https://agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/country/mexico mexico https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/197/4581/greenlights-rna-fungicide-gets-mexico-nod-in-milestone-for-agricultural-biotech.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/197/4581/greenlights-rna-fungicide-gets-mexico-nod-in-milestone-for-agricultural-biotech.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:48:44 +0530 Mexico has approved the commercial sale of an RNA-based biofungicide for grape powdery mildew, marking what could become a significant milestone in the evolution of crop protection technology. The Mexican government announced the approval of Oifirax on August 12, 2026, clearing the product developed by US-based GreenLight Biosciences for commercial use against grape powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe necator. The approval makes Oifirax the world’s first RNA biofungicide authorised for commercial sale, according to the source. The development moves RNA interference technology into a new area of crop protection. RNAi has already been commercialised in insect control, but its use against fungal diseases represents a broader application of a technology designed to act on specific biological targets rather than relying on conventional broad-spectrum chemistry. Oifirax works through double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) technology. Its molecular target is the CYP51 gene, which plays an essential role in the fungus’s ability to produce ergosterol, a component required for maintaining fungal cell membranes. Once applied, the RNA molecules are taken up by the target pathogen. The dsRNA then triggers a gene-silencing mechanism that suppresses CYP51, disrupting ergosterol production and ultimately causing the fungal cell membrane to fail. The approach is notable for its specificity. Rather than altering the plant itself, the technology is designed to interfere with a biological process inside the disease-causing fungus. Oifirax therefore does not involve genetically modifying the crop, according to GreenLight. The company has also pointed to safety assessments covering non-target organisms. Bioinformatics analysis cited by GreenLight found the product to be safe for non-target species including monarch butterflies and honeybees. The RNA molecules are also designed to break down naturally in the environment through the action of enzymes and microorganisms. For an agricultural industry under growing pressure to reduce dependence on conventional chemical crop protection, the commercial approval could have significance beyond grapes. Targeted RNA technologies are attracting attention because they offer the possibility of developing crop-protection products that are designed around the molecular biology of specific pests and pathogens. The commercialisation of Oifirax follows more than 10 years of research, development and testing, according to GreenLight. The company has previously applied the technology in vineyards in California, providing field experience ahead of the Mexican market approval. GreenLight is also linking the regulatory milestone to a manufacturing expansion in Mexico. The company has announced plans to invest between $ 50 million and $ 100 million in a production facility in Mexico City. The proposed investment is expected to create specialised employment opportunities and establish a local manufacturing base for the technology. The move could give Mexico a role not only as an early adopter of RNA-based crop protection but also as a potential manufacturing hub for the emerging technology. The significance of Oifirax extends beyond its application against powdery mildew. RNA interference has already demonstrated commercial potential in insecticides, and GreenLight’s Calantha is an example of the technology being used to target the Colorado potato beetle. The approval of Oifirax effectively expands the commercial application of RNAi from insect control into fungal disease management, broadening the potential addressable market for the technology. That transition also illustrates a larger shift taking place in agricultural inputs. The next generation of biological crop protection is increasingly focused on precision—identifying a particular genetic or molecular mechanism and designing an intervention around it. For growers, the commercial value of such technologies will ultimately depend on more than regulatory approval. Product performance under field conditions, production costs, application economics, compatibility with existing crop-protection programmes and adoption by farmers will determine how quickly RNA-based products move from technological breakthroughs to mainstream agricultural tools. Oifirax nevertheless represents an important proof point for the sector. The commercial approval demonstrates that RNA interference can move beyond laboratory research and insect control into regulated fungal disease management. The Mexican decision could also encourage further investment and regulatory interest in RNA-based agricultural products. As companies search for alternatives and complements to conventional crop-protection chemistry, technologies capable of targeting pathogens with greater biological precision could become an increasingly important part of the crop-input landscape. For GreenLight, the approval provides both a regulatory breakthrough and a platform for commercial expansion. For the wider agricultural industry, it offers an early look at what a more targeted generation of biological crop protection could look like. The real test will now be whether Oifirax can translate its molecular precision into measurable value for growers—and whether the regulatory precedent established in Mexico accelerates the development and adoption of RNA-based solutions across other crops and disease categories. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/197/2504/tafe-a-world-leader-in-tractor-manufacturing-expands-its-global-footprint-with-a-subsidiary-in-mexico.