https://agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/r-and-d/academic academic https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/4679/england-approves-first-marketing-notice-for-gene-edited-vitamin-d-tomato.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/4679/england-approves-first-marketing-notice-for-gene-edited-vitamin-d-tomato.html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 17:24:31 +0530 England has approved the first marketing notice for a precision-bred tomato, taking the biofortified ‘Sunshine’ tomato developed at the John Innes Centre a step closer to commercialisation and marking a significant milestone for gene-edited crops in the country. Developed in the laboratory of Professor Cathie Martin FRS, the tomato has been engineered to accumulate high levels of pro-vitamin D3 in its fruit and leaves. The development has also recently been evaluated in a landmark bioavailability study at the Quadram Institute, adding to the evidence base around its potential nutritional application. Martin said the project reflects her interest in using plant science to address public-health challenges, particularly vitamin D deficiency. “With vitamin D deficiency a widespread problem, our biofortified tomato could one day be a low-cost, simple, plant-based solution that can improve diets across the world,” she said. The marketing notice represents an important step towards bringing the tomato to market in England. It is also the first crop at the John Innes Centre to receive PBO marketing approval, making the development a milestone for the research institute’s precision-breeding programme. The science behind the tomato builds on a natural pathway already present in tomatoes. Tomato plants produce pro-vitamin D3 as an intermediate compound before converting it into other substances used in plant defence. Using gene editing, Martin and her team modified the relevant genes so that the plants accumulate substantially higher levels of pro-vitamin D3 in their fruit and leaves. The compound can subsequently be converted into vitamin D3 through exposure to sunlight or UVB light. Vitamin D3 is the more stable form relevant to human nutrition. According to the researchers, the genetic changes do not alter the plant’s appearance, growth characteristics or yield. The nutritional potential is central to the tomato’s commercial proposition. Each tomato could contain a quantity of vitamin D equivalent to that found in two eggs or 28 grams of tuna, based on the researchers’ assessment. The next stage will involve crossing the plants with sweeter-tasting and striped tomato varieties, with the resulting product intended to be marketed under the ‘Sunshine’ name, reflecting its enhanced vitamin D potential. The developers also plan to submit an application for approval to the UK Food Standards Agency. The development comes as precision breeding moves from laboratory research towards regulatory and commercial applications in England. For the John Innes Centre, the Sunshine tomato provides a test case for how targeted genetic changes can be used to develop crops with specific nutritional traits while retaining conventional agronomic characteristics. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/3304/banned-in-europe-essential-in-india-global-regulatory-dilemma-of-mancozeb.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/3304/banned-in-europe-essential-in-india-global-regulatory-dilemma-of-mancozeb.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:09:00 +0530 Mancozeb, that ubiquitous arbiter of phytopathological destiny, continues to bestride the globe as an indispensable fungicidal panacea, even as the European Union has cast it into regulatory obsolescence on grounds of speculative toxicology. Its multisite mode of action, coupled with an enviable paucity of resistance development, renders it indispensable for high-value horticultural and agronomic commodities—from India’s grapes and potatoes to Latin America’s bananas and Brazil’s soybeans. Yet the global regulatory tableau is a patchwork of prudence and profligacy: while North America permits its judicious deployment, India confronts an incomplete evidentiary edifice and the concomitant peril to trade and farmer livelihoods. Empirical case studies elucidate the stark economic and agronomic ramifications of an abrupt excision—diminished yields, escalated input costs, and disrupted export flows—which may well outweigh the conjectural health risks if employed under Good Agricultural Practices. Mancozeb thus embodies the quintessential conundrum of contemporary agriculture: the delicate dialectic between human health, agronomic imperatives, and global food security in an era of climate volatility and international interdependence. Mancozeb, an ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (EBDC), stands as one of the globe’s most extensively employed fungicides, esteemed for its broad-spectrum efficacy and remarkable cost-efficiency. Its multisite mode of action allows it to inhibit diverse fungal metabolic pathways, rendering the emergence of resistance exceedingly improbable. In an era in which crop diseases are evolving at a pace that outstrips chemical interventions, Mancozeb has remained an unwavering ally of farmers across continents. Yet, paradoxically, while it is proscribed in the European Union, it remains indispensable in India, Latin America, and other burgeoning agricultural economies. This regulatory disjunction epitomises a global dilemma: the delicate reconciliation of human health imperatives with the exigencies of agricultural productivity and food security. Mancozeb: A Fungicide with Global Reach Across the globe, Mancozeb finds application on a vast array of crops, from the potato fields and vineyards of India and the United Kingdom, to the banana plantations of Latin America, and the sprawling soybean belts of Brazil. Its paramount advantage lies in its multisite mode of action, whereby it simultaneously impedes multiple fungal metabolic pathways. Unlike systemic fungicides, which assail a solitary enzyme or receptor and thus succumb readily to pathogen adaptation, Mancozeb would necessitate the improbable mutation of myriad genes for resistance to arise. It is this very characteristic that has enshrined it as a cornerstone of integrated disease management, frequently deployed in concert with systemic fungicides to combat recalcitrant pathogens such as Plasmopara viticola, the agent responsible for downy mildew in grapes. According to statistics furnished by the Indian government, India alone produces an estimated 500,000 million tonnes of Mancozeb annually, available in a spectrum of formulations including 35% SC, 75% WG, and 75% WP. Beyond Indian shores, Mancozeb retains pre-eminence in the control of potato diseases in the U.K., bananas across Central and South America, and soybeans in Brazil. Its exceptional versatility, coupled with an affordability—generally ranging between $5 and $10 per kilogram—renders it indispensable not only to smallholder farmers but also to large-scale agribusiness enterprises, bridging the imperatives of economic prudence and agricultural efficacy. To understand Mancozeb’s global position, it is important to compare it with alternative fungicides: Fungicide TypeMode of ActionResistance RiskEnvironmental ImpactCost (USD/kg)MancozebMultisite inhibitorLowLow5–10BiofungicidesBiological controlVery LowVery Low15–25Copper FungicidesContact protectantModerateModerate10–20SDHI FungicidesSpecific enzyme inhibitorHighLow20–30 Source: ACS Agricultural Science & Technology, 2022; FAO Pesticide Data Regulatory Landscape: A Global Patchwork Mancozeb’s regulatory status varies sharply across regions, reflecting differences in risk assessment, agricultural priorities, and market sensitivity. European Union On the 14th of December, 2020, the European Commission promulgated Regulation (EU) 2020/2087, thereby proscribing the use of mancozeb, predicated upon its classification as a potential endocrine disruptor. