AI System Funghii Helps Mushroom Growers with Crop Monitoring and Harvest Prediction
Heliovision, a Belgian machine‑vision specialist, launched Funghii, an AI‑driven system that equips mushroom growing cells with four cameras each to monitor growth metrics and predict harvest timing. The platform measures cap diameter, growth rate and mushroom count over the typical 30‑day cycle, delivering daily yield forecasts. Within months, growers in Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Germany have adopted the technology, citing clearer logistics planning and reduced supply‑chain penalties. Funghii’s success reflects recent breakthroughs in computer‑vision AI and robust hardware for high‑humidity environments.
UK: Cavolo Nero Kale Sales up 12% as Demand Continues to Build
A.H. Worth reported a 12% increase in cavolo nero kale sales value and a 17% rise in volume year‑on‑year across UK retail. The growth is driven by rising consumer interest in fibre‑rich, scratch‑cooked meals and globally inspired dishes. The company’s...
Walmart Joins U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol in Sustainability Push
Walmart has become a member of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a voluntary, science‑based program that tracks sustainability and traceability for American cotton. The protocol aggregates field‑level data across six metrics—land use, soil health, water management, greenhouse‑gas emissions, energy use...
India: Saffron Research Lab Inaugurated in Telangana
Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University has opened an aeroponic saffron research laboratory in Mojerla village, Wanaparthy district, with funding from NABARD. The facility will study cost structures, yields and technology interventions for saffron grown in a soil‑free, mist‑nutrient system....
"Let's Just Build the Farm Inside the Container"
Jason Brown pivoted from a stalled container housing project to launch FarmBox Foods in 2017, converting pre‑insulated shipping containers into fully automated vertical farms. By designing custom hydroponic systems and low‑energy electrical layouts, each unit runs on roughly 190 kWh per...
NABARD Includes Vertical Farming in Delhi's First State Credit Plan as Part of Urban Agriculture Push
India's National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) hosted Delhi's first State Credit Seminar, unveiling the capital’s maiden State Focus Paper (SFP) for 2026‑27. The SFP spotlights urban agriculture models such as vertical, rooftop and organic farming, and introduces...
"We're Excited to Bring the Farm Closer to Our Customers"
Swegreen’s Saga in‑store farming system will be installed at ICA Kvantum Brunnshög in Lund, opening in the first half of 2026. The vertical farm will grow fresh herbs and leafy greens on‑site, delivering pesticide‑free produce year‑round. By producing directly in...
Bangladesh: Bepza Hydroponic Facility Expected to Create 3,000 New Jobs
Green Pure Houseware (BD) is investing $30.47 million to build a hydroponic tent manufacturing plant in the Bepza Economic Zone, Mirsarai. The 22,000 sq m facility, allocated across six plots, will create about 3,000 jobs and begin production in March 2025. It will...
Chilean Kiwifruit Industry to Delay Harvest, Prioritize Quality
Chile's kiwifruit growers are postponing the harvest to late April, aiming for larger, sweeter fruit with a target Brix of 6.5. The delay follows unusually humid weather that has boosted berry weight and reduced the share of small‑size fruit. Harvest...
Can Digital Credit Unlock Investment in Smallholder Farms?
A randomized controlled trial in Ghana tested Farmerline’s digital input‑loan model for smallholder cocoa growers. The loan, capped at GHS 350 (~$75) and delivered digitally, raised input spending by about 11 % but did not increase yields or profits because many inputs...
US (IO): Graduate Student’s Research Aims to Provide Solutions for Organic Vegetable Growers
Graduate student Smriti Chaudhary at Iowa State University earned the 2026 Graduate Program Research Excellence Award for her work on organic vegetable production. Her research evaluated nylon‑mesh mesotunnels as insect‑exclusion structures and compared them with organic insecticide programs, showing reduced...
India Aims for Cocoa Self-Sufficiency by 2040 Under New Roadmap
India unveiled a 2026‑2040 roadmap to achieve cocoa self‑sufficiency by 2040‑41, aiming to cut annual imports of over $866 million. The plan calls for a National Mission on Cocoa, a Centre of Excellence, and the creation of 250 hectares of seed...
