Author: Suchetana Choudhuri
Verdesian Life Sciences has announced that its flagship nitrogen management solution, Primacy Alpha, has received the Certified Biostimulant label under The Fertilizer Institute’s (TFI) certification program. The designation confirms the product’s efficacy, composition, and safety standards in line with the United States Biostimulant Industry Guidelines. The certification not only validates the scientific basis of Primacy Alpha but also enhances its prospects for regulatory approvals and wider market access. “This certification is a powerful endorsement of the science behind Primacy Alpha,” said Amber Harrison, Product Marketing Manager at Verdesian. “It reflects our commitment to proven, sustainable technologies that help crops thrive—especially…
Recognized as one of Asia’s foremost authorities in food innovation, Professor William Chen leads pivotal national efforts including the Future Ready Food Safety Hub (FRESH) and the Singapore Agri-food Innovation Lab (SAIL), while holding the Michael Fam Endowed Professorship at NTU. With a career spanning microbiology, sustainability, and food tech, he is a key architect of green food technologies and urban food solutions. A vocal proponent of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), Professor Chen champions next-gen food safety assessments that account for digestion, exposure, and data-driven risk. In this wide-ranging interview, he reflects on how the Asia-Pacific region is confronting food…
Nigeria and Brazil have signed a landmark $1 billion agreement aimed at accelerating agricultural development, food security, energy innovation, and defense cooperation in Nigeria. The announcement was made by Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima following high-level bilateral talks in Abuja with visiting Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin. The agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening ties between Latin America’s largest economy and Africa’s most populous nation, focusing primarily on transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector. “We are moving from subsistence to scale in agriculture,” said Vice President Shettima. “This agreement will deliver mechanised farming equipment, training, and service centers across the country—laying…
Thailand is accelerating its transition to climate-smart rice production with the next phase of the Thai Rice GCF project, a nationally significant initiative supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in close collaboration with the Rice Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. In a follow-up meeting held this month, officials from the Rice Department, including Mr. Sommai Lertna, Acting Rice Production Technology Specialist, and Dr. Orathai Jaituy, Director of the Foreign Relations and Special Projects Group at the Bureau of Rice Policy and Strategy, joined representatives from IRRI and…
Global agriculture leader BASF has announced the launch of InVigor Gold, a groundbreaking innovation in canola seed developed to meet the growing demand across food, fuel, and industrial sectors. Designed for high performance in hotter, drier, and more marginal growing conditions, InVigor Gold marks a major advance in canola production, offering greater yield stability and expanded planting potential for farmers. “InVigor Gold will unlock the full genetic potential of canola in new growing areas and offer farmers a powerful tool to improve yield stability under stress conditions,” said Bryan Perry, Head of U.S. Seeds and Traits at BASF. InVigor Gold…
Russian fertilizer giant Uralchem has unveiled plans to expand its fertilizer exports to Africa from 1 million to 5 million metric tons annually by 2030, reinforcing its commitment to supporting agricultural development across the continent. The announcement was made by Uralchem CEO Dmitry Konyaev at the Russia–Africa Business Dialogue during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) last week. “Africa’s fertilizer imports remain disproportionately low, with just 10 million tons imported in 2024—far below the continent’s agricultural needs,” said Konyaev. “We are committed to bridging this gap and enhancing food security by scaling up our presence across the region.” Konyaev…
In a significant shift in national food policy, Indonesia is preparing to export 2,000 tons of non-premium rice per month to Malaysia, leveraging its record-high rice stockpile of nearly 4 million tons. The move signals Indonesia’s evolving role from a major rice importer to an emerging exporter in the global market. The plan, currently in the administrative finalization stage, follows discussions between Indonesian and Malaysian officials and aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s broader food security agenda. “Talks have been held with Malaysian counterparts, and we’ve met with potential buyers,” said Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono during a visit to Karawang,…
South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, under the leadership of Minister Song Mi-ryung, is advancing a comprehensive agenda to transform the nation’s agriculture sector through digital innovation, youth engagement, and global partnerships. In just over a year into her tenure, Minister Song—Korea’s first female agriculture minister—has prioritized three key transitions: the digitalization of agriculture, generational renewal in farming, and the revitalization of rural spaces. These pillars underpin the ministry’s long-term vision to reposition agriculture as a future-facing, high-tech industry that supports both economic resilience and community well-being. Among the ministry’s most ambitious initiatives is the deployment of…
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has hinted that Japan may ramp up U.S. corn imports—particularly for ethanol and biomass use—as part of ongoing trade talks with Washington. Speaking in parliament, Ishiba maintained that Japan won’t compromise its domestic agriculture for tariff relief on automobiles, but left the door open to energy-related corn imports, citing Japan’s poor suitability for corn cultivation. The move could help offset Japan’s limited progress in securing exemptions from steep new U.S. tariffs, including a looming 24 per cent auto tariff starting July. The U.S., reeling from an 80 per cent drop in corn exports to China,…
In a bold push to export its farming expertise, Shouguang—China’s vegetable powerhouse—is partnering with UAE-based Silal to build a 100,000 sq. metre smart agriculture centre in the desert. With a joint investment of 120 million dirhams ($32.67 million), the facility in Abu Dhabi will trial high-tech farming under some of the world’s harshest conditions. Powered by AI, robotics, smart greenhouses, and climate-adaptive infrastructure, the centre will grow crops like tomatoes, strawberries, and melons while piloting a full agri-ecosystem from seed to cold-chain logistics. It marks China’s latest Belt and Road export—not of roads, but of precision ag-tech. “Abu Dhabi offers…