De Heus set to acquire CJ Feed & Care, accelerating Asian growth strategy
Acquisition includes 17 feed mills
Agri-food
Listening, learning, and linking innovation to UK real-world needs
The UK Agri-Tech Centre aligns its efforts with the UK’s industrial strategy, focusing on four to five key areas where technology can address pressing agricultural challenges, explains its engagement director Helen Brooks
AI to the farm: Nine start-ups join UK accelerator to reinforce agri-food supply chains
Digital Catapult’s latest cohort aims to future-proof the UK’s agri-food sector with deep tech innovation, tackling challenges from dairy forecasting to biodiversity monitoring
Japan aims to slash rice production costs by over 60% with farmland consolidation, agtech
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) five-year plan aims to slash rice production costs by more than 60% through farmland consolidation and agricultural technology.
Food safety fears as nanoplastics found in crops
Researchers at the University of Plymouth in the UK have released a new study showing evidence that nanoplastics can accumulate in the edible parts of crops, specifically radishes
EUDR: Brussels seeks one-year delay to deforestation law
EU Commission cites unready IT system as reason for postponement
Resilience in APAC agri-food demands a shift to sustainable value creation
The future of agri-food supply chains hinges on shifting to sustainable value creation to build truly resilient systems that withstand disruption while driving long-term growth.
Weathering change: Taiwan’s pomelo industry advances smart processing and upcycling innovation to boost climate resilience
Taiwan’s investments into pomelo processing and upcycling is mitigating the impact of climate change while working towards sustainable agriculture goals.
Precision waste reduction: Automation tackles ‘error-prone’ pineapple waxing process
Automated technology is reshaping pineapple processing, reducing spoilage and boosting efficiency by removing the risks of manual waxing.
AI Insights from 50 years of rice data: Seasonal breeding and variety shifts crucial to sustaining yield
Machine learning has uncovered key details about rice cultivation over five decades, revealing how season-tailored breeding and more frequent varietal changes can sustain productivity.
Fruitful partnership: Vietnam agtech initiative to unlock U$12m opportunity in global fruit market
Vietnam’s fruit farmers are getting a A$2.1m (U$1.37m) boost from Australia to kickstart digital transformation and tap climate-smart growth in premium markets.
The Yield Lab hits 100-company milestone
A decade from the formation of its first fund in St. Louis, Missouri in the US, global early-stage venture capital firm The Yield Lab celebrates investing in 100+ agri-food tech companies
Politics & pests: Mexico’s ag sector faces a dual crisis
Mexico’s agriculture industry is meeting the moment when it comes to tariff threats and the re-emergence of the New World screwworm (NWS)
Australia broadacre and dairy farms saddled with more debt amid profitability woes
Lending rose 6% among Australian farms, with broadacre and dairy accounting for more than half of debt value amid ongoing economic strife.
Futureproof farming? Japan agriculture ministry seeks millions to tackle rice shortages with tech
Japan’s agriculture ministry will be requesting funds to modernise farming with technology as it aims to avert a prolonged rice shortage crisis.
Green demand: MPW Technologies eyes global opportunities in burgeoning greenhouse sector
A Singapore agtech firm is targeting global greenhouse growth, capitalising on rising demand driven by sustainability and what it sees as advantages over vertical farming.
FEDIOL presses EU for urgent clarity on EUDR rollout
Brussels trade group warns lack of guidance risks derailing compliance efforts
Sowing for the future: DayaTani grows its seed business to fund agtech innovation
DayaTani is leveraging the success of its seeds business as a ‘means to an end’ to fund its agri-tech developments.
Brazil suspends Amazon Soy Moratorium ahead of COP30
Growing concern among international buyers and environmental groups over threat to soy agreement
UK and Dutch governments, IDB Invest join $60m Brazilian Cerrado soy fund
The RCF is projected to reach over US$200m by the 2026/27 season
High-starch diets may help reduce salmonella in cattle, study finds
But animal health trade-offs must be considered
Nano defence: Researchers use nanoparticles to improve salt tolerance in two rice varieties
Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) enhance salt tolerance in two different rice cultivars, including one that is usually highly sensitive, says study.
The AI tech giving Coca-Cola an ‘incredible opportunity’ to tackle emissions at source
Earlier this year Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) announced a partnership with AI-driven plant breeding start-up Avalo. The project hopes to find sugarcane varieties that offer better yields from lesser quantities of water and fertiliser, explains...
True value: Why rice supply chain will increasingly focus on climate-smart practices
The rice value chain will increasingly focus on climate-smart practices to shape the future of farming, with a new project in Vietnam highlighting the benefits of industry collaboration.
Barriers to gains: Taiwan eyes opportunity to grow US farm and fishery exports despite tariff hurdles
Taiwan seeks to grow its US market share in farm and fishery products even as Washington imposes tariffs, with the agriculture ministry pledging support to protect local farmers and fishermen.
