Author: Suchetana Choudhuri

New cultivar developed in Aichi combines distinctive white-edged blooms, heat resilience and strong commercial potential ahead of Mother’s Day market demand Aichi Prefecture, Japan’s largest hydrangea-producing region, has unveiled its first locally developed hydrangea variety, marking a significant milestone for one of the country’s most important ornamental horticulture sectors. The new cultivar, named “Hydra Aichi No. 1,” is scheduled to enter commercial distribution next spring and is expected to strengthen the prefecture’s position in Japan’s competitive flower market. Developed by the Aichi Agricultural Research Center in collaboration with local growers, the variety is the culmination of four years and eight…

International certification strengthens supply-chain access, boosts farm productivity, and reinforces Vietnam’s leadership in sustainable shrimp production A coastal rice-shrimp farming region in Vietnam’s An Giang province has secured internationally recognized Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification, marking a significant milestone for the country’s sustainable aquaculture sector and opening new opportunities for local producers to participate in premium global seafood supply chains. The certification covers approximately 818 hectares of rice-shrimp farming area involving 254 farming households in Dong Hoa commune, making it the first rice-shrimp production zone in An Giang to achieve ASC status. The achievement reflects years of transformation across the…

Authorities uncover nearly 13,000 boxes of undeclared vegetables concealed behind processed food imports as government intensifies crackdown on agricultural smuggling Philippine authorities have intercepted more than P7 million worth of smuggled fresh carrots concealed inside shipments falsely declared as processed food products, highlighting the government’s escalating efforts to combat agricultural smuggling and protect both consumers and domestic farmers. The seizure was made during a joint inspection operation at the Port of Manila involving the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). Inspectors discovered 12,909 boxes of fresh carrots valued at over…

UAE shipment signals growing ambitions to position Philippine produce in high-value international markets despite global logistics disruptions The Philippines is intensifying efforts to expand its agricultural footprint in the Middle East, with a new shipment of premium fresh pineapples bound for the United Arab Emirates marking a strategic step in the country’s broader export diversification agenda. The shipment, consisting of 18 metric tonnes of fresh MD2 pineapples packed in 1,500 boxes, departed from Davao and is expected to arrive at Khorfakkan Port in the UAE later this month, reinforcing the country’s growing presence in one of the region’s most important…

Scientists convert unsellable cocoa and husks into nutritional supplements that generate new income streams and strengthen farm resilience Researchers at Chulalongkorn University have developed a cocoa-based livestock supplement that transforms damaged cocoa beans and discarded cocoa husks into premium animal feed ingredients, creating a new revenue stream for cocoa growers while helping livestock producers manage rising feed costs. The innovation emerges at a time when climate volatility is placing increasing pressure on agricultural systems across Southeast Asia. Severe weather conditions have reportedly caused cocoa crop losses of as much as 80–90 per cent in some growing areas, leaving farmers with…

Luong Quoi Coconut showcases traceable, organic coconut portfolio and private-label capabilities as demand for clean-label foods accelerates worldwide As consumer demand for plant-based foods, clean-label ingredients and sustainable sourcing continues to reshape global food markets, Vietnamese coconut producer Luong Quoi Coconut is positioning itself at the centre of that transformation. The company used THAIFEX Anuga Asia 2026, one of the region’s largest food and beverage trade exhibitions, to unveil an expanded portfolio of coconut-based products and strengthen its presence among international buyers, distributors and food manufacturers seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional ingredients. Exhibiting at the Vietnam Pavilion during the five-day…

Temporary pesticide approval underscores the growing challenge of protecting crops in a post-neonicotinoid era Britain’s sugar beet industry has secured emergency regulatory approval for an additional pesticide treatment as growers brace for what could become one of the most challenging virus yellows seasons in recent years. The temporary authorisation, obtained through a joint effort by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Sugar Board, British Sugar, and the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO), permits growers in eastern England to apply a second treatment of the insecticide Insyst SG to combat the peach-potato aphid, the principal carrier of virus yellows. The decision reflects…

Deepak Gandhi, Director – Exports & Pre-Shipment at Drip Capital, explains how data-driven invoice financing is helping seafood exporters unlock working capital, reduce dependence on collateral, strengthen supply-chain resilience and scale global trade through faster, more transparent access to credit In an exclusive Agrospectrum interview, Deepak Gandhi, Director – Exports & Pre-Shipment at Drip Capital, highlights how invoice financing bridges the structural working capital gap faced by India’s seafood exporters by unlocking up to 80 per cent of receivables quickly, enabling continuous operations. He explains that a data-driven underwriting model—focused on trade flows, buyer behaviour, and transaction-level insights—allows SMEs to…

Hermosillo facility brings production closer to farmers, strengthening service and delivery across North and Central America Orbia Advance Corporation’s Precision Agriculture business group Netafim announced the opening of a new manufacturing plant in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The facility expands Orbia Netafim’s global production capacity and improves service acrossNorth and Central America. The Hermosillo facility will be one of Orbia Netafim’s largest manufacturing plants and marks the company’s third production site in Mexico. The 30,000-square-meter facility meets growing demand for precision irrigation across the region. The plant features advanced automation designed to support consistent quality, efficiency and reliability, while enabling responsible manufacturing practices.…

With an 80 per cent probability of developing this summer and the potential to persist into 2027, El Niño could intensify droughts, floods, heatwaves and agricultural disruptions across key food-producing regions. The United Nations has issued a stark warning over the rapid emergence of El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean, urging governments, businesses and agricultural stakeholders to prepare for what could become one of the most consequential climate events of the coming years. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there is an 80 per cent probability that El Niño conditions will establish between June and August 2026, with…