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), whilst acknowledging the lacunae inherent in compound-specific analytical methodologies, nonetheless proceeded with the prohibition, invoking the precautionary principle as the lodestar of its regulatory reasoning. Although the European Union has rescinded approval, mancozeb continues to enjoy provisional sanction within the United Kingdom until the 31st of January, 2024. This interdiction has reverberated across the corridors of global commerce, for EU residue thresholds now exert a determinative influence upon exporters in India, Latin America, and sundry other trading partners, thereby entwining scientific prudence with the imperatives of international agrarian trade. United States In contradistinction, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has undertaken successive and scrupulous evaluations of mancozeb, ultimately adjudging that the acute, chronic, and carcinogenic dietary risks remain comfortably beneath the threshold of concern, provided the compound is employed in strict accordance with label directives. The EPA’s re-registration exercise of 2005 reaffirmed mancozeb’s safety profile, highlighting its negligible acute toxicity and the acceptably circumscribed risk associated with ETU metabolites, which frequently feature in toxicological disputations. A consonant appraisal has been rendered by Canadian authorities, who have sanctioned its continued utilisation within a framework of regulated oversight. India India, as the preeminent global purveyor of Mancozeb, finds itself ensnared in a regulatory quagmire of considerable complexity. In 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare embarked upon a comprehensive review of Mancozeb, alongside twenty-six other agrochemicals, contemplating a prospective proscription. Critics, however, have decried the preliminary assessments as lamentably partial, predicated solely upon thyroid profiles from a singular locus, devoid of the rigorous crop residue analyses requisite for an informed decision. A constellation of Indian stakeholders—including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), farmers’ collectives, and agrochemical enterprises—have championed a measured, evidence-driven approach. They underscore that an abrupt excision of Mancozeb could imperil the export viability of table grapes, potatoes, and other high-value horticultural commodities, with attendant repercussions on both agrarian livelihoods and the nation’s foreign exchange inflows. Economic and Trade Implications Globally, Mancozeb undergirds the livelihoods of millions of agrarians and contributes billions of dollars to agricultural export revenues. In India, for instance, table grapes and potatoes—both high-value export commodities—rely extensively upon Mancozeb for efficacious disease management. Downy mildew in grapes and early and late blight in potatoes can wreak havoc on yields if left unchecked, and projections indicate that the excision of Mancozeb could truncate output by 20 to 30 per cent per hectare. Such a diminution would reverberate through India’s export markets, particularly the European Union, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, potentially eroding the nation’s competitive advantage and diminishing foreign exchange inflows derived from horticultural exports. The scenario in Latin America is no less grave, especially in the context of banana cultivation. Black sigatoka, engendered by Mycosphaerella fijiensis, exhibits formidable resistance to many fungicidal interventions, rendering EBDCs such as Mancozeb the most efficacious recourse. Withdrawal of this fungicide would likely escalate production costs by up to 30 per cent, as cultivators would be compelled to substitute either costlier or less effective alternatives, while yields might concomitantly decline due to suboptimal disease control. Such perturbations could undermine the global competitiveness of Latin American bananas, imperiling both large-scale exporters and the smallholder farmers whose very sustenance is entwined with this crop. In the United Kingdom, Mancozeb plays an indispensable role in potato cultivation, with over 90 per cent of the crop area routinely treated to mitigate the twin threats of late and early blight. Bereft of Mancozeb, farmers would be compelled to deploy alternative fungicides, such as SDHIs or strobilurins, which are not only more costly but also prone to engendering resistance. This substitution could conceivably double per-hectare fungicide expenditures, compressing margins within an already fiercely competitive agricultural sector. Brazilian soybean cultivation further exemplifies the global ramifications. Soybeans, a strategic commodity in both domestic and international markets, are vulnerable to diseases such as Asian soybean rust, which can inflict severe yield losses. Mancozeb has demonstrably curtailed disease incidence by 60 to 70 per cent in field trials, preserving both output volume and quality. Its withdrawal would imperil yield stability, destabilise global supply chains, and amplify dependence upon costlier, single-target fungicides, thereby exacerbating resistance pressures over time. Collectively, these vignettes underscore Mancozeb’s remarkable economic efficacy. It furnishes broad-spectrum disease control at modest cost, with minimal risk of resistance evolution, rendering it indispensable for both high-value and staple crops alike. The prospective consequences of its removal extend beyond mere yield diminution: they encompass escalated input costs, heightened financial vulnerability for farmers, and potential disruption of international trade flows. When juxtaposed with the posited health risks—which, under judicious adherence to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), remain largely negligible—the economic and food security imperatives of sustaining Mancozeb arguably outweigh the speculative hazards, thereby accentuating the necessity for a nuanced, evidence-based regulatory paradigm. Conclusion Mancozeb occupies a singular and paradoxical nexus at the confluence of agriculture, public health, and international commerce—prohibited in Europe, yet indispensable across India, Latin America, and other emerging agrarian economies. Its multisite mode of action, combined with economic prudence and broad-spectrum disease control, renders it an essential