Author: Suchetana Choudhuri
MBRF emerges as Brazil’s 7th largest company with $152 Billion in annual revenue, uniting two meat industry giants into a global multi-protein leader Marfrig Global Foods and BRF have officially merged to establish MBRF, forming one of the largest food companies in the world. The consolidation brings together two of Brazil’s biggest players in the meat and food processing industry, uniting their multi-protein portfolios and global brand networks under a single corporate entity. Citing strategic, operational, and tax efficiencies, the companies stated that MBRF will employ 130,000 people and operate in 117 countries. With a reported combined net revenue of…
China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced Tuesday that three sites in the country have recently been recognized by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) The newly designated sites include an ancient pear orchard system in Gansu Province in northwest China, a freshwater pearl mussel and fishery system in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, and a white tea cultural system in Fujian Province, also in the east. With these new designations, China’s total number of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems has risen to 25 — the most of any country worldwide. Launched…
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is delighted to welcome Dr Junel B Soriano as its new Deputy Director General – Philippines Representative. A recognized leader in the country’s agriculture sector, Dr. Soriano brings over two decades of experience in advancing science-based solutions for sustainable and resilient agri-food systems Before this appointment, Dr. Soriano served as Director IV of the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), where he led initiatives to strengthen the Philippine agri-fishery research for development (R4D) agenda and programs. His leadership helped shape national commodity R4D programs towards inclusive and sustainable technology development, utilization, and commercialization.…
In a push to promote sustainable agriculture and combat groundwater depletion in Bangladesh’s drought-prone Barind region, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a pilot project to encourage the adoption of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation practices among local farmers The Barind area, located in the country’s northwestern region, faces chronic water scarcity due to low rainfall and poor aquifer conditions. Groundwater is heavily relied upon for dry-season rice cultivation, raising concerns about the long-term viability of farming in the area. To address this challenge, ADB, in collaboration with several national and international partners, has initiated a study involving…
Scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have confirmed the first documented case of yellowing syndrome in the Philippines caused by two different viruses The IRRI team, led by Dr. Van Schepler-Luu, investigated reports from the Department of Agriculture- Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) and the Stanta Cruz Municipal Agriculture Office of unusual yellowing and stunting in the LAV666 rice variety, locally known as Jackpot 102. Initially, they suspected that the rice plants were infected with tungro or orange leaf disease as the leaves of the infected rice plants turned yellow-orange, one of the key symptoms of tungro. However,…
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, attended the signing of a strategic partnership between Silal—Abu Dhabi’s leading agri-food and technology firm—and Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG), a well-established Chinese company known for its expertise in vegetable seed breeding and counter-seasonal crop production A landmark partnership between Silal and China’s Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG) is set to transform the agricultural landscape of the UAE, with SVG committing over AED 120 million to establish a 100,000 m² Agritech hub…
Syngenta marked the grand opening of its advanced, large-scale biologicals production facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event was attended by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, alongside Syngenta executives, state officials, industry experts, and local contractors Syngenta has officially opened its new high-capacity biologicals production facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, celebrating the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, company leaders, state officials, industry experts, and local contractors. This major capital investment, designed to produce up to 16,000 tons of plant biostimulants annually, reflects Syngenta’s longstanding commitment to agricultural innovation and…
Beyond developing disease-resistant vegetables, East-West Seed (EWS) Philippines stands out for its unwavering commitment to putting farmers at the heart of everything it does—guided by the belief that planting seeds of goodness today will yield greater benefits for communities tomorrow This vision was clearly reflected when East-West Seed (EWS) inaugurated its new 36-hectare Hortanova Research Center in San Juan, Batangas. During the inauguration ceremony, EWS CEO Jean-Christophe “JC” Filippi emphasized that this milestone marks not only the company’s dedication to innovation and excellence, but more importantly, its enduring commitment to farmers—who remain the backbone of EWS’s success. “East-West Seed has…
Royal Greenland targets New Asian markets with focus on value-added products and greenlandic heritage Royal Greenland, renowned as the world’s largest producer of coldwater shrimp and Greenland halibut, is taking bold steps to recover from two consecutive years of losses and set a path to profitability. As part of its strategic efforts, the company is focusing on expanding into new and emerging markets in Asia, which have shown significant potential for growth in seafood consumption. At the same time, Royal Greenland is intensifying its emphasis on value-added products, which are expected to yield higher profit margins and appeal to evolving…
Maruha Nichiro, the first private company to fully farm bluefin tuna in 2010, is now advancing to produce the fish in a laboratory Maruha Nichiro Corporation has entered into a joint development agreement with Singapore-based Umami Bioworks to advance the production of cellular bluefin tuna, addressing the rising global demand for sustainable seafood. The partnership reflects the increasing pressure on traditional fishing and aquaculture methods, as well as the need for innovative solutions to ensure a steady and sustainable supply of high-quality fish. This collaboration builds upon Maruha Nichiro’s commitment to pioneering solutions in the seafood industry. In August 2023,…