Rainstick gears up next phase of trials to convince industry of ag bioelectricity potential
Rainstick prepares for external validation trials, including one in India, to demonstrate how its Variable Electrical Field (VEF) technology can boost the growth of crops.
Ripe for growth: Vietnam seeks to reform coconut farming to unlock billion-dollar export potential
Vietnam aims to reform its fragmented coconut farming sector to capture growing opportunities in the global market for fresh coconuts.
Only 1% certified: Tackling barriers to EUDR compliance for Indonesian smallholders
Smallholders in East Kalimantan face steep hurdles to meet EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements, including unclear land tenure and limited traceability tools, as initiatives like SHINES work to close the compliance gap.
Cargill deepens investment in Brazil’s booming feed sector
US agribusiness giant is set to acquire 100% of the operations of a Brazilian animal nutrition company
UK retailers step up net zero farming push
Major grocers actively investing in farm-level innovation
Aussie dairy profitability declines with further drop expected next season, says ABARES report
Australian dairy farm profits fell 24% in 2023–24 from record highs, with further decline forecast due to lower milk prices.
‘Not for staple use’: US-Japan rice deal won’t hurt local farmers, Tokyo reassures
Japan pledges that local rice producers will not be impacted by a new deal to increase US rice imports, stressing that it would not be used as table rice.
Can Ÿnsect reinvent itself? French protein player faces crucial test
Once hailed as a global pioneer in insect-based protein production, Ÿnsect continues its fight for survival
Will smarter feed strategies slash emissions in UK dairy sector?
Data transparency is reportedly key to help UK dairy farmers unlock one of the most overlooked opportunities to reduce carbon emissions - the cow’s daily ration
Bright idea: Sunflower gene boosts rice yield, drought and salt resistance, says study
Scientists transfer sunflower gene to help rice increase grain yield and strengthen resistance to drought and salt stress, highlighting potential as climate resistant crop.
Sow much better: Vietnam’s low-emission rice project yields huge gains
Vietnam’s key low-emission rice project is delivering higher yields and profits while cutting costs and carbon, earning further support from government.
‘Without a shared plan, supply chains fragment and progress stalls,’ warns genetics player about the EU’s agri food vision
Industry needs to look in the mirror and take maximum responsibility for the future of food, claims Dick Hordijk, CEO of swine genetics company, Topigs Norsvin
Crop boost: China approves 153 new wheat varieties that save cost, boost efficiency
China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) approves 153 new wheat varieties of which 80% are high-yield varieties to increase productivity and profit.
Saké on the line: Japan deliberates support as raw material shortage brews over
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is considering support for saké producers as staple rice boom pressures supply of raw materials.
Looping in value: Vietnam-Japan circular cassava project aims to boost value of top exports
Vietnam and Japan are set to launch circular cassava production model which aims to make cassava production greener and enhance the value of one of Vietnam’s key exports
‘Multi-speed’ slowdown: Hot, dry conditions drag down Australia’s biggest ag operations
Australia’s hot and dry weather has led to a productivity slump among its biggest crop and livestock operations, with the west of the nation hit by significant 38% decline.
Hub and running: South Asia gets own ‘breeding hub’ to advance crop development in the region
South Asia now has a dedicated ‘breeding hub’ to accelerate crop innovation in the region and give growers access to the very latest global breeding innovations.
Typhoon troubles: Taiwan’s bananas, chickens, oysters, suffer major losses to Typhoon Danas
Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) reports bananas, chickens, oysters as top agricultural losses following Typhoon Danas.
Transforming knowledge: welzo eyes SEA for agtech innovation, knowledge sharing to enhance farming
Japan’s welzo is exploring opportunities in South East Asia, recognising the region’s thriving agricultural sector as fertile ground for innovation in knowledge sharing and productivity enhancement.
Suntory uncovers key sex-determining gene in hops to advance breeding potential
Suntory Global Innovation Centre (SIC) has discovered a sex-determining gene that could potentially lead to ‘superior’ hop varieties.
DiMuto breaks ground with Indonesian raspberries but doubts short-haul sourcing will take off soon
DiMuto introduces Indonesian-grown raspberries to Singapore for the first time, but doubts that short-haul sourcing will become mainstream due to limited scalability.
‘All time low’: South Korea sees drop in new farmers and fishermen despite rural migration increase
An increasing number of South Koreans are moving to the countryside, but those becoming farmers have fallen for the third year running.
Investors set for ‘vintage’ years, says Anterra’s Adam Anders
Good things are coming for agri-food tech investors, believes Adam Anders, managing partner at Anterra Capital, because the ‘talent is there, the problem got bigger, and technology is getting cheaper’. But it will not be without risk, he tells Harry Holmes
Innovation in K-seeds: South Korea launches digital breeding platform to boost competitiveness
South Korea’s new digital breeding information system aims to strengthen country’s position in the global seed industry
Kipster adopts in-ovo sexing to maintain no-cull commitment amid infrastructure challenges
It is only the second US company to use this technology