instrument for safeguarding high-value crops such as grapes, bananas, potatoes, and soybeans. Global case studies consistently illuminate a salient truth: precipitous prohibitions risk imperilling both food security and economic resilience. While toxicological apprehensions warrant meticulous management and sustained scholarly inquiry, an indiscriminate withdrawal devoid of nuanced risk assessment could paradoxically engender greater detriment—manifesting as yield contractions, escalated market prices, and the erosion of farmer livelihoods. Confronted with the twin imperatives of climate change and the relentless emergence of phytopathogens, alongside the exacting demands of global trade standards, Mancozeb exemplifies the delicate equilibrium between scientific circumspection and pragmatic stewardship. Its narrative transcends the mere pharmacology of a fungicide; it epitomises the broader dialectic of global food security, responsible agrochemical governance, and harmonised regulatory praxis in an intricately interdependent world. --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/2177/thailand-in-partnership-with-australia-hosts-fisheries-workshop-for-women-in-southeast-asia.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/2177/thailand-in-partnership-with-australia-hosts-fisheries-workshop-for-women-in-southeast-asia.html Fri, 31 May 2024 07:23:00 +0530 Countries represented at the workshop included Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor Leste, Vietnam and Thailand Thailand Headquartered, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/ Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) in partnership with Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) organized the regional “Women in Fisheries Workshop” in mid May 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The three-day workshop provided an opportunity for women from SEA region to share their career experiences and learnings, and to establish a regional network of female fisheries officers. Countries represented at the workshop included Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor Leste, Vietnam and Thailand. This Workshop was an activity under Australia’s Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Promoting Sustainable Fisheries in Southeast Asia program. The Program was a five-year initiative that aims to strengthen the capacity of RPOA-IUU and ASEAN countries to combat IUU fishing, foster greater regional collaboration, and promote gender inclusion in fisheries related Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS). The Women in Fisheries Workshop aimed to strengthen regional cooperation by exploring the concept of a voluntary regional network of women fisheries officers, identify challenges and barriers faced by women fisheries officers in the region and practical opportunities for shifting gender norms within the sector in the short to medium term, boost the status and confidence of women in the fisheries MCS sector across the region by providing a platform to share their expertise and stories; and encourage male champions for gender equality in the sector who can actively support and promote gender inclusion in spaces where women are not well represented. The workshop welcomed 70 Women participants to in Fisheries workshop from across the region to share their experiences in gender inclusivity and overcoming barriers for women’s participation in fisheries careers. There were 66 participants (10 males and 56 females) who are fisheries officers and engaged in MCS implementation from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Vietnam, SEAFDEC, DAFF, Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) through observer from, RPOA-IUU Secretariat and Nha Trang University attended in the Workshop. The design of further activities to strengthen gender inclusivity in fisheries MCS was the main expected output of the Workshop. The workshop was delivered by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in partnership with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center and funded by Australia’s Combating IUU Fishing and Promoting Sustainable Fisheries in Southeast Asia program. Australian Ministry said, that supporting greater gender inclusivity in fisheries supports sustainability, and the networks established by events like this one strengthen regional coordination, which we know is essential when combating shared cross-border issues like IUU fishing. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1746/singapores-sit-initiates-sustainable-built-environment-sbe-programme-to-empower-agritech-and-aquaculture-talents.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1746/singapores-sit-initiates-sustainable-built-environment-sbe-programme-to-empower-agritech-and-aquaculture-talents.html Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:18:30 +0530 New Agritech and Aquaculture Specialisation will be introduced in Sustainable Built Environment (SBE) programme to train the workforce needed in the rapidly developing agri-food sector In anticipation of the transformation in the agri-food sector and the growing global demand for green talent, Singapore's SIT will introduce a new elective specialisation in Agritech and Aquaculture under the SBE programme. Growing Talent in the Agritech and Aquaculture Sector The new specialisation will cover a wide range of topics, including Agritech systems and Aquaculture economics, to holistically train learners in this field of study. With food security gaining focus, graduates can expect employment opportunities across various sectors, including agri-food, aquaculture, marine research and government sectors. With this new specialisation, the SBE degree programme will have three distinct specialisation baskets – Integrated Facilities Management, Green Building Design, and Agritech and Aquaculture. Melvin Chow, Senior Director, Urban Food Solutions Division, Singapore Food Agency, said, “The pandemic and extreme weather conditions have shown how food supply chains can be disrupted, and this reiterates the importance of food security. This is why we have a “30 by 30” vision, with an aim to build the agri-food industry’s capability and capacity to sustainably produce 30 per cent of Singapore’s nutritional needs by 2030. “The agri-food sector would have to harness technologies for a productive, climate-resilient, and resource-efficient food production. The same goes for the future of aquaculture in Singapore, as we aim to be the leading research and innovation cluster for sustainable tropical aquaculture. Having a workforce adept in agri-tech and aquaculture becomes paramount. SIT’s specialised training is a timely and strategic response to this demand, preparing students to be catalysts for innovation and sustainability in the agri-food and aquaculture industry.”  