Author: Suchetana Choudhuri

The dairy industry has been plagued by a persistent global problem for decades – bacterial infection of cow udders that significantly reduces milk production. The condition, known as bovine mastitis, is estimated to cause annual global losses of $22 billion (S$28 billion). While antibiotics have been used to treat the infection in dairy cattle, there are issues such as rising antibiotic resistance and concerns around milk contamination from antibiotic residues. Now, a team of international researchers has developed alternatives to antibiotics that prevent infection through a novel mechanism they discovered. The scientists were led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU…

In this thought-provoking piece, Guillermo Medina, Chief Digital Officer at Pantaleon Sugar Holdings and Lead at Stomata Labs, envisions a world where farms evolve from sustaining humanity to actively healing the planet. He explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming agriculture—from integrating fragmented data to delivering prescriptive, real-time insights that boost efficiency and yields. The article highlights AI’s synergy with regenerative practices such as biochar application and microbial soil enrichment, revealing how data-driven strategies can enhance carbon sequestration and soil health. Medina argues that AI empowers farmers to make smarter, evidence-based decisions, turning uncertainty into resilience amid climate volatility. Ultimately,…

India is charting a bold course to become the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) hub of the Global South, leveraging its vast biomass, ethanol infrastructure, and policy-driven mandates. With domestic blending targets, state-backed incentives, and pioneering projects like IOC’s Panipat facility, the country is converting waste streams—used cooking oil, agricultural residues, and municipal solid waste—into low-carbon jet fuel. By 2040, India could produce 8–10 million tonnes of SAF annually, slashing lifecycle emissions by up to 80 per cent, generating green jobs, and creating export opportunities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Startups, EPC firms, and R&D hubs are strengthening industrial capability,…

In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Gavin Bruce, Chief Executive of International Animal Rescue, (www.internationalanimalrescue.org ) reflects on over two decades of conservation, highlighting the shift from top-down approaches to community-led strategies that empower local people while benefiting biodiversity and climate. On coral reefs, he stresses the need for proactive resilience building, combining restoration, local stewardship, and global climate action to safeguard ecosystems. Gavin emphasizes that habitat protection, rather than just flagship species, ensures long-term wildlife sustainability, with community engagement reducing pressures on natural resources. Successful initiatives, such as mangrove restoration, demonstrate how conservation can boost livelihoods, support female empowerment, and protect…

In an exclusive interaction, Sumit Govind Sharma, Groupe MRP’s Global MD and the President of the Indo-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry outlines Groupe MRP’s transformative vision to establish an agriculture corridor across 78 countries spanning Africa and the Arab world. Anchored in the “LIFE – Longterm Integrated Farming Expertise” model, the initiative seeks to bridge Africa’s vast untapped arable potential with India’s agri-innovation strengths, creating integrated, self-sustaining agribusiness clusters. Each cluster will combine food security, value addition, and climate-smart practices—ranging from solar-powered irrigation and biogas generation to digital farm management tools and hydroponic fodder systems. With 50 per cent of output dedicated to…

Mushroom coffee and tea are redefining global beverage habits by blending daily rituals with functional wellness benefits. Driven by adaptogenic mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps, these drinks promise focus, calm, and immune resilience without caffeine crashes. The global mushroom beverage market, valued at $4 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $7.4 billion by 2034, signaling strong consumer adoption. Experts from brands like Nuvedo, Maverick & Farmer, and Hi Shroomz™ see this as the “Fourth Wave of Coffee,” where science and sustainability converge. However, success will hinge on extract quality, clinical credibility, and consumer education to distinguish genuine…

In an exclusive AgroSpectrum and NUFFOODS Spectrum Asia interview, Daniel Baven, CEO and Co-founder of Noahs, unveils how his company is turning everyday convenience stores into digital food hubs — the new crossroads of food, tech, and community. With its plug-and-play platform, Noahs lets retailers “stream” culinary brands like Spotify streams music, giving chefs global reach and consumers fresh, data-driven dining experiences on demand. The results speak volumes — Q8 stations powered by Noahs saw food sales surge 374 per cent and basket sizes climb 228 per cent. Unlike ghost kitchens or delivery aggregators, Noahs taps into existing retail kitchens,…

In this exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Pravin Patel, Founder of Brio Hydroponics, shares how the Unnati project—a 100-acre hydroponics park in Gujarat—is poised to transform Indian agriculture from niche experimentation to mainstream, climate-smart farming. Patel discusses how Brio’s pioneering Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) system combines global technology with local adaptation to deliver year-round, resource-efficient, high-quality produce. He highlights how Unnati not only boosts profitability for investors and farmers but also serves as a training and technology hub, enabling knowledge transfer across the country. The conversation underscores hydroponics’ potential to address climate volatility, water scarcity, and food security while creating scalable, modular…

Mancozeb, that ubiquitous arbiter of phytopathological destiny, continues to bestride the globe as an indispensable fungicidal panacea, even as the European Union has cast it into regulatory obsolescence on grounds of speculative toxicology. Its multisite mode of action, coupled with an enviable paucity of resistance development, renders it indispensable for high-value horticultural and agronomic commodities—from India’s grapes and potatoes to Latin America’s bananas and Brazil’s soybeans. Yet the global regulatory tableau is a patchwork of prudence and profligacy: while North America permits its judicious deployment, India confronts an incomplete evidentiary edifice and the concomitant peril to trade and farmer livelihoods.…

Exclusive to Agrospectrum, Dr. Nripanka Das, Subject Matter Expert in Carbon Projects (UAE), explains why biochar is emerging as the “engineered permanence” solution in a carbon market searching for credibility, durability, and fair valuation. He highlights biochar’s dual advantage of long-term carbon sequestration and soil regeneration, a combination that delivers stacked financial and agronomic benefits. Scaling beyond pilots, he stresses, will require modular pyrolysis technology, aggregated demand, and blended finance models that de-risk large capital investments. Dr. Das argues that early movers can benefit from current price volatility by building high-quality, premium projects with strong verification systems. He also emphasizes…