Author: Suchetana Choudhuri
With orange production forecast to decline nearly 13 per cent in 2026/27, industry leaders warn that Huanglongbing is reshaping the economics and sustainability of global citrus production Brazil’s citrus industry is facing one of the most critical moments in its recent history as greening (HLB – Huanglongbing), currently considered the world’s most serious phytosanitary threat to citrus orchards, continues to spread. The growing pressure from the disease is already compromising productivity, fruit quality, orchard longevity, and sharply increasing production costs across the country’s citrus value chain.The impacts of HLB became evident in the new forecast for the 2026/27 citrus crop…
Bac Ninh authorities commit to improving logistics, warehousing, and administrative procedures to support smooth lychee exports Vietnam and China are stepping up agricultural trade facilitation efforts with plans to establish a dedicated “green lane” mechanism to accelerate the export of Thieu lychees from Bac Ninh province, amid growing demand for Vietnamese fruit in the Chinese market. The initiative was highlighted at a conference on promoting the consumption of Thieu lychees and key agricultural, specialty, and OCOP products from Bac Ninh for 2026, where provincial authorities reaffirmed their commitment to streamlining administrative procedures and strengthening logistics infrastructure to support faster cross-border…
Newly launched Working Group aims to strengthen agricultural cooperation, technology transfer, and capacity-building among developing nations Vietnam has formally launched a dedicated South-South Cooperation Working Group in Agriculture, marking what officials described as the world’s first unified government-level coordination mechanism specifically designed to strengthen agricultural cooperation among countries of the Global South. The initiative was officially introduced during the “Meeting on Promoting Vietnam-Africa Agricultural Cooperation,” organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on May 29. The event brought together more than 150 representatives from diplomatic missions, international organisations, development agencies, research institutions, businesses, and agricultural experts from both domestic…
Proposed technologies include remote sensing, precision aquaculture systems, soil restoration solutions, and digital traceability platforms Hong Kong-based conglomerate Sun Wah Group and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) are advancing discussions on agricultural value chain transparency, digital traceability systems, and smart farming technologies as part of broader efforts to modernise Vietnam’s agricultural economy and strengthen sustainable production systems. The discussions took place during a high-level meeting on May 28 between Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Vo Van Hung, and Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Sun Wah Group. The bilateral engagement focused on cooperation in agricultural traceability, data governance,…
Brazilian authorities say the system modernises administrative workflows without altering the country’s scientific approval criteria for pesticides Brazil has unveiled a new unified digital platform aimed at modernising and integrating the country’s pesticide registration process, marking a significant regulatory shift within one of the world’s largest agricultural markets. The platform, known as SISPA — the Unified Information, Petition and Electronic Evaluation System — has been jointly introduced by Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The initiative is designed to replace Brazil’s previously fragmented approval structure, under which pesticide manufacturers were required to submit…
Fulcrum platform includes proprietary editing tools, enzymes, and trait libraries designed for precise crop genetic modification Netherlands-based plant biotechnology company Hudson River Biotechnology (HRB) has entered into a licensing agreement with US gene-editing specialist Pairwise, gaining access to the Fulcrum plant gene editing platform in a move aimed at strengthening its crop improvement and breeding capabilities across multiple agricultural segments. Under the agreement, Hudson River will incorporate Fulcrum tools into its genome editing services for customers working in vegetables, soft fruits, and other crop species. The partnership is expected to broaden the company’s technical offering by complementing its existing BioMaas…
Environmental impact assessment for the 750-tonne project has entered public consultation stage in Hebi Baoshan Economic and Technological Development Zone Chinese agrochemical manufacturer Hebi Quanfeng Biotech has moved to strengthen its position in the plant growth regulator segment with plans to establish a new annual 750-tonne production facility focused on key active ingredients including prohexadione calcium, trinexapac-ethyl, and uniconazole. The proposal has now entered the public consultation stage following the release of the project’s environmental impact assessment documentation. The planned technical renovation project will be located within the Hebi Baoshan Economic and Technological Development Zone and is designed to significantly…
Landmark legislation signed by Governor Phil Scott makes Vermont the first US state to prohibit paraquat, a herbicide linked in studies to elevated Parkinson’s disease risk Vermont has etched itself into American environmental policy history by becoming the first state in the United States to ban paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide widely associated with severe health risks, including Parkinson’s disease. The landmark legislation, signed into law by Governor Phil Scott, reflects an escalating policy consensus that certain agrochemicals may simply be too hazardous for continued use, even within regulated agricultural systems. The decision has been hailed as a significant victory…
Vertically integrated production and multi-region registrations bolster Heben’s competitiveness in global agrochemical supply chains Jiangsu Heben Biochem Co. Ltd. has secured self-owned registration for its Difenoconazole Technical in Brazil, marking a significant expansion of its regulatory and commercial presence in one of the world’s most strategically important agrochemical markets. The approval, granted by Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), carries registration number TC12626 under the trade name Difenoconazole Técnico Heben, and further consolidates the company’s position in the global triazole fungicide segment. The development comes on the heels of the company’s earlier achievement of EU equivalence registration for…
Netafim’s Shahar Dayan discusses how drip irrigation, digital agronomy and resource-efficient farming could reshape the future of coffee production worldwide In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Shahar Dayan, Senior Agronomist – Head of Strategic Crops and Sustainability at Netafim, argues that precision irrigation is rapidly evolving from a sustainability initiative into a strategic necessity for the global coffee industry amid escalating climate volatility. Drawing on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)-backed evidence from Vietnam and broader global field experience, Dayan explains how drip irrigation is delivering measurable gains in yield stability, water efficiency and input optimisation across major coffee-growing regions. He emphasises…