Specialist Certificate in Environmental Sustainability Measurement and Management The University is also launching a new Specialist Certificate in Environmental Sustainability Measurement and Management to support industry’s growing sustainability reporting needs. This specialist certificate will be offered as a Continuing Education and Training course to working professionals who may apply for enrolment in the inaugural intake starting May 2024. The course provides learners with a comprehensive understanding of sustainability, presenting various approaches to managing and advancing sustainability, including circularity, adaptation, mitigation, financing and policymaking. Learners will develop skillsets in quantifying and articulating the measurement and management of environmental sustainability ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1621/leeds-university-and-entocycle-reveal-research-program-for-commercialisation-of-uk-insect-farming.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1621/leeds-university-and-entocycle-reveal-research-program-for-commercialisation-of-uk-insect-farming.html Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:20:17 +0530 The UK insect farming industry is currently constrained by strict legislation on the use of insect protein in animal feed and a lack of protocols and standards for insect-rearing facilities University of Leeds and Entocycle unveiled a program dedicated to developing the protocols and codes of practice to unlock the growth of the UK insect farming industry. The project, named InSAFE, is funded by Innovate UK and BBSRC as part of the Novel Low Emission Food Production Systems competition and will evaluate the use of nonpermissive feedstocks, including pig slurry, chicken manure and sewage sludge, to raise black soldier fly (BSF). The UK insect farming industry is currently constrained by strict legislation on the use of insect protein in animal feed and a lack of protocols and standards for insect-rearing facilities. Insects are still an emerging opportunity for farmers, and developing codes of practice and industry standards, in particular those on Food Safety, will help to align insect farming with other farming systems in the UK. The InSAFE project will help us accelerate our efforts to address some of the barriers facing the industry, in particular those related to food safety. Current UK and EU legislation prohibits the use of livestock manure and slurry as a feedstock for insects, restricting its potential to reduce the growing problem of agricultural waste and the associated environmental pollution. Currently, feedstocks allowed to breed and feed insects are primarily of vegetal origin. Examples include vegetables not meeting specific supermarket standards, byproducts from vegetable processing such as potato or carrot peelings, or spent grains from beer or spirits production. Animal products are not permitted, except dairy products and eggs. Protocols, codes of practice and Food Safety and Quality standards will also be developed for a range of production scales, from small lab-scale units to commercial farms. A new, state-of-the-art insect-rearing demonstrator facility, developed and installed by the UK’s leading insect technology company Entocycle, will house the research and is situated at The National Pig Centre on the University of Leeds’ research farm in Yorkshire. The 40ft walk-in unit – named ‘Entoexplore’, is the only commercial demonstrator to utilise non-permissive feedstocks in the UK, and it has been specifically designed and built to withstand the industrial requirements of handling these inputs. The unit mirrors commercial rearing environments with an environmental control system and Wi-Fi data monitoring. Samples will be collected from the unit, in addition to Entocycle's R&D facility in London for permissive feedstocks, including segregated food waste. The research will analyse the bacterial microbiome, pathogen loads, presence of AMR genes, and heavy metal content of permissive and non-permissive feedstocks before and after insect bioconversion (the natural process of insects eating and upcycling waste matter into higher-value products such as protein and fertiliser), alongside analysis of the BSF larvae and by-products such as frass. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1617/usda-signs-agreement-to-prepare-young-individuals-for-careers-in-agriculture.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1617/usda-signs-agreement-to-prepare-young-individuals-for-careers-in-agriculture.html Fri, 15 Dec 2023 06:51:06 +0530 This partnership will enhance USDA’s involvement with AFA and its leadership development and education mission U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Agriculture Future of America (AFA), formalising a partnership to promote the common goals of strengthening the future competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. agriculture industry by preparing more young people for careers in agriculture. “This partnership will enhance USDA’s involvement with AFA and its leadership development and education mission,” said Secretary Vilsack. “This agreement reinforces USDA’s commitment to preparing students for future careers in agriculture with an emphasis on federal sector employment.” USDA and AFA will continue to collaborate on leadership development efforts, and link these young leaders with career opportunities in food, agricultural science, natural resources, and related fields. Under the MOU, USDA commits to advancing opportunities for AFA delegates to participate in USDA programs, including internships. AFA will provide occasions for USDA to meet with AFA delegates to share information about these opportunities. The MOU will be administered by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), which develops and maintains partnerships focused on solutions to challenges facing rural and underserved communities and connects those communities to the education, tools, and resources available to them through USDA programs and initiatives. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1248/thailand-organizes-the-advanced-agricultural-sciences-program-class-4.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1248/thailand-organizes-the-advanced-agricultural-sciences-program-class-4.html Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:26:00 +0530 The program aims to drive the Thai agricultural sector with 6 prime modules in the program Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Agricultural Works Foundation and the Agricultural Research Development Agency (Public Organization) organizes the Advanced Agricultural Sciences Program (Agriculture Science) Class 4. The program aims to drive the Thai agricultural sector to be a leader in agriculture and food at the international level. hopes to generate more income for the country to be stable, prosperous and sustainable. Organized by the cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Agricultural Works Foundation and the Agricultural Research Development Agency. (Public Organization) aims to drive the Thai agricultural sector to be a leader in agriculture and food at the international level.  