Author: Suchetana Choudhuri

Activance NUE enables validated nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency claims, offering fertilizer manufacturers a regulatory-ready solution for sustainable crop nutrition Borregaard has introduced Activance NUE, a new CE-marked biostimulant ingredient designed to enhance nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency across a wide range of crops, as fertilizer manufacturers increasingly seek technologies that improve productivity while reducing nutrient losses and environmental impact. Certified under the European Union Fertilising Products Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as a PFC 6(B) non-microbial plant biostimulant, Activance NUE enables fertilizer producers to develop advanced nutrition products with validated nutrient-use efficiency claims while maintaining flexibility across multiple formulation systems. The launch…

As India marks the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Maharashtra’s proposed law could become a defining test of how agricultural identity, entitlement and recognition are understood in the 21st century India’s agricultural economy rests on a long-standing and often unexamined assumption: That the farmer, as a category of policy, identity, and political imagination, is primarily male. This assumption persists despite extensive evidence that women constitute a central and, in many regions, indispensable component of agricultural production. Across rural India, women undertake a broad range of agricultural activities, including sowing, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, livestock management, post-harvest processing, seed preservation, and…

Researchers across the U.S. and Europe will study nitrogen dynamics to develop smarter fertilizer strategies that protect both profitability and the environment In a significant bid to address one of modern agriculture’s most persistent productivity and sustainability challenges, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation have unveiled the Agricultural Nitrogen Use Efficiency Platform (AgNUE), a five-year, $34.7 million collaborative research initiative designed to transform how farmers manage nitrogen fertilizer. The programme combines $7.5 million in funding from FFAR with $27.2 million in matching support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, creating an international research network…

Brazilian citrus growers gain access to the first registered peptide-based solution targeting citrus greening, combining science, sustainability and field-ready performance In a development that could significantly alter the battle against one of global agriculture’s most persistent crop diseases, Elemental Enzymes and UPL Ltd. have announced the commercial launch of Strakor, a peptide-based biological solution designed to manage citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB). The introduction of Strakor marks a notable milestone for the citrus sector, as the product becomes the first and only registered solution in Brazil specifically approved for the management of citrus greening, a disease widely…

Japanese agrochemical major expands manufacturing footprint in Gujarat as it prepares worldwide launch of Ryzonic, a proprietary herbicide expected to strengthen its position in the global paddy rice market In a strategic move that underscores India’s growing importance within global agricultural supply chains, Nissan Chemical Corporation has announced plans to establish a dedicated manufacturing facility for its newly developed herbicide Ryzonic (iptriazopyrid) at its Indian joint venture, Nissan Bharat Rasayan Pvt. Ltd. (NBR). The investment marks a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to build a robust global production network ahead of the commercial launch of Ryzonic, a proprietary rice…

The French agricultural CRO and South Korean innovator seek to accelerate validation and commercialization of biological technologies amid rising demand for sustainable farming solutions In a move that reflects the accelerating convergence of agricultural biotechnology innovation and global regulatory science, SynTech Research Group, one of the world’s leading agricultural contract research organizations (CROs), has entered into a strategic partnership with South Korean biotechnology innovator ObjetBio to support the international validation, regulatory advancement and commercialization of novel microbial-based agricultural technologies. The two companies formalized their collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 13, 2026, establishing a…

Minister Trinh Viet Hung advances cooperation in digital agriculture, climate resilience, sustainable development and high-value food systems as Vietnam strengthens its regional leadership agenda In a demonstration of Vietnam’s increasingly proactive regional engagement strategy, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung has concluded a series of high-level bilateral meetings with counterparts in Singapore and Thailand, advancing a broad agenda encompassing agricultural innovation, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, climate resilience and food security. The engagements formed part of the official overseas programme led by General Secretary and President To Lam between May 27 and June 1, 2026, and underscored Vietnam’s growing…

National Geographic’s ‘Best of the World 2026’ recognition elevates Vietnam’s coffee capital as a premier gastronomic destination, spotlighting the Central Highlands’ rich cultural heritage and globally acclaimed coffee legacy In a development that underscores the growing international stature of Vietnam’s coffee economy and culinary tourism sector, Buon Ma Thuot—the beating heart of the country’s coffee industry—has been named among National Geographic’s “Best of the World 2026” culinary destinations, placing the Central Highlands city alongside some of the most celebrated food and cultural hotspots on the planet. The recognition, announced by the Dak Lak Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, marks…

New $1.6 million storage research facility aims to unlock value, reduce losses, and improve profitability across the supply chain Mississippi State University (MSU) is advancing its commitment to specialty crop innovation with the development of a new $1.6 million sweet potato storage research facility at the Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station. The initiative is designed to address one of the industry’s most persistent challenges—post-harvest losses that diminish both crop quality and grower returns. Announced during a recent producer engagement meeting, the facility will serve as a dedicated hub for research into storage and curing practices, with the objective of improving…

Rothamsted Research launches inaugural field trial under the Precision Breeding Act as investment in crop biotechnology signals growing momentum for next-generation agricultural innovation The United Kingdom has taken a significant step in its post-Brexit agricultural innovation strategy with the planting of the country’s first gene-edited crop under the newly implemented precision breeding regulatory framework. The milestone marks the practical commencement of a policy shift designed to accelerate biotechnology-led agricultural research while distinguishing precision-bred organisms from conventional genetically modified crops. The field trial, led by Rothamsted Research, represents the first crop to be authorised through a Precision Bred Organism Release Notice…