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/197/2504/tafe-a-world-leader-in-tractor-manufacturing-expands-its-global-footprint-with-a-subsidiary-in-mexico.html Wed, 09 Oct 2024 11:19:36 +0530 TAFE tractors with global outreach in more than 80 countries strengthening farms in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE), one of the largest tractor manufacturers in the world, established in 1960 and the second largest in India, is set to open a subsidiary in Mexico to provide more and better support to its wide customer base. It is expected to commence operations in January 2025. TAFE is currently in discussions with several agencies, including interested parties for partnership. TAFE tractors are sold worldwide in more than 80 countries strengthening farms in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America, with a strong distribution network. TAFE's product range includes compact tractors from 20-30 horsepower (HP) mechanical and hydrostatic, and a full range of medium-sized tractors from 35 HP to 110 HP. The range includes basic and advanced versions of tractors, cab and open-station tractors. With its vast experience in international markets, the tractors produced by TAFE are well known and have been winning the favor of Mexican customers for several years. The development of the Mexican market marks a significant step forward for TAFE after the recent and successful launch of its tractor line in Europe. In addition to tractors, TAFE and its subsidiaries have other business offerings in areas such as agricultural equipment, precision farm management solutions, diesel engines and generator sets, agro-industrial engines, engineering plastics, gears and transmission components, hydraulic pumps and cylinders, all manufactured in world-class manufacturing plants in India and Turkey. In addition, TAFE also offers vehicle franchising and manages plantations. TAFE TRACTORS is the flagship brand of TAFE - Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, a major tractor company established in Chennai, India in 1960 with an annual turnover exceeding $1.6 billion. As one of the largest tractor manufacturers in the world and the second largest in India in terms of volume, TAFE sells over 180,000 tractors annually. In addition to tractors, TAFE and its subsidiaries have diverse business interests in areas such as agricultural machinery, diesel engines and generator sets, agro-industrial engines, engineering plastics, gears and transmission components, hydraulic pumps and cylinders, vehicle franchising and plantations. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/197/1977/kws-inaugurates-new-rd-facility-in-navolato-mexico.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/197/1977/kws-inaugurates-new-rd-facility-in-navolato-mexico.html Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:54:46 +0530 Company will carry out breeding for tomato and pepper as well as screening activities for cucumber, melon and watermelon Global seed specialist KWS officially opened their new breeding station in Sinaloa, Mexico. There, the company will carry out breeding for tomato and pepper as well as screening activities for cucumber, melon and watermelon. Since its entry into the long-term growth market for vegetable seeds in 2019, KWS has been building a global network of sites to expand its breeding and sales activities across new regions. The new facility in the municipality of Navolato covers 10,3 hectares and features warehouses, offices, a large area for open field production, as well as greenhouses covering an area of 4,500 m2 – a number which is supposed to grow by another 5.000 m2 in the coming years. In parallel with construction, KWS has assembled a team of approximately 45 employees, including experienced breeders, farming experts and seasonal workers. KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. With a history of more than 165 years in the seed industry, the company focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seeds for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, rapeseed and sunflower. In 2019, the company announced its entry into the long-term growth market for vegetable seeds, based on a greenfield approach which entails organic growth, supplemented by suitable acquisitions and the sales of licensed-in varieties. “At KWS Vegetables Mexico, our goal is to provide high quality vegetable seeds for the Mexican market”, Alberto Gonzalez Acuña, National Sales Manager KWS Vegetables Mexico, says. “The new breeding station in Navolato enables us to develop competitive varieties which offer solutions for the main challenges faced by local farmers and strengthen our presence in the market.” KWS, based in the city of Culiacán has been active in Mexico since 2020 and already has a commercial portfolio for tomato seeds in place. Sinaloa, which is located on the west coast, is one of the nation’s most important areas for vegetables and other crops. “The new station will serve as the central hub of our breeding activities for the Mexican vegetable market”, Ailton Ribeiro, Head of Breeding Latin America at KWS Vegetables, explains. “The focus will lie on developing innovative tomato and pepper varieties – two crops of high relevance both for Mexican agriculture and our company.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/197/1079/vietnams-tuna-exports-to-mexico-reach-7-4-mn.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/197/1079/vietnams-tuna-exports-to-mexico-reach-7-4-mn.html Wed, 21 Jun 2023 08:08:00 +0530 In April 2023, tuna exports to the Mexican market increased by 117 per cent over the same period in 2022 In April 2023, tuna exports to the Mexican market increased by 117 per cent over the same period in 2022, reaching nearly $1.9 million, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Accumulated in the first 4 months of 2023, tuna exports to Mexico reached nearly US$7.4 million, up 44 per cent over the same period in 2022. With this growth rate, Mexico is currently the 8th tuna import market of Vietnam. Data from the General Department of Customs shows that Mexico mainly imports tuna meat/loin from Vietnam, accounting for 74 per cent of total export value, the rest is other processed tuna products. Currently, Mexico and Vietnam are two markets that are quite similar to each other. Many key products of Vietnam have many opportunities to penetrate the 11th most populous market in the world, especially after the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) comes into effect. Accordingly, frozen tuna loin/fillet products from Vietnam exported to Mexico are being reduced from the base tax rate of 20 per cent to 0 per cent. Other processed tuna products, such as frozen steamed tuna loin, are exempt from tax when imported into Mexico. According to Luu Van Khang - Trade Counselor, Vietnam Trade Office in Mexico, people in this country strongly consume products that have been preliminarily processed or processed at supermarkets or convenience stores. This item is a potential item for Vietnam's seafood products. According to VASEP, Vietnam's tuna exports in 2022 reached the target of $1 billion, up 34 per cent compared to 2021. This is also the first time the tuna industry has reached an export value of billion USD. This result contributes to the seafood industry's export turnover of $11 billion in 2022. ]]>