The project aims to generate more income for the country to be stable, prosperous and sustainable, which the curriculum covers in 6 areas: Agriculture and Cooperatives Landscape Agricultural Market Mechanisms Technology and Innovation Current Issues for Agricultural Development Research for the Future Leadership and Sustainability Course content will cover and connect in all dimensions related to the development of the agricultural sector, including in line with the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives so that participants can exchange, learn and bring about an approach to driving the agricultural sector. This course is are held between July 14 - December 1, 2023, with senior executives from public and private sector organizations. civil society and representatives of farmers who have been selected to participate in the training, totaling 96 people, a total of 3 classes, totaling 288 people. The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has foreseen the opportunity and has given importance to the development of the Thai agricultural sector. by relying on cooperation mechanisms from all sectors Therefore, the curriculum has been created to be a mechanism to drive the Thai agricultural sector to become an international leader. with agricultural science, technology and modern innovation Under the principles of market-led production and sufficiency economy to create balance, stability and sustainability, with the goal of developing potential and creating high-level leaders with knowledge and ability in agricultural development. as well as creating an exchange of knowledge, vision and experience between government leaders, the private sector and the people in the form of "Pracharat" to move towards a new way of farming. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1224/new-digital-tools-for-more-sustainable-shrimp-production-in-bangladesh.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1224/new-digital-tools-for-more-sustainable-shrimp-production-in-bangladesh.html Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:44:08 +0530 Exeter team develops a innovative tools for shrimp hatcheries to strengthen supply chain across Bangladesh's more than 300,000 fishing farmers Researchers at the University of Exeter are helping the Bangladesh shrimp industry become more sustainable through a new set of digital training tools. The digital tools created by the Exeter team are for shrimp hatcheries, which produce larval shrimp and supply the entire industry of more than 300,000 farmers across Bangladesh. They have been produced in collaboration with shrimp hatcheries and in-country partners WorldFish and the Centre for Communication Action Bangladesh. The shrimp industry is hugely important for the Bangladesh economy, employing around 3.5 million people. It is a key source of dietary protein for the Bangladeshi people. The industry has expanded rapidly over the past 40 years but now faces increasing losses from disease – partly due to poor biosecurity (preventing the introduction and spread of harmful organisms). This has substantial economic, social and environmental costs.  “Our project aims to help the Bangladesh shrimp aquaculture industry become more sustainable by improving biosecurity,” said Professor Charles Tyler, project lead. “If we can support the shrimp industry to improve biosecurity in Bangladesh, this should in turn increase productivity and lower the impacts on biodiversity loss, pollution of water systems and the risk of antimicrobial resistance.” Lead researcher Dr Kelly Thornber said: “Most biosecurity training materials are not aimed at low-income, extensive farming systems, which are commonly found across Bangladesh, and they are usually technical and text-based, so not very appropriate or readily accessible. “By working with in-country partners, we have identified pragmatic solutions that are simple and relatively cheap to implement. “We have developed a set of digital training videos, a self-assessment app and monitoring sheets, to make biosecurity training more engaging and accessible.”  “In this endeavour disease control is key, and therefore projects such as this, focused on training and improving biosecurity measures, are hugely important for the long-term sustainability of the industry.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1204/nanjing-agricultural-university-established-the-consortium-for-innovations-in-agricultural-education-and-research-in-asia.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1204/nanjing-agricultural-university-established-the-consortium-for-innovations-in-agricultural-education-and-research-in-asia.html Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:35:41 +0530 CIAERA aims to create innovation hub by collaborating academic R&D to foster sustainable agriculture in Asia On July 17, the Consortium for Innovations in Agricultural Education and Research in Asia (CIAERA), initiated by Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU), was officially established in Sanya, Hainan. Concurrently, 2023 Asia Hub Annual Meeting was held. More than 200 representatives from over 60 domestic and foreign universities, institutes, and enterprises in Asia gathered together to discuss topics related to agricultural science and education innovation, and to jointly create a brighter future for Asian agriculture. The CIAERA, proposed by NAU, received positive responses from agricultural universities, institutes, and enterprises across Asia. The vision of CIAERA is to create a hub of innovation through collaborations, to leverage the strengths of universities and institutions for sustainable agriculture, to promote regional prosperity, and to enhance the well-being of people in Asia. During the inauguration, the CIAERA was officially established, with 52 members, including China Agricultural University, Northwest A&F University, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, IPB University in Indonesia, and Kasetsart University in Thailand. The Secretariat of the CIAERA will be based at Nanjing Agricultural University. At the conference, the attending representatives recognized the significance of strengthening close cooperation among Asian countries in the fields of agricultural education and technology, actively inheriting the fine tradition of exchanging agricultural civilizations in Asia. The collaboration was essential for promoting agricultural development, ecological construction, economic prosperity, and the sharing of civilization among Asian countries. It will contribute to the continuation of the new brilliance in Asian agricultural development. From the July 18 to the 19, the 2023 Asia Hub Annual Meeting held seven academic sub-forums focusing on topics including "Water for Food Security", "Climate Change", "Land Use, Land Cover, and Soil Research in the Asian Region", "Natural Disaster Monitoring, Mitigation, and Response", "One Health", and "Joint Training". These sub-forums aim to gather the strengths of Asian agricultural institutions, innovate the cultivation model of high-level talents in the agricultural field, jointly address agricultural challenges faced by Asia and the world, and promote sustainable agricultural development in Asia and the globe. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1113/angel-yeast-strikes-deals-with-hubei-academy-of-agri-sciences-to-boost-agricultural-industrialization.