Author: Suchetana Choudhuri

Amid global concern over rising fertilizer costs, supply chain fragility, and environmental impact, Switch Bioworks advances field trials of a new generation of fertilizer produced by living microbes directly on plant roots Switch Bioworks, a biotechnology company focused on sustainable fertilizer innovation, has announced the launch of field trials for its novel microbial fertilizer following authorization from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Microbial fertilizers utilize living microbes to capture nitrogen from the atmosphere and deliver it directly to crops, offering farmers an alternative to conventional nitrogen fertilizers produced using natural gas. Switch…

Department of Agriculture expands nationwide inspections, issues violation notices to non-compliant retailers and targets supply-chain irregularities under the P50-per-kilo rice ceiling policy The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has escalated its nationwide enforcement campaign to uphold the government’s P50-per-kilogram price ceiling on imported rice with 5 percent broken grains, deploying inspection teams across key public markets and issuing multiple notices of violation to retailers found circumventing the mandated pricing rules. The intensified monitoring effort reflects Manila’s determination to ensure that declining global rice prices are transmitted to domestic consumers, while reinforcing broader government initiatives aimed at curbing food inflation and…

Agricultural cooperation, export diversification and supply-chain stability emerge as key priorities in renewed economic engagement The Philippines is intensifying efforts to reshape its agricultural trading relationship with Vietnam as both nations pursue an ambitious goal of expanding bilateral commerce to $ 20 billion, up from the current $ 15 billion, while addressing structural trade imbalances that have long tilted in Hanoi’s favor. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Manila is exploring new avenues to increase Philippine agricultural exports to Vietnam and strengthen the implementation of existing trade agreements, particularly in commodities critical to regional food security. The initiative…

State Council blueprint prioritizes food security, technological self-reliance and sustainable rural development under the 15th Five-Year Plan China has unveiled an expansive roadmap to accelerate agricultural and rural modernization through 2030, setting ambitious targets for food security, technological innovation and sustainable rural development as the world’s second-largest economy seeks to strengthen the foundations of its agricultural sector amid mounting demographic, environmental and geopolitical challenges. The State Council, China’s cabinet, has formally released its agricultural and rural modernization strategy for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), positioning agriculture as a central pillar of the country’s broader modernization agenda while outlining a…

High-level meetings in Beijing reinforce cooperation in agricultural trade, technology transfer, aquaculture and poverty reduction as China deepens global partnerships China has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening agricultural cooperation with Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire and Jamaica following a series of high-level bilateral meetings held in Beijing on the sidelines of the 2026 Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum, underscoring the growing role of agriculture in the country’s international development and diplomatic agenda. Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Zhang Zhili met separately with Martha Carvajalino, Colombia’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Logboh Myss Belmonde Dogo, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister for…

Initiative focuses on breeding characteristics that enable consistent performance in autonomous greenhouse operations Dutch vegetable breeding specialist Rijk Zwaan and agricultural robotics innovator Eternal.ag have launched a collaborative initiative aimed at identifying tomato varieties best suited for robotic crop management, reflecting a growing convergence between plant genetics and automation in the future of protected agriculture. The partnership seeks to explore how tomato breeding can evolve alongside advances in robotics and artificial intelligence, with both companies sharing expertise to better understand which plant characteristics can enable efficient and reliable robotic operations in increasingly automated greenhouse environments. As labor shortages continue to…

Pilot project highlights the potential of smaller, localized plants to reduce emissions and fertilizer logistics costs Japanese deep-tech innovator Tsubame BHB has been selected by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to participate in a pioneering initiative that will produce nitrogen fertilizers from green hydrogen generated within the city, marking a significant step toward the decarbonization of both ammonia manufacturing and agricultural input supply chains. The project forms part of Tokyo’s broader hydrogen strategy, which seeks to establish a self-sustaining “produce, transport, and use” ecosystem capable of accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. Under the agreement, green hydrogen produced at a…

Long-term contract could generate $10 million in lifetime savings while supporting critical mine development activities Brazil Potash has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with energy solutions provider Gera Center for a 28-year Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement designed to power the company’s flagship Autazes Potassium Project in Amazonas, a move expected to reduce upfront capital requirements while strengthening long-term operational reliability. The proposed agreement represents a significant milestone in the project’s financing and infrastructure strategy, transferring approximately $33 million in initial power generation investment away from the project’s construction budget and into a long-term operating-cost structure.…

New export framework introduces pricing thresholds and signals continued strategic oversight of fertilizer markets China has officially reopened urea exports, but not without conditions. In a move that underscores Beijing’s continued influence over global fertilizer markets, authorities have introduced a minimum export price floor of $660 per tonne, ensuring that Chinese supply re-enters international trade under tightly managed terms rather than as a source of aggressive price competition. According to market intelligence reported by Profercy, the decision marks a significant shift in global nitrogen market dynamics at a time when Northern Hemisphere fertilizer demand is approaching seasonal highs. While importers…

GRDC-backed initiative seeks elite rhizobia strains to boost chickpea productivity, expand cultivation zones, and reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers Australia is undertaking its most significant effort in more than 40 years to modernise the biological foundations of chickpea production, with New South Wales scientists playing a central role in a national research program aimed at identifying elite rhizobia strains capable of improving nitrogen fixation, expanding cultivation opportunities, and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers. Led through a collaborative investment funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the initiative seeks to develop a new generation of chickpea inoculants for Australian…