Author: Suchetana Choudhuri
Report analyses how the food environment influences supply and demand for terrestrial animal source food (TASF) The global supply of terrestrial animal source food (TASF), driven mainly by egg, poultry and pig meat, has experienced a significant increase over the past six decades. This expansion has made livestock one of the fastest-growing components of the agricultural sector, according to a new study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The report, drivers of supply and demand of terrestrial animal source food – An evidence and policy overview on the state of knowledge and gaps, provides a comprehensive,…
New early-season forecasts point to likely declining global cereal harvests and trade in the year ahead The benchmark measure for world food commodity prices remained broadly stable in May, as declines in vegetable oil quotations offset increases in those for cereals and sugar, according to new data released Friday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 130.8 points in May 2026, down 0.2 percent from its revised April level and 2.9 percent higher than its year-earlier level. “While…
Amid rising shipment inspections and growing trade scrutiny, Brazil’s soybean sector is placing phytosanitary compliance at the centre of its export strategy As international markets tighten phytosanitary requirements and agricultural exporters face increasing scrutiny over crop health standards, Corteva Agriscience and the Brazilian Soybean Producers Association (Aprosoja Brasil) have joined forces to launch a comprehensive technical guide designed to help farmers identify, monitor and manage quarantine pests that threaten both agricultural production and export competitiveness. The publication, developed with the technical expertise of Professor Mauro Antônio Rizzardi of the University of Passo Fundo, was formally introduced ahead of the Second…
Chinese agrochemical manufacturer strengthens production footprint with RMB50 million investment aimed at meeting growing global demand for insecticide solutions. Hubei Jinghesheng Biotechnology is set to significantly strengthen its position in the global crop protection market following plans to expand its clothianidin production capacity to 5,000 tonnes annually, underscoring China’s continuing investment in strategic agrochemical manufacturing. The company recently announced the environmental impact assessment for its latest expansion programme, which will increase annual clothianidin output from the current 2,000 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes upon completion. Located at Lingang Industrial Park in Songzi City, Hubei Province, the project represents a total investment…
Field demonstrations in Jiangsu Province showcase the efficacy of fluquinometoate (P), a novel bactericide developed by Sino-Agri United Biotechnology, with experts calling for accelerated registration and wider adoption. A new generation of crop protection innovation emerging from China’s agrochemical sector is attracting attention after field demonstrations revealed exceptional control of Chinese cabbage soft rot—one of the most destructive bacterial diseases affecting vegetable production across Asia. Developed by Shandong United Pesticide Industry Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sino-Agri United Biotechnology, the proprietary bactericide fluquinometoate (P) demonstrated control efficacy of up to 98 per cent during large-scale field trials conducted in…
Department of Agriculture-backed native pig multiplier farm aims to strengthen livestock production, support agricultural education, and build a sustainable breeding ecosystem in the Cordillera region In a move aimed at reinforcing livestock production and nurturing the next generation of agricultural professionals, the Department of Agriculture–Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) has inaugurated a PHP3.1-million native pig multiplier farm at the University of Abra (UA), describing the initiative as a long-term investment in food security, rural enterprise, and agricultural innovation. The project, formally turned over on Friday, establishes a dedicated breeding and production facility that will serve both as a commercial enterprise and…
As biodiversity risks rise across Asia’s agricultural heartlands, pollinator health is emerging as a critical metric for food security, climate resilience, supply-chain stability and ESG performance On a spring morning in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, a coffee farmer walks through rows of flowering coffee trees. The blossoms are brief, delicate and fleeting. For a few precious days, millions of tiny white flowers carpet the landscape, carrying within them the promise of next season’s harvest. The farmer knows the rains matter. He knows temperatures matter. He knows fertilizer prices matter. What he may not fully realise is that the future of his…
Deal brings together VIV Worldwide’s international reach and Foodbytes’ digital innovation platform, creating new opportunities for startups, investors, corporates, and agri-food entrepreneurs worldwide Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs is acquiring the innovation platform Foodbytes from Rabobank. Since 2015, Foodbytes has been an international hub for startups, corporates, and investors active in the agri and food sectors. The platform brings together stakeholders working on areas such as regenerative agriculture, alternative protein production, robotics and automation in farming, and innovations in seaweed production. The acquisition was announced today at VIV Europe 2026, the international agritech exhibition currently taking place at Jaarbeurs. Jaarbeurs has been…
India has released the world’s first genome-edited rice varieties and China is signing safety certificates at speed. However, the politics that buried Bt brinjal and stalled Golden Rice has not gone away — it is simply waiting at the next gate. On 4 May 2025, in an auditorium named after the architect of India’s Green Revolution, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled two unremarkable-looking bags of rice seed. The varieties — DRR Dhan 100, branded “Kamala,” and Pusa DST Rice 1 — looked like any other improved line a public-sector institute might release. They were not. Both had been…
Partnership with Ascribe Bioscience aims to bring PHYTALIX to Asian farmers by 2029, offering a new biological weapon against crop diseases while supporting sustainable yield growth Syngenta and U.S.-based biotechnology innovator Ascribe Bioscience have entered into a landmark development and supply agreement to commercialize PHYTALIX, a next-generation biofungicide designed to strengthen crop resistance against a broad spectrum of fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases. The agreement grants Syngenta exclusive commercial rights to the product for rice and other major crops across Southeast Asia, with the potential to expand into additional markets over time. The collaboration marks a significant step in the…