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1113/angel-yeast-strikes-deals-with-hubei-academy-of-agri-sciences-to-boost-agricultural-industrialization.html Wed, 28 Jun 2023 07:18:01 +0530 Collaboration will help Angel Yeast make solid breakthroughs in the organic agriculture sector Angel Yeast  a world leader in yeast manufacturing, recently signed agreements with the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences to conduct research and development initiatives in agricultural microbiology and plant and animal nutrition. The two parties will work together to stimulate agricultural industrialization that will improve efficiency and provide substantial benefits to farmers. Since 2016, beginning with research to set standards and conduct product evaluations, Angel Yeast has conducted a series of cooperative projects with the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences . In 2022, they have intensified their efforts in R&D of microbial products in agriculture based on yeast sources. With its advanced yeast fermentation technologies, Angel Yeast is the forerunner in plant and animal nutrition products that has pioneered many innovations in the industry, from yeast-based organic fertilizers to microbial foods, produced by the company. Qin Xianwu, Chief Engineer of Angel Yeast, said, "This collaboration will help Angel Yeast make solid breakthroughs in the organic agriculture sector while striving to actively integrate into regional, national agricultural development. and global. The recent collaboration builds on Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences ' significant talent and technology platform advantages and Angel Yeast's strengths in commercial operation and integration into the sector, with a focus on: The development of microbial and probiotic products in the field of fertilizers and products intended for animal and aquaculture nutrition. Pursuing innovation in media culture products to diversify the food supply to build a more balanced and resilient food system. Expand the application of organic yeast-based fertilizers in rice, citrus fruits, tea leaves and upland vegetables to ensure food security. In addition to this collaboration, Angel Yeast has also put in place a strategic plan to expand its activities in organic farming to include: Agricultural Food Safety : Leveraging the advantages of yeast fermentation technology, the Company will focus on the development of new, safe and effective feed additives, biostimulants and biopesticides. Alleviating Resource Scarcity : Angel Yeast will rely more on fermentation and pre-treatment technologies to improve raw material efficiency, better utilize industrial and agricultural waste, and increase crop yield. Improving the nutrition of agricultural products : more products will be developed to improve the flavor and nutrition of meat and vegetables while expanding the range of bioproducts through new technologies such as synthetic biology (SynBio). ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1072/usaid-launches-5-million-agriculture-higher-education-activity-in-nepal.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1072/usaid-launches-5-million-agriculture-higher-education-activity-in-nepal.html Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:17:04 +0530 The initiative will foster new partnerships with local Nepali organisations to strengthen food security and economic development in the country Clinton White, USAID Agency Counselor unveiled a new Agriculture Higher Education initiative, worth up to $5 million. The five-year project, awarded to Tuskegee University in collaboration with Sathguru, Inc., aims to enhance the capacity of Nepal’s Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) by bolstering research and teaching methodologies. With AFU’s current student population exceeding 1,800, this partnership with Tuskegee University, known for its expertise in agriculture and higher education, seeks to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit among AFU students and contribute to Nepal’s agricultural transformation. The initiative will also foster new partnerships with local Nepali organisations to strengthen food security and economic development in the country. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1039/philippines-researchers-drives-technology-to-preserve-fruit-freshness.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1039/philippines-researchers-drives-technology-to-preserve-fruit-freshness.html Thu, 08 Jun 2023 14:20:00 +0530 The novel technology Fruitect® consists of edible coating formulations that delay the ripening of mangoes and bananas University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)-based inventors founded HS InnoTech, Inc. (HSII) to manufacture products that make fresh fruit last longer. The technology named Fruitect® consists of edible coating formulations that delay the ripening of mangoes and bananas. Unlike petroleum wax coatings, Fruitect® is biodegradable because it is made from agricultural waste such as peels and leaves. Carabao mangoes stored at room temperature (28°C–31°C) turn ripe and sweet five to six days after harvesting, but when mangoes are coated with Fruitect®, the fruits ripen after 10 or more days. At cooler storage temperatures, the Fruitect®-coated fruits ripen after 20 days. On the other hand, Lakatan bananas stored at room temperature turn ripe and ready to eat six or more days after harvesting, while bananas coated with Fruitect® start to ripen after 20 days. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) awarded HSII the Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS) in 2022 to start the operation of its pilot plant located in UPLB, Los Baños, Laguna. The grant enabled the fabrication of support structures and test runs to produce Fruitect® up to 300 liters. Dr. Veronica Sabularse and Dr. Hidelisa Hernandez, inventors of Fruitect®, cite their technology as a solution to two common problems of agriculture: post-harvest life extension and agricultural waste utilization. “By preserving the freshness of fruits sold to consumers, the technology promises better earnings and improved livelihood of our local farmers,” they explained. The new pilot plant will be producing Fruitect® in liquid form, which is ready to apply to whole fresh fruits. Moreover, Fruitect® will also be available as a wettable powder for easier packaging, distribution, and longer shelf life. HSII is now exploring ways on how to cut production costs. SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio shared the impact of Fruitect®’s technology. “This nature-based coating technology significantly contributes to reducing food wastage and preserving fruit exports.” The development of Fruitect® was initially funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) to apply nanotechnology in creating new materials for commercialization. HSII reported that it is now ready to sell its Fruitect® formulation for Carabao mangoes. Groceries, fruit processors, retailers, and consumers will soon have a greener way of keeping produce fresh longer. Fruitect® for Lakatan banana will also be for sale soon ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1006/international-soil-borne-pathogens-rd-center-launched-in-ankara-turkey.