Drones Get Smarter for Large Farm Holdings
Singapore’s DroneDash Technologies and GEODNET have created a joint venture, GEODASH Aerosystems, to launch an AI‑driven agricultural spraying drone. The platform combines DroneDash’s computer‑vision system with GEODNET’s centimetre‑level positioning, eliminating the need for pre‑flight field mapping and enabling real‑time altitude...
Nearly 60% of U.S. Farmers Say Their Finances Are Getting Worse as Fertilizer, Fuel Costs Rise: Survey
A new American Farm Bureau Federation survey shows 58% of U.S. farmers say their finances are worsening as fertilizer and fuel costs surge due to Middle East shipping disruptions. Fertilizer prices jumped from $139 to $217 per acre, a 56%...
India Gets Fertilizer Offers Near $1,000 as War Stokes Costs
India’s latest urea tender, the world’s largest nitrogen‑fertilizer buyer, received bids hovering around $1,000 per metric ton. More than two dozen suppliers, including Aramco Trading Co. and Ameropa Asia, submitted offers as the conflict in Iran pushes global fertilizer costs...
Regen Cotton Farmers Surge in India, Tanzania
The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) reports that more than 42,000 smallholder farmers in India and Tanzania now meet its Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS) after independent third‑party verification. Approximately 5,000 farmers in Maharashtra, India, and 37,000 in Tanzania earned certification,...
Nordic Aqua Partners Increased Revenue in FY 2025 as Company Anticipates Full Run-Rate by H2 2026
Nordic Aqua Partners reported FY 2025 revenue of €12.9 million ($15.2 million), more than double the $7.6 million earned in FY 2024, as the land‑based salmon farm in Ningbo, China, moved past a geosmin‑related disruption. The company harvested 2,026 metric tons of Atlantic salmon and is...
Toast-Time Trade-Off Eases as Gene-Edited Wheat Cuts Acrylamide Risk by 93%
Scientists at Rothamsted Research used CRISPR to edit wheat genes, slashing free asparagine levels by up to 93% and thereby reducing acrylamide formation in baked and fried foods. Field trials over two years showed the edited lines retained normal grain...
New Livestock Carbon Accounting Method to Encompass Sheep
The Australian government is fast‑tracking a new Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) livestock method that expands eligibility beyond beef cattle to include sheep, feedlot cattle and dairy cattle. Developed by Meat & Livestock Australia, the scheme will replace the Beef Cattle...
Government Announces Winners in £50m Agri-Tech Funding Round
Britain’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Innovate UK have announced the recipients of a £50 million agri‑tech funding round. The grants will support a portfolio of startups, research institutes and farmer‑led consortia developing nature‑based technologies to raise...
Nestlé Partners with Regenerative Farming Platform Soil Capital
Nestlé announced a four‑year partnership with Soil Capital, a regenerative farming platform. The collaboration will roll out agronomic advice, carbon‑measurement tools, and financial incentives to farmers in France, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The initiative supports Nestlé’s broader climate‑action roadmap...
Vivici Sees 30% Boost in Titers, Yield, via Cell Productivity Tech From Enduro Genetics
Vivici, a precision‑fermentation startup producing whey beta‑lactoglobulin, integrated Enduro Genetics' Enduro Sense plug‑in into its production strain. Within five months the technology delivered a 30% lift in both titers and yields while using the same feedstock and bioreactor setup. The...
West Asia Conflict: India's Soybean Meal Exports Fall 63%
India’s soybean meal exports plunged 63% in March 2026, falling to 60,000 tonnes from 162,000 tonnes a year earlier, as high domestic prices and the West‑Asia conflict disrupted shipments. Key markets such as Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and...
Fertiliser Shortages Due to Iran War Are a Key Worry for Developing World, UN Agency Says
The United Nations International Trade Centre warned that the Iran‑U.S. conflict is choking fertilizer shipments, with about one‑third of global urea normally transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Blockades threaten supplies to key developing economies in Africa and Asia, risking lower...
Reducing Fertiliser Import Dependence Vital: Jat, Secretary DARE
Secretary M L Jat of India’s Department of Agricultural Research and Education urged a rapid shift toward self‑reliant fertiliser use as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat 2047 vision. India consumes roughly 33 million tonnes of fertiliser each year, with a sizable share imported, prompting...
