Author: Suchetana Choudhuri
Soybean and corn seed gains lift Crop Science performance; dicamba reinstatement in US supports key row crop segments Bayer Crop Science has begun 2026 on a firm note, reporting broad-based growth in its seed and traits Bayer Crop Science has reported a strong start to 2026, with solid performance across its Crop Science division driven primarily by growth in Soybean Seed & Traits and Corn Seed & Traits. The company recorded currency- and portfolio-adjusted sales growth of 6.8 percent in Crop Science, supported by robust seasonal demand and improved commercial execution across key agricultural markets. At group level, Bayer posted…
Ludwigshafen fermentation plant strengthens BASF’s biotechnology capabilities, supply chain resilience and sustainable agriculture ambitions BASF Agricultural Solutions has officially commissioned its new BioHub fermentation facility at its Ludwigshafen site, marking a significant expansion of the company’s industrial biotechnology capabilities and reinforcing its long-term focus on biological and biotechnology-based crop protection solutions. Built with an investment in the high double-digit million-euro range, the newly operational plant represents a strategic addition to BASF’s growing BioSolutions portfolio and reflects the accelerating global shift toward sustainable, integrated crop protection systems. The facility will manufacture biological fungicides and seed treatment solutions using advanced fermentation processes,…
€10 million investment powers integrated breeding software designed to unify data, workflows and decision-making across global seed and research organisations Doriane SAS has officially launched Bloomeo Breeding, its next-generation software platform designed to redefine how plant breeding programmes are managed, integrated and accelerated in an increasingly data-intensive agricultural landscape. The launch marks a significant expansion of the company’s broader Bloomeo ecosystem following successful deployment across agronomy testing and variety development programmes. With the new platform now commercially available, Doriane is positioning the solution as a central operating layer for breeding organisations ranging from global seed companies to research institutions and…
New pesticide formulation plant signals strategic transition from export-led trade to localized production, technology integration and long-term agricultural partnerships across Africa Lagos, Nigeria, May 12, 2026: Against the backdrop of Africa’s rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, Essence Group has formally inaugurated Essence Crop Science Nigeria FZE, its first overseas pesticide manufacturing facility, marking a decisive new chapter in the company’s global expansion journey. Set within the industrial corridor of the Lekki Free Zone, the commissioning of the facility reflects more than a manufacturing milestone. It represents a strategic recalibration of how agricultural companies engage with emerging markets — shifting from distant…
Erratic monsoon extension, sudden cold waves, and collapsing flowering cycles push Maharashtra’s iconic Alphonso belt into an unprecedented agrarian crisis The Alphonso landscape of Konkan—spanning Ratnagiri, Devgad, and the adjoining coastal belt—has slipped into a season that growers struggle to recognise. What was once an annual choreography between soil, sky, and sea breeze now feels fractured, as though nature has misplaced its own timing. For decades, farmers here have lived by a quiet certainty: the monsoon would retreat, the land would dry into a soft stillness, and the mango trees would respond in synchronised bloom. That rhythm was not written…
Softening industrial activity, elevated fleet availability and global trade uncertainty continue to weigh on freight realisations across India’s trucking ecosystem India’s road logistics sector entered the new financial year under visible pressure, with freight rates across key trucking corridors softening further in April 2026 amid weaker industrial movement, subdued manufacturing dispatches and persistent oversupply in fleet capacity. According to the latest Crisil freight market assessment, the Crisil Pan-India Freight Index (CRISFrex), indexed to April 2025 at 100, moderated to 98.7 in April 2026, reflecting continued stress across the freight ecosystem after a brief recovery phase earlier in the fiscal year.…
Analysts say tariff-free access could accelerate investment in agro-industrial infrastructure and value-added exports Tanzania is preparing for a potential surge in exports, industrial activity and employment following China’s implementation of a zero-tariff policy covering imports from 53 African countries. Tanzanian officials said the initiative could significantly strengthen the country’s agricultural exports and accelerate investment in processing industries, logistics infrastructure and value-added manufacturing. The policy was discussed during a trade meeting titled “Zero-Tariff for Shared Opportunities” held in Dar es Salaam and attended by government officials, exporters and business representatives. Judith Kapinga, Tanzania’s Minister of Industry and Trade, described the policy…
Government ramps up climate mitigation efforts to reduce risks to agricultural production and rural incomes Malaysia has launched emergency cloud-seeding operations to protect domestic rice production after prolonged drought conditions delayed planting activities across the country’s northern rice belt, raising concerns over food security and farmer incomes. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the deployment of cloud-seeding operations aimed at triggering rainfall in major rice-producing areas, particularly in Kedah, which serves as one of the country’s most strategically important agricultural regions. The intervention comes as farmers across northern Malaysia face severe water shortages, low reservoir levels and delayed planting schedules amid…
Philippines expands agricultural resilience strategy following lessons from the 2024 El Niño event Department of Agriculture is intensifying nationwide preparedness measures to shield farmers and consumers from the potential impact of a strong El Niño event that could significantly reduce agricultural production and disrupt food supplies across the Philippines. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government is implementing a range of climate adaptation and food security strategies aimed at minimising the impact of prolonged dry conditions on crop production, particularly rice. “What we learned during the 2024 El Niño will guide how we prepare and intervene this…
Deal reinforces EY Brazil’s long-term investment in agricultural technology, sustainability and sector strategy EY Brazil has signed an agreement to acquire MB Agro, one of Brazil’s best-known agribusiness consulting and market intelligence firms, in a move aimed at strengthening its leadership in strategic intelligence and advisory services for the country’s agricultural sector. The transaction will expand EY Brazil’s presence across agribusiness consulting by integrating MB Agro’s economic analysis, market forecasting and strategic advisory expertise into EY’s global multidisciplinary platform. The completion of the acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Founded as a specialist consulting and intelligence…