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/1006/international-soil-borne-pathogens-rd-center-launched-in-ankara-turkey.html Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:30:00 +0530 New center will initiate programs on robust surveillance system for tracking pathogens, a genebank for germplasm, and screening facilities for SBP resistance Food security is threatened by soil-borne pathogens (SBP), especially as climate extremes (temperature, precipitation) become more common. A variety of specific adverse effects are caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes, including root rot, wilt, yellowing, and dwarfing. Crop yields can be reduced by 50-75% as a result of these pathogens. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kirişci inaugurated the Center, the first of its kind in Central West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) dedicated to advancing research on SBPs and developing innovative solutions to control and prevent their spread. Among the new programs at the center are a robust surveillance system for tracking pathogens, a genebank for germplasm, and screening facilities for SBP resistance. The opening ceremony took place in early May 2023 at the Directorate of Plant Protection Central Institute working under the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), and it was attended by deputy ministers, TAGEM’s DG, and high-level officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. In order to enhance crop health and productivity, Country Representative of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Soil-Borne Pathogens Research & Development Center (ISBPRDC) are signing a joint R&D collaboration agreement that will facilitate knowledge exchange and technology transfer. Thirty-five scientists and technicians will work at the ISBPRDC and the institute will act as an umbrella for all SBP research in Turkey. Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute (BDIARI), the Transitional Zone Agricultural Research Institute (TZARI), and the Plant Protection Central Research Institute (PPCRI) with offices in Konya, Eskisehir, and Ankara, respectively, will support the ISBPRDC center and collaborate with the SBP program at CIMMYT to deliver high-yielding wheat germplasm that is resistant to SBP. In accordance with international sanitary standards, the ISBPRDC will be operated, said the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), part of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. CGIAR and TAGEM mutually supported the SBP CIMMYT Turkey program by establishing and funding the ISBPRDC. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/966/searca-and-ait-partner-for-sustainable-agriculture-in-southeast-asia.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/966/searca-and-ait-partner-for-sustainable-agriculture-in-southeast-asia.html Mon, 22 May 2023 10:21:16 +0530 Signs MoU to promote education, training, and research programs, projects, and activities to upgrade agriculture by technology integration and to address challenges of farming practices The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) signed a formal agreement to cooperate on initiatives that promote agriculture and rural development. SEARCA has priority focus on promoting a transformational leadership mindset among stakeholders in the agricultural sector, including its scholars, training participants, and other beneficiaries of its formal education and capacity-building initiatives. Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director, and Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, AIT vice president for academics signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which intends to promote collaboration between the two institutions in undertaking education, training, and research programs, projects, and activities. Prof. Dhakal expressed his enthusiasm for institutional cooperation, stating that “the partnership between SEARCA and AIT have potential broad linkage opportunities, including scholarships, training programs, and policy development. "AIT is focused on technology and engineering, and we are focused on agriculture, but actually, we are integrating technology in agriculture to upgrade and address challenges of farming practices. This is one area of possible collaboration between our institutions. We can see the synergy of complementing priority areas of both SEARCA and AIT” explained Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director. SEARCA conducts workshops, seminars, and training programs focusing on leadership development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. The end goal is to help build a new generation of leaders who are committed to promoting innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector. Image Caption: Dr. Glenn Gregorio (second from right), SEARCA director, and Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, AIT vice president for academics, during MoU signing ceremony. They are flanked by Dr. Nur Azura Adam, SEARCA deputy director for programs, on the right and Prof. Sangam Shrestha of the AIT Water Engineering and Management Program. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/942/eeiqs-davis-college-signs-mou-with-suzhou-polytechnic-institute-of-agriculture.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/942/eeiqs-davis-college-signs-mou-with-suzhou-polytechnic-institute-of-agriculture.html Tue, 16 May 2023 11:13:44 +0530 The purpose of the MOU between Davis College and SPIA is to pursue collaborations on research and academic exchange programmes EpicQuest Education Group International Limited announced that Davis College signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Suzhou Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture, based in Suzhou, China. The term of the MOU is for a period of five years and can be renewed thereafter. Diane Brunner, President of Davis College, commented, "We are very enthused to be collaborating with Suzhou Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture to expand education opportunities for our students. In addition to Davis College offering practical career-oriented programming, we believe that international collaborations offer an enriched educational experience for our students and better prepare them for employment in the global marketplace." The purpose of the MOU between Davis College and SPIA is to pursue collaborations on research and academic exchange programmes. It is anticipated that a Cooperative Education Project program will be developed where dual degrees will be issued by the two parties. Additional programs would include the exchange of students, staff and faculty. The MOU is non-binding and any future cooperation is subject to the availability of funds and approval of definitive agreements by the parties. With the announcement, Davis College is continuing its mission of internationalisation through its cross-border academic collaborations with international colleges and universities to offer its students a global learning experience and to internationalise its student base. A vital component of EpicQuest Education's growth plan is to have its operated colleges, Davis College and EduGlobal College, become increasingly connected to international programs in order to offer enhanced globalised learning to its students as well as pathways to achieve university degrees. The Company's strategic growth plan is to achieve international expansion and to establish EEIQ as a truly international service provider of higher learning. