Author: Suchetana Choudhuri
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…
The new model tackles the complex challenge of designing novel small molecules that satisfy multiple product criteria—an essential capability for applications in both pharmaceuticals and agriculture Evogene Ltd , a leading computational biology company, announced the completion of version 1.0 of its generative AI foundation model for small molecule design, developed in collaboration with Google Cloud. This first-in-class model powers ChemPass AI, Evogene’s platform for small molecule discovery and optimization, and represents a major leap forward in life-science R&D. The model addresses a critical bottleneck in both pharmaceutical and agricultural product development: the ability to design novel small molecules that…
The agricultural drone sector in Brazil, primarily used for aerial spraying, saw a major breakthrough in 2021 following the publication of Ordinance No. 298 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), which officially regulated their use. That year, sales were estimated at 3,000 units. Fast forward to today, and the number has soared to an estimated 35,000 drones in operation—a clear sign of how regulatory clarity can unlock rapid technological adoption in agriculture Brazil’s agricultural drone market is experiencing rapid expansion, driven in large part by regulatory clarity introduced through MAPA’s Ordinance No. 298 in 2021, which legalized and…
New fungicide Forcivo to combat foliar diseases across multiple crops with three powerful active ingredients, enhancing plant health and boosting yield potential Corteva has announced the upcoming launch of Forcivo fungicide, designed to combat foliar diseases in corn and soybeans using three powerful active ingredients: flutriafol, azoxystrobin, and fluindapyr. Awaiting approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Forcivo promises both preventive and curative control against diseases like tar spot, southern rust, and frogeye leaf spot. Mike Eiberger, U.S. Marketing Leader at Corteva, emphasized that Forcivo will provide growers with a robust tool to enhance plant health, increase yield potential,…
Multinational firm Albaugh unveiled its new insecticide, Afiado, at this year’s Expocitros event. Designed to target the citrus psyllid—the key pest responsible for spreading ‘greening,’ a disease that has significantly impacted Brazil’s citrus industry—Afiado aims to address the top concern of citrus growers across the country. Albaugh has introduced Afiado, a systemic contact and ingestion insecticide formulated with Acetamiprid and Bifenthrin, during Expocitros 2025. This technology, already proven effective in Brazil on crops like potato, coffee, beans, corn, soybean, and cotton, targets a range of pests including Anthonomus grandis, Bemisia tabaci, and Hypothenemus hampei. Nelson Azevedo, Albaugh’s marketing and development…
Corteva Agriscience has launched Incitro, an insecticide from the spinosyn chemical group, known for its effectiveness in controlling greening, as highlighted by the Citrus Defense Fund (Fundecitrus) Corteva Agriscience has introduced Incitro, a new insecticide featuring its exclusive molecule, Jemvelva Active. The company highlights Jemvelva for its “high knockdown power, broad-spectrum control, prolonged residual effect, selectivity, and a shorter safety interval,” allowing farmers to harvest just one day after application. Belonging to the spinosyn chemical group, Incitro is recognized for its effectiveness in managing greening disease, according to the Citrus Defense Fund (Fundecitrus). The molecule underwent extensive trials across four…
The Mosaic Company is progressing its growth strategy with the successful launch of a biostimulant product in China The Mosaic Company is progressing its strategy to redefine growth by proudly announcing the successful launch of Neptunion, its latest biostimulant product, in China. Neptunion enhances crop resilience against abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heat by integrating stress-resistant properties into water-soluble fertilizers. This addition to the Mosaic Biosciences portfolio supports sustainable agriculture by helping growers boost yields while reducing environmental impact. Jenny Wang, Executive Vice President Commercial, commented, “The launch of Neptunion in China marks a key milestone for our…
The announcement came during a visit to the United States by a delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, led by Minister Do Duc Duy Vietnam is poised to sign more than $2 billion in agricultural trade deals with the United States, the Vietnamese government announced Tuesday, in a bid to ease trade tensions and avert a potential 46% tariff on exports threatened by President Donald Trump. The announcement came during a high-level visit to the US by a Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Do Duc Duy. The move is seen as a strategic effort…