Nestlé and Purina Post Regenerative Agriculture Milestones in Europe
Nestlé announced a four‑year partnership with regenerative‑farming specialist Soil Capital to roll out climate‑friendly practices across its supply chains in France, Belgium and the UK. The program will work with roughly 230 farmers managing about 13,000 ha of wheat, corn, barley...
2,000+ Supply Ships Stranded: Iran War Puts Food Security at Risk
More than 2,000 vessels carrying grains, edible oils, soft commodities and fertilizers are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing Iran conflict. The blockage threatens spoilage of perishable cargoes and creates immediate shortages for food‑and‑beverage manufacturers, while...
EU Sustainable Supply Chains Coalition Created in Run up to EUDR
European food manufacturers, NGOs, and certification bodies have launched the EU Sustainable Supply Chains Coalition to influence the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The coalition, which includes Nestlé, Mars, Ferrero, Barry Callebaut, Rainforest Alliance and RSPO, aims to ensure that EU...
Daybreak April 14: Former Chief Economist: Fertilizer Pullback May Not Significantly Impact Yields
Former USDA chief economist Joe Glauber told an agricultural panel that growers can trim fertilizer use despite high prices without a major hit to yields. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor urged pairing year‑round E15 ethanol sales with Renewable Fuel Standard...
CONAB: Big Brazil Soybean Crop Getting Bigger
Brazil’s agricultural agency CONAB lifted its 2026 soybean forecast to a record 179.152 million metric tons, a 4.5 % increase over 2025, driven by an all‑time high yield outlook. The same report projects total corn production at 139.572 million tons, with the second‑crop...
Up to 50% of a Strawberry Plant's Sale Price Goes Towards Transport
Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) promotes vertical‑farm growth towers to produce strawberry starter plants in a controlled, biosecure environment. The company highlights that up to 50% of a plant’s final sale price can be eaten by transport and cold‑chain logistics, making...
Vertical Options Draw Youth to Growing in South Korea
Nubo, a South Korean ag‑tech firm, launched a six‑story container vertical farm in Gimje that grew 2,200 basil plants under fully automated climate control. A YouTube video of the operation, posted in July, has drawn about 130,000 views. The company’s...
Critical Success Factors for New CEA Operations
The article outlines the critical success factors for launching and scaling a vertical farm, emphasizing the need for a two‑stage planning approach—first a feasibility plan, then a full business plan. It breaks down capital and operating cost categories, from real‑estate...
A Stronger Signal for Hydroponic Leafy Greens in Latin America
Cultivators hosted its second annual GreenTech Americas workshop in Querétaro, drawing more than 60 participants—a 50% increase over last year—to discuss hydroponic leafy greens in Latin America. Speakers from Rijk Zwaan, VB and Flier Systems highlighted how variety selection, high‑tech greenhouse automation,...
Why Fertilizer Prices Could Remain High Into 2027
Rabobank’s semi‑annual fertilizer outlook warns that phosphate prices will stay above $1,000 per ton through 2027, driven by geopolitical shocks from the U.S.–Iran conflict and potential Strait of Hormuz closures. The 12‑month affordability index for nitrogen, phosphate and potash has...
Sustainable Fertilizer Practice Causes Increased Cadmium in Rice, Study Shows
A study by Wageningen University published in Nature Food shows that large‑scale recycling of manure in Chinese paddy fields raises soil cadmium, which eventually accumulates in rice. While manure reduces soil acidification and cuts mineral phosphorus fertilizer use, it also...
"Working with Industry Leaders Enables Us to Accelerate the Path From Research to the Field"
Biotalys announced its first research milestone in a partnership with Syngenta to develop a novel bio‑insecticide. Laboratory tests using Biotalys’ Agrobody protein platform delivered promising in‑vitro activity against key insect molecular targets. The collaboration now moves to in‑vivo testing on...
Making Sure that the Investment in a High Tunnel Will Pay Off
High‑tunnel greenhouses are emerging as a cost‑effective alternative to traditional glass structures, offering growers a fast path to profitability. A 30′ × 96′ tunnel can house roughly 275 tomato plants, producing 6,875 lb and $20,625 in revenue at $3 per pound, covering the...
