Author: Suchetana Choudhuri
World Food Prize Foundation Welcomes 2017 Laureate and AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina to Council of Advisors. The World Food Prize Foundation has appointed Akinwumi Adesina, 2017 Laureate and current President of the African Development Bank, to its Council of Advisors. The World Food Prize Foundation has appointed Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, 2017 Laureate and President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to its Council of Advisors. A globally recognized development economist and agriculture advocate, Adesina will join the council following the completion of his second and final term at AfDB in September. “President Adesina embodies the values and vision of Dr.…
Pairwise has signed a landmark licensing agreement with CIMMYT, granting access to its Fulcrum gene editing platform and cutting-edge SHARC CRISPR enzyme. The collaboration aims to fast-track the creation of improved crop varieties for smallholder farmers across 20 countries where CIMMYT operates integrated R&D programs. In a major step toward transforming agriculture in the Global South, agricultural genetics company Pairwise has licensed its advanced Fulcrum™ gene editing platform to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The agreement grants CIMMYT and its National Agricultural Research System (NARS) partners access to powerful gene editing tools—including the SHARC CRISPR enzyme—to accelerate…
Machine learning and camera sensing are rapidly transforming agriculture, with AI-driven innovations improving efficiency, cutting input costs, and advancing sustainable farming. CNH’s latest breakthrough integrates real-time crop analysis with automated spraying technology—now embedded across its sprayer lineup under the Case IH, New Holland, and Miller brands. CNH’s smart sprayer precision technology identifies “green-on-brown” — weeds growing on bare soil — and delivers targeted applications of inputs like water, herbicides, and fertilizers. By precisely treating only where needed, it helps reduce chemical use, conserve resources, and improve productivity across each acre. In the latest feature of our A Sustainable Year series,…
The recognition was awarded at the 92nd General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in Paris. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection impacting cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, often leading to major economic losses and trade restrictions. Brazil has been officially declared free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) without the use of vaccination, marking a historic milestone for its livestock industry. The announcement was made during the 92nd General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), held in Paris. The recognition applies to Brazil’s entire territory, solidifying its…
Six major public development banks have launched the Clean Oceans Initiative 2.0 (COI 2.0), a strengthened partnership aimed at significantly reducing plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Together, they have set an ambitious financing target of €3 billion ($3.4 billion) for the period from 2026 to 2030. The Clean Oceans Initiative 2.0 represents a significant step forward in global efforts to combat ocean plastic pollution through coordinated funding and sustainable projects. Launched in 2018 and extended in 2022, the Clean Oceans Initiative (COI) is the largest multilateral effort focused on funding projects to reduce plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.…
The multinational FMC has announced the launch of Resuris fungicide (Fluindapyr and Chlorothalonil) in Brazil. This product features fluindapyr, an active ingredient exclusive to FMC. FMC has introduced Resuris, a new fungicide designed to combat “spot” diseases in peanut crops in Brazil. Featuring two active ingredients—Fluindapyr, exclusive to FMC, and Chlorothalonil—Resuris offers operational versatility with no need for tank mixing. According to Luís Grandeza, FMC’s manager, the product combines two modes of action: chlorothalonil inhibits enzyme formation in fungal metabolic processes, while Fluindapyr blocks production of the SDHI enzyme essential for fungal metabolism. Field tests conducted in partnership with agricultural…
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu has appointed Alue Dohong as Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific. Alue Dohong, an Indonesian environmental expert with extensive experience in sustainable development and peatland restoration, has been appointed Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. Before joining FAO, Dohong served as Senior Advisor to Indonesia’s Minister for Environment and Head of the Environment Control Agency since December 2024. He was previously Vice-Minister at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry from 2019 to 2024. Dohong began his career in 1994 as a lecturer…
Solomon Islands secures $8.9 Mn for climate-resilient agriculture The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) has approved $ 8.9 million in grant funding for an FAO-led initiative aimed at strengthening food security and climate resilience in the Solomon Islands, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. Facing rising sea levels, extreme weather, and a largely rural population dependent on agriculture and fisheries, the Solomon Islands confronts serious threats to its food systems and livelihoods. Supported by over $ 29 million in co-financing, the Resilient Rural Economic Growth and Food Security project seeks to transform how food is grown, accessed, and sustained…
New and existing investors back Beewise’s AI- and robotics-powered BeeHome as the company scales its precision pollination technology. Beewise, the climate tech innovator behind the AI-powered BeeHome, has raised $50 million in Series D funding, bringing its total capital to nearly $170 million. The round includes continued support from Fortissimo Capital, Insight Partners, APG Asset Management, lool Ventures, Badiya Capital, Marav Mazon Group, and Austin Hearst (Tom Horne). This latest funding will accelerate technological innovation, geographic expansion, and research and development, all in service of Beewise’s mission to save bees and secure global food supplies. Beewise’s flagship product, the BeeHome,…
Dynamic lighting meets AI climate control to revolutionize precision in controlled environment agriculture Sollum Technologies, the pioneer behind 100 per cent dynamic LED lighting, has announced a strategic partnership with Optimal, a leading provider of AI-driven greenhouse climate and irrigation control. This collaboration brings together cutting-edge lighting and AI automation, offering growers an advanced, fully integrated solution for real-time precision in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). The integration allows Optimal’s AI platform to adjust Sollum’s dynamic lighting in real time, seamlessly balancing it with climate and irrigation parameters based on rapidly changing external conditions. The result: growers can execute their crop…