDC future-focused initiative will include a portfolio of up to 30 new research, development and extension (RD&E) investments complementing GRDC’s dynamic research in ag tech, precision agriculture, digital agronomy and advanced analytics. The decision by GRDC to invest in this progressive…

Aims to establish locally-connected agribusinesses in four key countries to commercialize bee vectoring system and biological control agent Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc.  is set to embark into North Africa and the Middle East markets through strategic partnerships with leading, locally-connected agribusinesses in four key countries to commercialize and scale the Company’s proprietary bee vectoring system and biological control agent Clonostachys rosea strain CR-7 (CR-7). BVT continues to progress its strategic go-to-market collaborations in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Morocco and Israel. In Turkey, the partnership is with BioGlobal: earlier this year, they ran demonstration trials with Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture. The trial clearly showed…

Bilateral relation strengthens by inking memoranda of understanding (MoUs) Malaysia has secured over RM230 million in palm oil trade deals during Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin’s recent working visit to China in mid July this year. According to Malaysia’s Plantation and Commodities Ministry (KPK), Chan’s visit to China for the purpose of promoting Malaysian agri-commodities has led to the signing of four memorandums of understanding (MoUs). The four MoUs were signed between Malaysian palm oil companies and businesses in China at the 15th China International Cereals and Oils Industry Summit in Nanjing on July 11, 2024.…

Multi-sectoral Partnership Framework for One Health for the period 2021-2025 “strengthening management and monitoring of antibiotic resistance use and preventing antibiotic resistance” A multi-sectoral technical working group on antimicrobial resistance under the One Health Partnership on zoonotic disease prevention met in Vietnam on July 26, 2024. Three co-chairing ministries (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) attended the meeting, along with embassies, bilateral and multilateral organizations, institutes, associations, and a number of provinces and cities participating online. At the meeting, Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal…

A critical tool in the protection of Australia’s forestry industries. A National Diagnostic Protocol (NDP) for Pine-wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) has been endorsed by the Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostics (SPHD) for use in the event of an incursion, providing a critical tool in the protection of Australia’s forestry industries. Native to North America, the Pine-wood nematode is a microscopic worm that causes pine wilt disease by attacking pine trees and other conifers. Not currently present in Australia, this devastating pest has caused widespread and serious damage in countries where it has been accidentally introduced. The endorsed NDP equips diagnosticians, biosecurity personnel, and…