Author: Suchetana Choudhuri

The global specialty fertilizer market is entering a new phase of technological convergence, moving beyond conventional nutrient formulations toward integrated performance systems, according to insights shared by Vatren Jurin, Chief Technology Officer and Partner at DunhamTrimmer. Jurin is set to present “Market Trends for Specialty Fertilizers” at the NewAG International Conference & Exhibition 2026, scheduled for April 28–29 in Madrid. Drawing on a synthesis of global patent activity, academic research trends, and proprietary market intelligence, Jurin’s analysis points to a structural transformation in how innovation is defined within the fertilizer industry. Rather than focusing on nutrient composition alone, companies are…

Two local currency loans of $500,000 each from the Food Systems Innovation Finance Facility to Omia Agribusiness in Uganda and SokoFresh in Kenya / Omia to expand services and market access for 75,000+ smallholder farmers / SokoFresh to reduce food loss and increase farmer incomes through expanded cold storage and market linkages in Kenya / Innovative financing model combines philanthropic capital from Bayer Foundation with UNCDF’s mandate as dedicated investment partner for underserved markets As part of a strategic partnership, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and Bayer Foundation today announced the first investments under the Food Systems Innovation…

Vibrance Premium targets key fungal threats as regulators speed up product clearances New Zealand has approved a new fungicide designed to protect potato crops from a wide range of damaging diseases, providing a boost to one of the country’s most valuable horticultural sectors. The decision by New Zealand Food Safety clears Vibrance Premium for use on potato seed tubers, targeting multiple fungal threats including black scurf, silver scurf, black dot, gangrene and fusarium dry rot, while also suppressing common scab. Deputy Director-General Vincent Arbuckle said the approval comes at a critical time for the country’s potato industry, which is valued…

Laminarin product targets hard-to-control diseases while supporting stricter environmental standards A new generation of crop protection is nearing a key regulatory milestone in China, as a seaweed-based biopesticide moves closer to market approval. France-based GOËMAR S.A.S announced that its Laminarin-based product has been included in the latest list of proposed pesticide registrations released by the Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The listing signals that the product has successfully passed technical evaluation and is expected to receive final registration following a public notice period. Derived from Laminaria japonica polysaccharides, Laminarin represents a shift from…

Government-backed deal covers 20 per cent of seasonal fertiliser shortfall amid global supply strains Australia has secured a critical boost to its fertiliser supply, with a new agreement set to deliver 250,000 tonnes of urea from Indonesia amid tightening global markets and ongoing geopolitical disruptions. The deal between Incitec Pivot Limited and PT Pupuk Indonesia will supply agricultural-grade urea between May and December, covering roughly 20 per cent of the country’s remaining fertiliser requirements for the current season. The agreement comes as Australia faces reduced shipments from the Middle East—traditionally the source of around 60 per cent of its urea…

Council of Mayors South East Queensland backs coordinated approach to strengthen supply chains Australia is being urged to rethink how it produces and distributes food, as a new strategy warns that fragmented planning will not be enough to withstand mounting pressures from climate change, population growth and global supply disruptions. In a report released on April 21, CSIRO laid out a coordinated blueprint to secure the country’s food future, using South East Queensland (SEQ) as a test case for a broader national model. Developed with the Council of Mayors South East Queensland and local stakeholders, the strategy calls for a…

Ministerial talks spotlight growing appetite for K-food and expanded agricultural partnership South Korea is stepping up efforts to expand its agricultural footprint in Southeast Asia, with a renewed push to grow K-food exports to Vietnam following high-level talks between the two countries. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung met her Vietnamese counterpart, Trinh Viet Hung, in Hanoi on Tuesday to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation across the farm sector. A key focus of the meeting was boosting Korean fruit exports. Song requested that Vietnam extend its current import window for Korean melons by…

Government targets year-end groundbreaking to shield farmers from volatile global prices The Department of Agriculture is moving closer to a long-anticipated milestone: breaking ground on the country’s first domestic fertilizer manufacturing plant before the end of the year, a strategic response to volatile global supply and rising input costs. At a press briefing, Undersecretary Roger Navarro confirmed that the initiative has secured high-level backing from Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. The project, still subject to feasibility validation, is positioned as a cornerstone of the government’s long-term food security strategy. If preparatory studies conclude on schedule by…

Partnership progresses to next phase following successful in vitro validation of bioactive ingredients Biotalys, an AgTech company focused on protein-based biocontrol solutions, today announced it has achieved the first research milestone in its ongoing partnership with Syngenta to develop a novel bioinsecticide targeting key crop pests. Initial laboratory testing has delivered encouraging in vitro results, demonstrating the effectiveness of newly developed bioactive compounds created using Biotalys’ proprietary AGROBODY technology. These compounds have shown activity against specific insect molecular targets, supporting the potential of this approach in next-generation pest control. “Biotalys is committed to advancing crop protection solutions that combine the…

Initiative equips teams to deliver more tailored, data-driven biosolutions across global markets Rovensa Next, a global leader in biosolutions for agriculture, today announced the launch of a comprehensive, AI-driven capability-building initiative designed to strengthen support for distribution partners and growers worldwide. The initiative combines an AI-powered knowledge platform with a global Training Academy, reinforcing the company’s commitment to its “Biosolutionize Agriculture” strategy—delivering more practical, connected, and evidence-based biosolutions tailored to local agronomic needs. At the core of the initiative is a proprietary AI platform that consolidates more than 10,000 internal articles and insights from over 4,000 field trials. Organized by…