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/919/dairy-runway-program-launches-to-support-early-stage-dairy-innovators.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/919/dairy-runway-program-launches-to-support-early-stage-dairy-innovators.html Thu, 11 May 2023 11:11:44 +0530 The Dairy Runway program will provide entrepreneurial coaching and access to New York-based kitchen incubators for participants who complete the virtual course Cornell University's Centre for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) and the Northeast Dairy Foods Research Centre has launched the Dairy Runway program, an entrepreneurship curriculum for dairy innovators that focuses on product concepts and consumer discovery. This Cornell-based, virtual course will take program participants through a process to determine if their value-added dairy products are desirable, viable, and feasible. Supported by a grant from Empire State Development with funding from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Dairy Promotion Order, the Dairy Runway program will provide entrepreneurial coaching and access to New York-based kitchen incubators for participants who complete the virtual course. Graduates of the program will develop the skills and training to competitively apply for local and regional funding opportunities, like CREA's Northeastern Dairy Product Innovation Competition. "New York is well known for producing high-quality milk, a premium ingredient for many value-added products. Providing food innovators with critical entrepreneurial training will advance the state's effort to introduce more value-added dairy products and increase the utilisation and sales of milk and dairy ingredients produced in New York," said Larry Bailey, chair of the New York State Dairy Promotion Advisory Board. Up to 12 teams will be selected into each Dairy Runway cohort to participate in a virtual course that combines self-directed online learning activities with Zoom-based class meetings and one-on-one instructor check-ins. Throughout the program, participants will have access to a select group of CREA's Entrepreneurs in Residence to provide support in coursework and product development. "Too often entrepreneurs struggle to successfully identify their product consumer group, which can lead to product failure," said Jenn Smith, CREA's Director of Food and Ag Startup Programs. "We want to provide dairy entrepreneurs with a head start by teaching them the fundamentals of consumer discovery and delivering their product to that target group. CREA is well known for producing exceptional and easily accessible entrepreneurship curricula, and we're thrilled to extend this resource to New York's dairy community." Engaged teams will also be offered fully-funded access to Cornell's Prototyping Kitchen or another approved incubation kitchen in New York State, and will receive support from Cornell Food Science technical experts, in order to bring their innovative ideas to the prototype stage after coursework concludes. The application period for the Dairy Runway program closes on June 22, 2023. Dairy innovators with a value-added dairy product who are located in the United States and committed to using New York-produced dairy ingredients in their products are eligible to apply. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/909/singapore-invents-worlds-smallest-led-holographic-microscope-for-botanical-studies.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/83/909/singapore-invents-worlds-smallest-led-holographic-microscope-for-botanical-studies.html Wed, 10 May 2023 07:29:00 +0530 SMART researchers create world’s smallest LED and holographic microscope that enable conversion of existing mobile phone cameras into high-resolution microscopes Singapore researchers at SMART have developed the world’s smallest silicon (Si) light-emitting diode (LED) coupled with state-of-the-art Si LEDs and with multiple potential applications. The invention enables to reconstruct objects measured by this microscope, including plant seeds and tissue samples - enabling enhanced microscopic examination of a wide range of objects that has been impossible previously, as well as the detection of plant disease and aberrant plant tissues. Researchers from the e Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) and the Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP) Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRG) of Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore. The new world’s smallest LED (light emitting diode) enables the conversion of existing mobile phone cameras into high-resolution microscopes. Smaller than the wavelength of light, the revolutionary LED was used to build the world’s smallest holographic microscope, paving the way for existing cameras in everyday devices such as mobile phones to be converted into microscopes via only modifications to the silicon chip and software. This technology also represents a significant step forward in the miniaturization of diagnostics for indoor farmers and sustainable agriculture. This breakthrough was supplemented by the researchers’ development of a revolutionary neural networking algorithm that reconstructs objects measured by the holographic microscope. This enables enhanced examination of microscopic objects such as cells and bacteria without bulky conventional microscopes or additional optics. The research also paved the way for a major advancement in photonics - the building of a powerful on-chip emitter smaller than a micrometer, which has long been a challenge in the field. The novel LED developed by SMART researchers is a CMOS-integrated sub-wavelength scale LED at room temperature exhibiting high spatial intensity (102 ± 48 mW/cm2) and possessing the smallest emission area (0.09 ± 0.04 μm2) among all known Si emitters in scientific literature. In order to demonstrate a potential practical application, the researchers incorporated this LED into an in-line, centimeter-scale, all-silicon holographic microscope requiring no lens or pinhole, integral to a field known as lensless holography.  The research team also developed a deep neural network architecture to improve the quality of image reconstruction. The researchers envision that this synergetic combination of CMOS micro-LEDs and the neural network can be used in other computational imaging applications, such as a compact microscope for live-cell tracking or spectroscopic imaging of biological tissues such as living plants. This work also demonstrates the feasibility of next-generation on-chip imaging systems. Already, in-line holography microscopes have been employed for a variety of applications, including particle tracking, environmental monitoring, biological sample imaging, and metrology. Further applications include arraying these LEDs in CMOS to generate programmable coherent illumination for more complex systems in the future. ]]>