Author: Suchetana Choudhuri

First plum shipments mark the beginning of a major agricultural export expansion, unlocking access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets South Africa has officially begun exporting stone fruits to China, launching a new phase in its agricultural trade strategy after the implementation of a zero-tariff agreement covering 53 African countries. The first consignment of plums has already been shipped, marking a significant breakthrough for the country’s horticulture sector and establishing direct access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing consumer markets. The initial exports include two premium plum varieties, African Delight and Ruby Star, which entered the…

Hawaiʻi Angels and Blue Startups back aquaculture innovator scaling hybrid oyster and clam breeding technologies Pacific Hybreed, a Hawaiʻi-based aquaculture biotechnology company, has announced the successful close of a $1 million funding round led by participation from Hawaiʻi Angels and Blue Startups, marking a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to scale resilient shellfish production across North America. The fresh capital will support the expansion of Pacific Hybreed’s commercial-scale hatchery operations as the company responds to growing demand from shellfish farmers across Hawaiʻi, the US West Coast, and other key aquaculture markets. Headquartered on Hawaiʻi’s Big Island, Pacific Hybreed is…

Partnership to accelerate AI-driven and climate-smart farming technologies for farmers across the region The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Presidential Court has committed a $1.5 million grant to an innovative agricultural fund administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), reinforcing global efforts to accelerate technology-driven agricultural transformation and strengthen food security across Asia and the Pacific. The grant, provided through the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court, was formally announced during ADB’s 59th Annual Meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as part of a broader cofinancing agreement aimed at scaling proven, high-impact agricultural technologies throughout the region. The initiative seeks to…

Germany commits €5.5 Million in grant financing to accelerate biodiversity protection and nature-based solutions The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Germany have expanded their strategic partnership to accelerate nature finance and biodiversity investments across Asia and the Pacific, marking a significant step towards strengthening climate resilience and sustainable development in the region. Announced during the ADB Annual Meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Germany has formally joined ADB’s Nature Solutions Finance Hub as a financing partner, committing €5.5 million ($6.5 million) in grant co-financing to support the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of ecosystems and biodiversity. The financing contribution…

China, Japan and Asia markets continue to support export expansion across key commodities Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery sector recorded export earnings exceeding $23 billion during the first four months of 2026, reflecting resilient trade momentum despite evolving global market conditions and softer export performance in April. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, cumulative agro-forestry-fishery exports from January to April reached approximately $23.04 billion, representing a 5.4 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2025. Export turnover for April alone was estimated at $6.05 billion, marking a decline of 3.8 per cent from the previous month and 0.8 per…

DA eyes stronger technology transfer, sustainable farming and food security initiatives The Philippines is set to strengthen its longstanding agricultural partnership with Japan as both nations move to deepen collaboration in food security, sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and advanced farming technologies ahead of President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr.’s scheduled state visit to Japan later this month. The renewed push for bilateral cooperation was highlighted during a courtesy meeting between Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., where senior officials from both sides discussed strategic initiatives aimed at broadening agricultural and technological engagement between the…

APA Project to enhance resilience, rural livelihoods and indigenous farming practices in the Philippines The Department of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) has officially commenced the full-scale implementation of the Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) Project, a landmark initiative designed to strengthen climate resilience among vulnerable farming communities across the Cordillera region. The seven-year programme, funded by the Green Climate Fund with an allocation of $23.6 million, is being jointly implemented by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), and the Food and Agriculture Organization…

Precision Drone Imaging and GPS-Based Weed Mapping aim to eliminate the “10,000-Seed Problem” in large-scale organic farming TerraClear, a leader in agricultural technology integration, has announced the launch of its specialised Giant Ragweed Mapping Service, an advanced AI-powered solution designed to help large-scale organic farmers tackle one of the most persistent and economically damaging weed challenges in modern agriculture. Combining high-precision drone imagery with artificial intelligence and GPS-based mapping, the new service is engineered to provide growers with an accurate, field-level view of giant ragweed escapes before they develop into long-term yield threats. For organic producers, giant ragweed represents far…

Advanced formulation delivers enhanced weed control, improved crop safety and greater operational efficiency for growers BASF has announced the launch of Basta ULTRA in Australia, marking the introduction of the next generation of its widely trusted non-selective herbicide powered by the company’s advanced Glu-L technology. Building on more than three decades of proven Basta herbicide performance, the new formulation has been designed to deliver superior weed control, enhanced convenience, and improved operational efficiency for growers across Australia’s diverse horticultural systems. The launch reflects BASF’s continued focus on providing innovative crop protection solutions that address evolving agricultural challenges around productivity, sustainability,…

Landmark collaboration encompasses 30,000 Metric Tons of low-carbon ammonia attributes across global agricultural supply chains In a significant move towards accelerating sustainability across global agriculture, PepsiCo has entered into a strategic collaboration with agricultural technology company TalusAg to advance fertilizer decarbonisation through low-carbon ammonia environmental attributes. The partnership marks PepsiCo’s first executed transactions involving low-carbon ammonia environmental attributes and underscores the company’s growing commitment to building climate-resilient and regenerative agricultural ecosystems worldwide. The initial agreements span PepsiCo’s operations across Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia Pacific, and global business units, collectively representing approximately 30,000 metric tons of low-carbon ammonia, with an option…