Author: Suchetana Choudhuri

In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Simon Henry outlines how aerial intelligence is cutting inputs, boosting yields, and driving ESG outcomes Simon Henry, Vice President of Business Development – EMEA / Ireland at ZenaTech, outlines how precision agriculture is rapidly shifting from a niche innovation to a necessity across EMEA, driven by regulatory pressure, rising costs, and climate volatility. He emphasizes that ZenaTech’s Drone-as-a-Service model is breaking down cost and complexity barriers, making advanced aerial intelligence accessible to farms of all sizes. The company is tackling one of the sector’s biggest challenges—turning complex data into actionable insights—by embedding AI-driven analytics that…

Human oversight and contextual intelligence key to scaling AI in agriculture In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Maj Sapna Nauhria, Industry Director, Public Sector, Asia, Microsoft, highlights that AI’s real value in agriculture lies in bridging policy intent with field realities by enabling data-driven, context-specific decisions while respecting ecological limits. She emphasises that for initiatives like the Digital Agriculture Mission to succeed, advisories must be localised, transparent, and directly linked to on-ground factors such as water availability and infrastructure. The discussion underscores that AI should complement—not replace—farmer judgment, with trust built through explainable recommendations, human oversight, and integration of local knowledge…

Photo Credit: Michelangelo Pignani/FFI In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Dr. Amelia Wenger warns that global conservation efforts risk falling short as sewage pollution remains critically underfunded and poorly integrated into marine protection strategies In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Dr. Amelia Wenger, Water Pollution Program Lead at the Wildlife Conservation Society and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, highlighted that nearly 75 per cent of marine protected areas are impacted by sewage pollution, exposing a critical flaw in global ocean conservation strategies that overemphasize protection without addressing pollution. She stressed that while the “30 by 30” target is important,…

From advanced R-PET packaging for delicate fruit to tailored product development and horticultural solutions, ILIP reinforces its leadership across the fresh produce ecosystem ILIP will take center stage at Macfrut 2026, held from April 21–23 at the Rimini Expo Centre (Hall B3, Stand 073), unveiling a comprehensive portfolio designed to serve the entire fruit and vegetable supply chain. With a newly redesigned exhibition space aimed at fostering deeper engagement, the company underscores its strategic commitment to collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. Macfrut, a key international platform for the produce industry, offers ILIP the opportunity to present an integrated approach that spans…

In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, BiofuelCircle’s Co-Founder and Group CEO outlines how scalable biomass supply chains, rural enterprises, and fuel substitution can transform agricultural waste into a sustainable energy solution without long-term subsidy dependence. In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Suhas Baxi, Co-Founder and Group CEO of BiofuelCircle, unpacks the real economics behind the “farm to fuel to soil” model and its path to self-sustainability. He highlights how scalable bioenergy systems can move beyond subsidy dependence by building efficient biomass supply chains and competitive pricing. The conversation dives into the rise of rural micro-entrepreneurship, revealing early profitability trends across biomass…

A quiet but telling shift is underway in global food curiosity—and it is playing out not in restaurants, but in search bars New research by Cargo Force ( https://www.cargoforce.com/ ) reveals a sharp rise in online searches for British foods in India, pointing to a growing cultural openness and evolving taste preferences. At the same time, British consumers continue to show an enduring—and expanding—love for Indian cuisine. Together, these parallel trends signal something deeper than fleeting curiosity: A two-way culinary exchange that reflects globalisation, digital influence, and shifting food identities. India’s Growing Curiosity for British Cuisine The data shows that…

Kishan Kaujalgi and Anouk Bosman discuss scaling offshore kelp farming, driving farmer ROI, and building a resilient, sustainable input ecosystem In an exclusive AgroSpectrum interview, Kishan Kaujalgi, India Lead, and Anouk Bosman, Head of Marketing at Kelp Blue, reveal how the company is pioneering large-scale offshore cultivation of Macrocystis pyrifera to solve one of agriculture’s biggest challenges: consistent, sustainable raw material supply. They highlight how ocean farming mirrors land agriculture in complexity—navigating storms, pests, and yield optimization—while eliminating the need for irrigation and chemical inputs. At the core of their model is a sustainability-first approach, harvesting just 10 per cent…

Today, castor oil is a premium sustainable industrial feedstock for bio-based products Casterra Ag Ltd. , a developer of high-yield castor seed varieties and integrated castor farming solutions, and a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd, today announced successful commercial field trials in Brazil, highlighting castor oil as a compelling candidate for economically viable biofuel production. At present, castor oil is widely recognized as a high-value, sustainable feedstock for bio-based industries (lubricants, surface coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and resins). Casterra’s development efforts aim to reduce the farming cost of castor grains for oil production while maintaining farmer profitability. Success in these efforts will enable competitive castor oil pricing across…

FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero warns of cascading impacts on energy, fertilizer supply, and global food systems as tanker traffic collapses and shipping risks surge The ongoing disruption to the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a major shock to global commodity flows, with implications for energy, agriculture, and food security. According to Máximo Torero of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, tanker traffic through the corridor has dropped by more than 90 percent within days of the escalation. The strait typically carries around 20 million barrels of oil per day—about 35 percent of global crude flows—along…

Exclusive AgroSpectrum interview with Manisha Majumdar, on why India is reshaping the global sugarcane narrative In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Manisha Majumdar, Head APAC, Bonsucro, explains why India’s scale as the world’s second-largest sugar producer, combined with its rapid shift toward ethanol and bio-based industries, makes this a pivotal moment to spotlight the country globally. She highlights how regions like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka are not only production hubs but also emerging centers of sustainability innovation, supporting millions of smallholder farmers. Manisha emphasizes that India must transition from a volume-driven sugar economy to a climate-resilient, sustainability-led value chain…