Cropshader Approved for Organic Farming in Europe
Lumiforte's Cropshader, a starch‑based liquid shading coating, has received Ecocert verification for organic farming in Europe. The product creates a reflective film on fruit and foliage, lowering canopy temperatures and cutting sunburn incidents. Field trials show it outperforms traditional kaolin...
Ghanaian Farm Plans 3,000-Ton Tomato Supply Expansion
Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture announced that Maphlix Farms will place 3,000 tons of tomatoes on the market by year‑end, using a mix of greenhouse and open‑field production. The farm has already begun harvesting, with three‑day picking cycles to maintain...
UAE Airlifts over 3,000 Tons of Produce From India for Vishu Demand
Lulu Group has air‑freighted more than 3,153 tonnes of Kerala fruit, vegetables and traditional items to the Gulf ahead of the Hindu New Year festival Vishu. The shipments, including jackfruit, banana leaves, kani konna flowers and coconuts, arrived via a National Airlines...
Steaming Strawberry Plants for a Smooth Start of the Season
Belgian grower Aardbeien Vergeyle has expanded its use of Moleda’s Plantsauna steam‑treatment to 17 pallets of Karima strawberry plants for the new season. The steam process gently heats plants with aerated steam, eliminating pathogens without chemicals. Early observations show steam‑treated...
Nordica A81 Opens a New Chapter for Northern Highbush Blueberry Varieties
Blueberica’s Nordica A81, a northern highbush blueberry, has completed three commercial years in Chile, delivering yields of 3.5‑4.5 kg per plant (some exceeding 5 kg) and fruit over 18 mm with a 60‑65‑day post‑harvest life. The variety matches southern cultivars in size, firmness...
Tropic’s Non-Browning Banana Secures New Key Market Approvals
Tropic, a UK‑based ag‑biotech firm, received regulatory clearance for its non‑browning banana in Japan and Brazil, allowing import, sale, and cultivation in the latter. The approvals expand the company’s footprint in two of the world’s most influential fruit markets and...
New Zealand Launches Public Consultation on Import Requirements for Fresh Blueberries
New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries has opened a public consultation to create import requirements for fresh blueberries intended for human consumption. The comment period runs from March 31 to May 15, inviting industry and technical stakeholders to weigh in. The initiative...
TRI Launches Agri-Voltaic Project to Help Farmers Earn Double Income
Transform Rural India (TRI) has rolled out an agrivoltaic micro‑grid program in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, letting farmers generate solar power while cultivating crops on the same land. A 43‑kilowatt system now powers ten irrigation pumps across 100 acres, serving...
Organic Cotton Summit 2026 Targets Supply Chain, Production Challenges
The Organic Cotton Summit 2026, jointly hosted by the Organic Cotton Accelerator and Textile Exchange, will convene fashion brands, retailers, farmers, and policymakers to tackle supply‑chain and production challenges. The agenda focuses on traceability, climate‑resilience financing, regulatory shifts, and boosting...
India’s Soyabean Imports Surge to 3.09 Lakh Tonnes During Oct-Mar 2025-26 Oil Year
India’s soybean imports have surged to 3.09 lakh tonnes (≈309,000 t) in the Oct‑Mar 2025‑26 oil year, up sharply from just 0.02 lakh tonnes a year earlier. The rise reflects tighter domestic supply, with projected output falling to 110.26 lakh tonnes (≈11.0 Mt), a 14%...
Weekly Genetics Review: The C Word We Shouldn’t Avoid
Australian beef producers are urged to embed consistency in both management and genetics to ensure superior cattle appear each generation. The article stresses defining measurable breeding objectives—pregnancy within four months, a calf per cow annually, and average weaner weight—as the...
Further Food Price Pain on the Cards for Consumers as Agri Sector Faces Higher Input Costs
South Africa’s agricultural sector is confronting sharply higher input costs as urea prices surge above $650 per tonne and diesel climbs roughly 40% per litre. Elevated freight surcharges and constrained vessel availability are inflating export expenses, while logistics disruptions threaten...